The Westford Wardsman, April 27, 1918
Center. Arthur H. Burnham and Richard D. Prescott are serving for the spring term of jury duty.
Word has been received by Mrs. William P. Williams, of Parkerville, from Walter L. Cutter, of his safe arrival in France.
Miss Ethel Mills has successfully passed her civil service examination and has gone to Washington to receive her assignment.
Up-to-date fire escapes have been placed on the southeast side of the William E. Frost school.
A group of pupils from the academy, with one of their teachers, Mrs. Harold W. Hildreth, went to Lowell on Wednesday afternoons and saw a good presentation of “Les Miserables,” Victor Hugo’s famous masterpiece, given in motion pictures and hospital fan for Camp Devens and pay off the debt on the White Ribbon home at Ayer. This home really does a splendid work. The rest of the money will be used for work among soldiers and sailors. Those appointed in this town to secure the money are meeting with good success. Apropos of giving one rather timid soul who has been assigned several times the work of soliciting from people for various causes says it is wonderful how approachable people are after all. There are continual calls for money, but it’s an unprecedented time. Money is very little to give after all in comparison with the gift of one’s life, which the soldiers may be called upon to give.
We note with interest the unveiling of a monument in Woburn this week to Col. Loammi Baldwin. Col. Baldwin was the commander of the American forces at the battle of Lexington. He had a scientific mind and built the famous Middlesex canal from Boston to Lowell. He studied civil engineering in England in 1807. He was employed by the state in erecting fortifications about Boston Harbor; built the government dry docks at Charlestown and Norfolk, Va.; proposed piercing the Green Mt. range at almost exactly the same location as the present Hoosac tunnel. He was called the “father of civil engineering in America.” All this is of interest to us as in 1795 he came up from his home in Woburn to attend our academy and prepare for Harvard university. The statue in his honor overlooks the canal and is opposite the Baldwin mansion. Dr. Samuel A. Eliot, son of President Emeritus Eliot of Harvard university, was the speaker at the unveiling, the mayor of Woburn presided and there was a parade by the state guard, posts of G.A.R. and city officials.
On page three will be found an article by Henry B. Endicott, who calls on householders to declare if they have thirty pounds or more of flour on hand. Blanks will be furnished to be filled out by May 4.
The Grange thanks those who contributed apples for the negro regiments at Camp Devens. At the last meeting the third degree was conferred by the ladies’ degree team and the fourth degree by regular officers.
The national government is pleading to have us all cut out wheat altogether and eat more potatoes because of their abundance and cheapness. The pleadings of the government are quite wise, yet the consuming public are not inclined to be harnessed in that way. The retail dealers declare that they do not sell as many onions and potatoes as they did at the extreme high price. It was ever thus and likely to continue world without end. Extreme high prices produces a panic mania for buying.
Seth W. Banister, our representative soldier for the Stony Brook valley, writes from England in March of the early spring compared with New England. Planting was well advanced and everything looked green and thrifty. He is delighted with England.
The Parfitt family have moved from the old boarding house on Oak hill to the Fletcher cottage at the junction of the Groton and Oak hill roads.
A meadow grass fire last week Friday on the Old Oaken Bucket farm, between Stony Brook and the Stony Brook railroad, cleared off a grass tangle of several years’ accumulation. This is cheaper and quicker than mowing and just as profitable. We have been a long while discovering that most meadows are not worth cutting and never were. Like building needless stone walls, they are a monument to our ill directed muscles.
Hothouse farmers from Arlington have searched the Stony Brook valley for honey bees, the severe winter having frozen many hives. Government reports show a large yield of honey. A freight train 100 miles long would be required to transport all the honey raised in 1916.
The lawn at the summer home of Miss Ella T. Wright, on the Lowell road at Brookside, is being raked and trimmed up which is a sort of preparatory forerunner of occupancy by Miss Wright.
Mrs. Charles Whitney is seriously ill at her home on the Lowell road.
Deaths. Josiah W. Blodgett died at his home on Milestone [sic] hill last Sunday at the age of 83 years, 4 months, 23 days. He was a native of Westford, the son of Jacob and Almira (Wright) Blodgett, and with the exception of a few years in California he resided on his farm in the extreme northwest section of the town, at the dividing line between Groton and Westford, the line dividing near the Old Oaken Bucket farm, leaving the barn in Groton. Mr. Blodgett was a familiar figure on his farm, where he delighted not alone in the growing crops, but in the varied scenery from his hilltop residence, which furnishes about all the scenery that New England is noted for.
For several years he specialized in raising onions on a cleared swamp, but later specialized in dairying. He was twice married, his first wife being the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Blood [Jane Blood 1833-1886].
Besides his wife, Salome S. [nee Blanchard], he is survived by four children, Mrs. Horace E. Gould, by the first marriage; Fred R. and Charles A. Blodgett, who live on the modernized old home, and Mrs. J. M. Spurr, of Lowell; also, a sister, Mrs. Mary C. Wright; a grandson, Edwin H. Gould, and a great-grandchild.
The funeral was from the home on Wednesday afternoon. Rev. Alfred Woods, a former minister of the Methodist church in Graniteville, an intimate friend of the family, and Rev. Charles Anderson conducted the services. Mrs. Janet Wright and Mrs. Nora Colburn sang “Some day the silver cord will break” and “Sometime we’ll understand”; at the grave, “Nearer my God to thee.” The bearers were Samuel Blodgett, Wilford G. Blodgett, Hammett D. Wright, Horace E. Gould. Burial was in Fairview cemetery.
On April 22 there passed on a wonderfully good woman, Mrs. Isabelle A. Campbell. For many years her home has been here and those who knew her loved and admired this truly christian woman, whom one might say with reverence was “akin to the saints.” There are few who so really exemplify in their daily living the christian principles as did Mrs. Campbell. “The fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance; against such [as] these is no law.” Day by day one saw manifest in Mrs. Campbell these fruits of the spirit.
Born in a home of deep piety, where morning worship was the daily custom, Mrs. Campbell grew up in an atmosphere of love and devotion and her entire life was consecrated. She was a member of the Congregational church and always a loyal and generous contributor to the church and all good causes connected with it. She was much interested in the French relief work.
The funeral service was held at the home of Charles O. Prescott on Wednesday afternoon at one o’clock. Rev. Howard A. Lincoln of the Congregational church, and Rev. Thomas Laite of Lowell conducted the last service, speaking words of appreciation. A beautiful poem written as a personal tribute by a friend was read by Mr. Lincoln. Albert Prescott, of Boston, sang two songs of faith and cheer. The last committal service will be at Bedeque, Prince Edward Island, where Mrs. Campbell will be laid to rest beside her loved ones.
The deceased is survived by her devoted sister, Miss Louise Crosby, and two married sons, living in Manitoba.
Liberty Loan Drive. The liberty loan committee have been working away on their individual canvass and have secured over $180,000 from nearly 300 subscribers. That means that Westford has taken hold with zeal, small loans, middle-sized loans and great big loans have been taken and once more the old hill-top town has shown its true patriotism. The quota was $75,000, and Westford has doubly subscribed and received the honor flag with two stars. It floats from the flag staff with old Glory and the service flag with its seventy odd stars. Did you, Mr. Citizen, do your part to help put those two stars on the honor flag? If not, don’t you want to be a part in all this and help put another star on the flag? If we raise $227,700 we shall have tripled our quota. Can’t we do it? There are some people who are not giving to the Red Cross or supporting the loan. Think it over and see if that is not right.
In the list of large subscriptions are the following; Abiel J. Abbot $30,000, Julian A. Cameron $20,000, John C. Abbot $10,000, Edward M. Abbot $5000, Wetmore & Savage Electrical Co. $25,000, V. C. B. Wetmore $25,000, Walter Wright of Brookline and Westford $25,000.
Acton, Bedford, Chelmsford, Lowell, Tewksbury and Westford are the six places in the list of twenty-one for Northern Middlesex county, who have gone “over the top.”
Obituary. Arthur H. Wilkins, who will be remembered by the older resident of this town, died at Westport, Conn., on April 10. He was a son of the late Luther Wilkins and was born in Westford May 29, 1855. He attended the district school and Westford academy, afterwards graduating at Eastman Business College, Poughkeepsie, N.Y. In 1881 he entered Faneuil Hall Market, Boston, as bookkeeper and was connected with Sands, Furber & Co., commission merchants for over twenty years, being admitted as a partner in 1897. In 1906 he went to Deadwood, S.D., but returned to New York city in 1908 and had resided in Westport, Conn., for the past ten years. His wife, who was L. Grace Morton, of Chelmsford, died in 1915. He is survived by a brother, Lyman E. Wilkins, of Cambridge. Services and burial took place Friday, April 19, at Forefathers’ cemetery at Chelmsford.
Graniteville. The members of the Athletic club, the new baseball team recently formed here, held a whist party and dance in Healy’s hall on Wednesday evening of last week that was well attended. Progressive whist was enjoyed from 7:30 till 8:30, after which dancing was enjoyed to music by the Victrola. Refreshments were served during the event.
The members of Cameron circle, C of F. of A., held their regular meeting Tuesday evening and much business of importance was transacted.
The baseball club will receive their new uniforms in a few days and would like to arrange games with some of the clubs in the surrounding towns whose average age is sixteen years. Address, Manager, box 112, Graniteville.
The G.A.C. and the machine shop team played an interesting game of baseball after the supper hour on Monday and after much spirited play the game was called on account of darkness with the score 7 to 7. Daily, Wood and Carpentier were the battery for the G.A.C. team, while Farron and Hall were on the firing line for the machinists.
Forge Village. Ephraim Reed, jr., has enlisted in the U.S. marines.
The graduating class of Westford academy, ’18, has presented to the school as its class gift a service flag containing twenty-one stars.
Thomas Monahan has sold his house in Graniteville to Sargent & Sons. He intends to move here in the near future.
Carolyn Precious, Lillian Baker, Adelaide Hosmer and Annie Orr were chosen to take part in the liberty loan pageant in the town hall, Ayer, Monday evening, taking the parts of Japanese middies.
Mr. and Mrs. Percy Hargreaves with their little son of Somerville spent the weekend at the home of Mrs. Hargreaves’s grandmother, Mrs. Mary A. Lowther.
Miss Carolyn E. Precious took part in a concert given Monday afternoon in Association hall, Lowell, by the Middlesex Woman’s club.
A large touring car had the front wheels smashed and the four occupants had a narrow escape from serious injury when the machine collided with an electric car at the square, Sunday evening. Owing to the rain the occupants failed to see the car.
After successfully passing all examinations John B. Gray has been appointed chief petty officer at the U.S. naval radio school at Cambridge. Mr. Gray enlisted in June and for some time has been instructor at the radio school.
Corporal Herbert Smith of Camp Yaphank, New York, was home on a brief furlough to his parents here this week. He expects to go across soon.
Miss Mamie Hubbard of Waltham, formerly of this town, was recently visiting old friends here.
Girl Scouts Forge Village. Miss Price, captain of a Girl Scout troop in New Bedford, visited the Forge Village troop on last week Tuesday evening and was much impressed with the singing of the girls. The Cantata, “The American girl,” is to be given on Friday evening, May 10. Already thirteen girls have passed their tenderfoot test and are ready to make the scout promise and receive their badge.
Ayer
News Items. It is stated on good authority that the government will take the land between that owned by T. J. Pirone and Samuel J Andrews near the remount station.
Monday afternoon an automobile driven by Merrill Webb collided with a horse on the Shirley road, near the western approach to the overhead bridge. The horse’s leg was broken, which made it necessary to shoot the animal. The horse was from the camp. The rider was thrown from the animal, but escaped unhurt.
The first contingent of the third draft from the New England states arrived this week Friday afternoon at Camp Devens, coming in special trains. The total number of men to be called from New England in this call is 7000 men.
Clipping. The following is taken from a recent issue of the Boston Post:
“Lieut. Angus G. Walden of the U.S. Reserve Cavalry Corps at Camp Devens, has filed a bill in equity in the Middlesex superior court at East Cambridge asking an injunction to prevent a woman from representing herself as his wife.
“The lieutenant, who is a veteran of eighteen years’ service, declares that Maizie A. Anderson, of Ayer, has been telling his superior officers that she is his wife and he asks that she be restrained from this and from interfering with him further. He says that the woman is purposing to bring about his discharge unless he gives her a large part of his pay and he declares that she has absolutely no marital ties upon him.
“He says that she refuses to bring action in any court in effort to prove her claim, but asserts to his superior officers that she is his wife. He insists that she is not nor never was his wife. The writ is returnable in Boston on April 30.”
John M. Maloney, associate justice of the district court, who is the lieutenant’s counsel, filed a bill of equity in the Middlesex superior court at East Cambridge on Tuesday, asking for an injunction to prevent the woman from representing herself as the officer’s wife.
Latest Draft Call. The local draft exemption board will send the following men to Camp Devens between April 26 and May 1, the first contingent being expected to enter upon their military duties on Saturday morning: …
Westford—John E. Clement
Forge Village—Thomas Costello, John W. Spinner
Graniteville—Walter L. Blanchard, Napoleon J. Lanctot …
These draftees are scheduled to go to Fort Slocum, N.Y., May 10: …
Westford—Arthur W. Fletcher …
District Court. Andrew Kimball, who was sentenced to the house of correction last week Thursday for larceny, and who was remanded to the lock-up until Saturday morning to give him time to consider the question of appeal, appeared Saturday morning and was re-sentenced. Being unable to furnish bail he was again committed. Monday morning the defendant again appeared and stated that he had been robbed himself, thinking evidently that it might have bearing on the case. He was committed to the Cambridge jail to serve his sentence.
To the Editor: In your paper of April 20, you have quoted a clipping from the Fitchburg Sentinel about the town officials not being willing to stand up to the mark to what a legislative committee think best about a sewerage [issue], and that if they are spoiling for a fight to carry out their ideas against higher authority, that they may be accommodated and find the fight much tougher for them than to submit to the sewerage idea to please somebody else, and also a little touch on human nature. Now the Sentinel has picked up some very good points that should be examined under the search light of truth, and it is a pity that the Fitchburg Sentinel put any such ideas in a public print, which are so misleading and so wholly devoid of truth.
Now in the water system of Ayer we do not extend the water pipes on any street until there are buildings enough on the street to help pay the expense of putting the water pipes in that street. Just so in regard to the sewerage system. The town officials and voters and taxpayers do not feel willing to add to the already high taxes the extra cost of a sewer system until there are buildings enough on every street to connect with the sewerage to help pay the extra burden of taxes, and the citizens and taxpayers are sorry that the Fitchburg Sentinel should try to put so important a subject on so narrow and a sort of pig-headed idea as human nature, for there is a higher and nobler atmosphere to breathe in.
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