The Westford Wardsman, April 6, 1918
Center. The academy prize speaking contest takes place on Friday evening, April 12, at eight o’clock, in the town hall. The contestants are Carolyn Precious, Pamelia Precious, Alice Wright, Frances Wright, Edna Sargent, Ruth Sargent and Julia Donnelly. The boys taking part are Fred Griffin and Stanley Smith. Besides the speaking there will be vocal and instrumental music, vocal solo by Elinor Colburn and violin solo by Mildred Precious; also, singing by a double quartet. The winners in the speaking contest will be announced at the close of the entertainment, but the prizes will not be awarded until the graduating exercises in June. The judges deciding the contest will be Rev. O. J. Fairfield of Littleton, Principal E. W. Merrill of the Chelmsford high school and Miss Blanche A. Cheney of the Lowell Normal school.
Beautiful weather for Easter Sunday made the union church services at the Unitarian church most impressive and inspiring. There was a full attendance from both churches, making a well-filled church. This church’s beautiful audience-room was effectively decorated with Easter lilies and palms. The union choir carried out a beautiful program of Easter music. Rev. Howard Lincoln preached the sermon and Rev. L. H. Buckshorn sustained the other parts of the service. Mr. Lincoln’s subject was “The risen Christ,” and was an inspiring Easter message. At the evening service both pastors were present and gave brief talks suitable to the day, and supplemented by a good song service. This closes the series of union services which this year were in the experimental stage, but are evidently felt by pastors and people alike to be successful and a repetition another winter has already been suggested. This coming Sunday each church will resume its regular services.
Word came to Westford on Wednesday of the death of Miss Mary Jane Davis in Shirley at the home of her niece, Mrs. Clara Miner, where she has lived for a long time. She was born in Westford eighty-eight years ago at the old Hildreth homestead, which was destroyed by fire some few years ago. Miss Davis had been a member of the Congregational church for many years. Burial was in Westford this week Friday.
The Pitkin family are moving to the west side of the Hamlin house, occupied by Mrs. Mills previous to her death. Another tenant farmer employed by Mr. White will occupy the house made vacant by the Pitkins.
Members of the home guards held their regular drill on Tuesday evening with a good attendance. With the return of settled traveling and good weather the men drilled out of doors, returning to the hall for roll call. Visitors present were Major Tuttle, Lieut. Furbush, adjutant and second Lieut. Douglass of the Concord company. Major Tuttle has offered the use of the rifle range in the Concord armory and a number of men from the Westford company plan to go down next Thursday evening under the direction of Sergts. Cameron and Abbot. The competitive drill that was scheduled for April 19 in Concord was cancelled.
The senior class of the academy have started rehearsals for a play to be given a little later in the season.
Mrs. George E. Jenkins, of Marblehead, has been a recent guest for several days of Mrs. Alma M. Richardson.
The Misses Atwood returned to their Westford home on Wednesday after spending the winter months in Florida. Marden Seavey, in training in Ayer, spent a recent Sunday with his home people.
The Hylan family, who occupied the James L. Kimball house last summer, are planning to come again, this season. Mr. and Mrs. Kimball, who have been spending the most of the winter in Boston, will return to Westford for the spring season.
A very interesting letter to the home people from Claude Gladu appeared this week in the Lowell Citizen, under “Sidelights on the war.”
The Seavey tenement over the old store is to be occupied by a man with his family, employed by Mr. Cadman at the Old Homestead farm.
Oscar R. Spaulding has purchased a new six-cylinder Reo touring car.
Preaching at the Congregational church by the pastor at 10:45 Sunday morning; Sunday school at noon. In the evening a lecture, “From Scrooby to New England,” illustrated with sixty stereopticon views, showing places and incidents connected with Congregational history in England, Holland and America, will be given. As this lecture must of necessity be given after dark, the service will begin at eight o’clock.
We are given permission to tell the story of one new spring hat, hoping that a like disaster may not happen to any other. One of our village ladies on a recent visit to one of our large cities purchased a new spring hat and brought it home. She showed it to members of her household who gave their different opinions with the usual frankness of one’s family. We are sure it was a pretty hat, for the lady concerned would be sure to select such a one. Part of the trimming was a garniture of small flowers. After the hat had been shown and duly admired it was placed on a shelf in a closet until its owner went the following Sunday morning to get it to wear to church, and this was how she found it: Every one of the flowers had been neatly and completely eaten off by a diligent mouse. It is not necessary to add that the hat was not worn that day.
The branch line electrics have been resumed this week. The rails were scraped and an inspector went over the line Tuesday with recommendation for a few more ties and other repairs. The regular car is in the repair shop and a good car has been supplied during its absence. Transporting the school children will be resumed the first of next week.
The union social at the Unitarian church on last week Friday evening, with a group of ladies of that church as hostesses, was one of the pleasantest of social gatherings and was very largely attended. The two pastors extended felicitatious greetings, followed by a pleasant program of music and readings. There were singing from the community song book, with Miss Julia Fletcher at the piano; readings, Miss Mary Balch and Miss Mabel Drew, and songs in costume by Miss Celia Whittet, a sweet singer from Lowell. Delicious cocoa and cake were served after the entertainment. The hostesses were Mrs. H. V. Hildreth, Mrs. L. H. Buckshorn, Mrs. H. W. Hildreth, Miss May Balch, Miss Mabel Drew and Miss Julia Fletcher.
Another impressive sign of the times was the departure of seven drafted men from town last week Friday. They were given a good send-off by the public safety committee, the school children and the towns-people, and comfort kits were presented each soldier. P. Henry Harrington furnished automobile transportation for the men to Camp Devens—Henry Reed, William F. Buckingham, Alfred J. Horan, Josephus Poirier, Joseph N. Brule, Albert A. Collins and Frank Sullivan.
Tadmuck Club. The Tadmuck club held an open meeting at the town hall on Monday evening. Hon. Edward Fisher gave the address of the evening, his subject being “The constitutional convention,” he having been a member of one of the committees of this convention during the past year. Mr. Fisher also supplemented his address with interesting data concerning food conservation and as food administrator in Lowell he was well qualified to speak. Always a practical and sensible speaker, Mr. Fisher was followed with much interest by his audience.
There was singing by Miss Marion Hall, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H. B. Hall, whose former home was in Westford. Her singing was much enjoyed. Gordon Seavey, in Boy Scout uniform, held the large flag during the singing of “The Star Spangled Banner.” Mrs. S. B. Watson and Miss Julia Fletcher opened the program with a skillful piano duet. Nearly fifteen dollars was realized from the sale of candy and by money contributions for recreational houses for our boys in uniform across the water.
The next meeting of the club will be the children’s afternoon at the Congregational church on April 16. Mrs. Buckshorn, Mrs. Loveless and Mrs. Snow, committee
About Town. The Old Oaken Bucket farm folks last Saturday afternoon excavated the snow by the aid of the sun and pried open the jaws of the frost and inserted two pounds of peas. This looked earliest, but Hon. Herbert E. Fletcher, home market gardening on Oak hill, sloping southerly from the north pole, has peas just ready to pry the lid off their apartments in their underground tenement. There being no Henry Smith to compete with this year the Old Oaken Bucket farm thought all others would be slackers.
The first ploughing of the season was started last week Tuesday at the Middlesex County Training school in North Chelmsford. The trade mark this year is “start early” and avoid the late rush which the farmers are too easily and indifferently trapped in. The writer [Samuel L. Taylor] has several acres of land ready for potatoes and they are liable to be pushed into the ground at any time without a moment’s warning to those who are trying to keep up with the procession.
George O. Spalding has entered the employ of the H. E. Fletcher granite quarry.
Amos Polley of the Prairie farm was the first to appear in the open in the Stony Brook valley with plow and harrow for popcorn. The Old Oaken Bucket farm folks were a close five-minute’s second, harrowing in two acres of spring wheat. The Stony Brook valley is now one live beehive in loyalty to President Wilson’s “Be as nearly self-supporting as possible.” So we are all on the speed-up and when the dust won’t fly the mud does. The least we can do is loyalty to the food problem, while the vigor of youth is loyal in the perils of the danger zone.
There will be a joint meeting of the officers, advisory board and directors of the Middlesex County Farm Bureau on Tuesday at 12:30 at 15 Fayette Court, off Washington street, opposite Hayward place, Boston. The invitation says that it is very important that man and woman directors should attend this meeting. The organization and work of the bureau will be presented and discussed. A special feature of this meeting will be an address by John A. Schenerk, field manager of the Easter Agricultural and Industrial league of Springfield. He is a very interesting speaker and knows farm bureau work from the bottom up.
The peach orchard on the Old Homestead farm has been vigorously pruned back, which is a sure symptom that the peach crop of 1918 has been postponed on account of the weather.
George Howard, of Bound Brook, N.J., and his brother, Francis Salisbury Howard, of Montclair, have been guests at the Taylor homestead.
The second son of Mr. and Mrs. George Howard was christened Lawrence Salisbury on Easter afternoon at the home of his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. S. L. Taylor. The ceremony was performed by Rev. Howard A. Lincoln in the presence of the family circle. The little child was the eighth one to wear the same christening robe.
The Red Cross circle at the Blacksmith’s corner met at the home of Mrs. Eben Prescott on last Saturday evening. It was a real neighborhood gathering as the family circles came as well as the workers. Games were played and refreshments served and a good time enjoyed. A silver offering was taken up, which amounted to ten dollars. This money is to be turned over to the French Relief of the town. Those who managed this happy little gathering were Mrs. Eben Prescott, Mrs. Benjamin Prescott, Mrs. Ryan, Mrs. LaBoutley and Mrs. Osgood.
Word has been received of the death a short time ago of Miss Cynthia Buskirk, who will be well remembered here. She died in West Stockholm, N.Y., at the home of her sister, where she had been ill for some time. Miss Buskirk was a woman of fine Christian character and when living here was a loyal church worker. She always maintained her membership in the Congregational church and sent her contribution every year.
A Difference in Opinion. Two weeks ago, under Groton news, was a quotation from a state bulletin on “The value of ashes,” advising them to be saved for the garden, and especially for potatoes on account of their potash value. The writer wishes to contribute his experience and observation to [the] valuelessness of ashes generally. Ever since soft soap went out of fashion the writer has been trying to get a value out of them for nearly all kinds of farm crops. They have proved an overwhelming total failure on everything except as applied to the wooden roots of all kinds of fruit trees and berries. Here they responded with “Thank you.”
The bulletin, in referring to potash in its relation to potatoes, says, “Potatoes responded to an abundant supply very quickly and fail where there is no supply.” The enormous crop of potatoes raised last year without any potash other than what is in the soil seems to be a refutation of bulletin advice. We are beginning to see that potash isn’t so much after all, and we can glut the market with potatoes without any assistance from applied potash to help do it.
Well, if we must have potash, don’t let us be so unwise as to apply it to potatoes in the form of ashes, unless you wish to raise potatoes so covered with scab that they will be unable to see out of their eyes. A farmer in Westford had a limited experience last year in planting potatoes in a field where brush had been burned. At all brush burning spots the potatoes were nearly valueless; except as a lesson on ashes and scab. As soils vary so much it may have much to do with the state bulletin affirming as of old, figuratively, “The shield is gold,” and the writer is equally positive “The shield is silver.”
Grass Fires. The first grass fire of the season started last Saturday afternoon on land of George C. Moore on the line of the Stony Brook railroad, just below Westford station, with the railroad on the north and waters of the Stony brook on the south and the come together of the Stony Brook railroad and the Stony brook on the west, the only opening for the fire to continue to fire was to the eastward. Here the firefighters concealed themselves and with much warm in-fighting the fire was stopped. Same day and farther down stream, nearer the sea, fire started on land of George C. Moore and land of [Samuel L. Taylor’s] Old Oaken Bucket farm. The area burned over was small. While we are on the grass fire line it will be well to be serious long enough to warn against its possible seriousness. Last week an innocent looking grass fire burned to the level of the earth the farm buildings of William Driscoll in Chelmsford, about a mile over the Westford town line. Although the barn was separated from the house by the highway, the wind was too much to overcome the attraction. The trouble here, as at many other farm buildings, a vigorous crop of old grass had been allowed to grow clear up to the woodwork of the barn.
Graniteville. The glorious festival of Easter was fittingly observed in St. Catherine’s church on last Sunday when two masses were celebrated at the usual time by Rev. Henry L. Scott. Both masses were largely attended. There was singing at both services, but the program as presented at the high mass at 10:30 was of an unusually high order. The choir, under the direction of Miss Mary F. Hanley, sustained their past reputation and the solo and chorus work was excellent in all its phases, particularly the shading in the beautiful mass of St. Cecilia. Rev. Henry Scott preached a beautiful Easter sermon on the “Risen king,” his eloquent words making a deep impression on the large congregation. The altar was beautifully decorated with Easter lilies, callas carnations and added greatly to the very impressive service.
Dr. and Mrs. W. H. Sherman have been spending the last few days out of town.
Electric lights have already been installed in the Red Cross rooms here for the purpose of giving those who chance to be present in the evening and continue the good work for the soldiers that is already being done. The regular meetings will be held every Wednesday afternoon, as usual.
The regular meeting of Court Graniteville, F. of A., was held on Thursday night. At the previous meeting of this court Joseph Wall and John Spinner were elected delegates to the grand court convention to be held in New Bedford next May and R. J. McCarthy and Edward Defoe were elected alternates.
The new daylight saving plan has already gone into effect and everyone responded as if nothing had happened.
Private Florence G. Sullivan, a Graniteville boy, was presented an elegant wrist watch at an informal reception held in Healy’s hall Tuesday night. The presentation speech was made by Private Frank Charlton. Both young men are chums and are now stationed at Camp Devens.
Forge Village. Communion services will be held at St. Andrew’s Mission next Sunday afternoon at 3:30.
The Surgical Dressing club will meet Tuesday evening.
Joseph Bannister, a resident here for many years, has sold his home in Pine street and for the present is living with Mr. and Mrs. Harry Ingalls of Westford. Later in the season when the roads are in better condition for travel he will journey to New Hampshire to remain with Louise Dane.
Wassil Leduc, a Russian who purchased the property of Joseph Bannister, is to move into the house this week. It is also reported that he will build two more houses on the land adjoining.
The football team from Camp Devens that expected to play the local soccer club last Saturday afternoon was quarantined in barracks the last of the week, a member had contracted measles.
Miss Sarah Precious visited relatives in Townsend Saturday.
Mrs. Jane Dare and family are moving into the house in Pond street recently occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Jas. Kelley and family.
Albert Collins and Henry Read are the last to report at Camp Devens from here. There are nearly thirty young men from here now wearing the olive drab.
Cameron park was the scene of a very interesting baseball game on Monday night. The Rowdy Dowes played the Red Sox and the game finished with the score 3 to 2 in favor of the Red Sox. John Kayshay pitched a wonderful game for the losing side, while Kavanagh beaned two men thereby letting the Rowdies score. W. Bennett played a slashing game at first for the Rowdies. Malvin Edwards was the only man to get a two-bagger. The batteries—W. Palmer and Shorty Kayshay for the Rowdy Dowes, and R. Milot and W. Kavanagh for the Red. Sox. There will be a game Saturday afternoon and a good crowd is expected.
The Girl Scout meeting was held Tuesday evening at St. Andrew’s mission. Mrs. Harwood from Ayer came down and instructed the girls for the semaphore test. The meeting was held out-of-doors and attracted a large number of people. The Girl Scouts are going to the rally in Boston and for this reason a great deal of drill was accomplished. The girls finished their tenderfoot examination and afterwards rehearsed the songs which they intend to sing at the rally. The girls are going to Boston in autos in the morning and are to take their lunch with them. As the girls haven’t their full uniforms they will be obliged to wear white blouses and skirts and black shoes. A rehearsal for the cantata, “The American girl,” was held Monday evening. The girls show great interest in this operetta and hope to give it shortly. Miss M. Eaglesfield and Miss Marjorie Peabody, from Groton, were present, and also Miss Mary B. Reigner, from Lowell.
The many friends here were very sorry to learn of the death of Mrs. Mary Murray, of Ayer, Easter Sunday, after a long illness. Mrs. Murray was a resident here for many years, where she was held in high esteem. During her residence here she attended the Methodist church in Graniteville. She leaves three daughters, the Misses Emma and Annie Murray who lived at home, and Mrs. William Morton, of Bridgeport, Conn.; also, three grandchildren. Mrs. Morton was unable to attend her mother’s funeral owing to illness. Burial took place in Ayer on Wednesday afternoon. Those who attended the services from here were Miss Elizabeth Plummer, Mrs. John Edwards, Mrs. William Baker, Mrs. W. C. Precious and Miss Edith Precious. The Misses Annie and Emma Murray will accompany their brother-in-law to Bridgeport, Conn., where they will remain with their sister for a few weeks.
Pepperell
News Items. There are quite a number of carpenters waiting for lumber to arrive at Camp Devens.
There was quite an excitement and a novel sight in town Thursday when about sixty mules with packs on the backs of most of them came into Railroad square and finally came over Cross street to River street. Notice was telephoned, but one little fellow said “He knew it was Capt. Carter” of Remount Station at Camp Devens. Without doubt it was a lot of mules in training—some were very pretty.
Groton
Food Committee Notices. Good, clear horse-manure at $2.50 a cord may be got at the Remount Station, Ayer. Apply to R. L. Bradley, P.O. Box 76, telephone 264.
Littleton
News Items. The military funeral of Sergt. Paul Muller, who was killed in the automobile accident two weeks ago, was held in St. Luke’s Episcopal church, Chelsea, last week Wednesday, when the capacity of the auditorium was taxed to the utmost. The floral tributes were exceedingly beautiful and so many that three auto cars were required to take them to the cemetery. The parents of the deceased visited the scene of the accident a few days after the funeral and reported their remaining son as having partially regained consciousness. Doctors were unable to foretell his possibilities, but ascertained that he had a concussion instead of a fracture of the skull as thought at the time of the accident. Chauffeur Carlton was reported in serious condition at Frost hospital.
Ayer
News Items. The health board having charge of the hygienic work about Camp Devens and surrounding towns is to have new quarters in the lower town hall, which will be fitted up soon for its use.
Last week Friday evening, while driving an automobile on West Main street, near the Federation House, Dewey Downing struck Corp. Mark Amsden, of Redding, Vt., now stationed at Camp Devens. The corporal was knocked down and seriously injured and was taken to the base hospital for treatment. He is reported as improving.
The many automobile accidents which have occurred during the past few months in which several soldiers have been killed or badly injured have stirred the camp authorities to stern measures to overcome the evil. Military police now patrol the roads between Boston and Ayer and Lowell and neighboring places over the weekend in order to prevent if possible any more serious accidents. In this work they are assisted by the civilian police. Many complaints have been made for reckless driving in the towns between Ayer and Boston, and 100 drivers have been summoned to appear before the local court for automobile law violators [sic] as a result of the crusade. They will probably be tried during the coming week.
Thomas C. Moore, who is director of the Knights of Columbus camp activities, with headquarters at Camp Devens, has been appointed divisional supervisor of the order’s camp work. His new work will be devoted to all K.C. camps in the eastern section of the country, from Camp Devens to Newport News, Va.