Turner's Public Spirit, August 11, 1923
A look back in time to a century ago
By Bob Oliphant
Center. Memorial services for President Harding were held in the town hall on Friday afternoon at 2:30.
Miss Annie Oldham has been the guest of her sister, Mrs. Hamlin, this week. [Actually, Edward Augustus Hamlin married Annie Oldham on June 18, 1910, in Westford, so this Miss Annie Oldham probably had a different given name.]
Harry Ingalls and Ralph Bridgford [sic] are driving new Ford cars.
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Elliott, Mr. and Mrs. Warren Hanscom and Miss Mabel Prescott left Tuesday on a trip to Maine.
Mrs. Clarence Hildreth and daughter have returned from New Jersey.
Miss Ella Christenson has been a visitor at the home of E. N. Christenson.
Leon Hildreth is ill at his home.
Mrs. William Carver has returned from a visit in Maine.
Miss Ruth Loveless is a guest at the home of Warren K. Hanscom.
Mrs. Amy Johnson is taking the place of Norman Young at Dr. Colburn’s.
Mrs. Gertrude Skidmore and daughter have returned from Eastport, Me.
Mrs. S. S. Parsons has been the guest of her daughter, Mrs. Warren Hanscom.
Timothy Connolly and family have moved into the house owned by Timothy Sullivan on Hildreth street.
The fire company was called out on Monday afternoon for a small fire on land owned by John E. Abbot. It is thought a match thrown by some berry pickers was the cause.
Miss Dorothy Munroe, of Cambridge, was the weekend guest of her sister, Miss Margaret Munroe.
Mrs. Edgar Mann is ill at her home.
The prayer meeting on last Sunday evening at the Congregational church was in charge of Mrs. Janet Wright and Mrs. Alice Lambert. On Monday Mrs. Arthur Whitney and Miss Mabel Prescott were the leaders.
Mrs. Morgenstern and daughter Bernice and W. Johnson, of Mayville, N.Y., have been the guests of Mrs. Benjamin Adams Prescott.
Miss Pauline Larson has resigned from her position as teacher in the Frost school.
On last week Friday night about 300 soldiers with caissons and horses marched over the lower road on their way from Camp Devens to the plains, where they camped for the night.
The Ladies’ Aid held their children’s day on last week Thursday at the Whitney playgrounds. Ice cream, hot dogs and tonic were served and games were played. About sixty were present and all report a splendid time. Mrs. Meyer, president of the Ladies’ Aid, had charge of the afternoon.
Mr. and Mrs. Bostwick and J. [paper torn, line missing] were guests at the home of the latter’s father, H. S. Stiles, recently.
About Town. The next meeting of the Grange will be held on Thursday, August 23. The lecturer’s program reads “Visit and entertainment by the officers of Middlesex-North Pomona Grange, Lunch.” I give this notice early as we haven’t had a meeting since July 5, and as we are to have company let us all try and be present with enthusiastic encouragement. The visit of Pomona Grange members is one of a series of visits to all Granges that compose Middlesex-North Pomona Grange.
Bryon H. Brow, of Dunstable, has sold his small cottage, barn and land to Mrs. William Graves, living on the Graniteville road, who will occupy as soon as the Mervin Steele family, who have occupied it for many years, move out. This property is located on the Lowell road, close by Westford depot.
The Old Oaken Bucket farm folks motored to Framingham last week Friday to visit Mr. and Mrs. Carlos D. Cushing at their summer camp. They will not return to Florida until October. Everybody was behind with farm work and they show it and dry weather. We informed them that spring had arrived, and that they had corn six inches high which looked very promising for a crop of nothing later on. They seemed to have about equal quantities of gratitude and surprise to the information that we loaned them. Sorry that we did not hand them out some of our sweet corn, but perhaps after all it was wise not to do so, as extreme contrasts are discouraging sometimes to the late undercurrent.
The thunder-lightning shower on last week Friday afternoon rained, hailed, blowed [sic] and did some harmless striking. Only the southerly section of Westford was notified and that very mildly compared with Chelmsford, East and South Billerica and South Lowell, where hailstones as large as marbles fell, which wounded many of the tender crops in their descent.
The Old Oaken Bucket farm sent their first sweet corn to Boston market on Monday, August 6. This was planted May first with mud several inches deep in spots in the field. Next year we are planning on April 15 for first planting.
I read with much pleasure and enlightenment from the interesting pen of the Man About Town his reference to the labor of love of Luther Burbank, the so-called wizard of vegetable and fruit propagation. I have nothing to add and nothing to subtract, but I do rise to a point of explanation. Lancaster is referred to as his native town. Well, now see here, Mr. Man About Town, I was taught in my youthful days, beginning about thirty-nine years ago, that Luther Burbank was born in Harvard and occupied his early life there. Now how comes it that I have been taught wrong all these youthful days, and also how I am to have my doubtful ignorance removed? I have it! When Teachers Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4 or more come over from Harvard to face me in a questionnaire contest the first question that I will open the contest with is Luther Burbank a native of Harvard? [Luther Burbank (1849-1926) was born in Lancaster, Mass., per Wikipedia, not Harvard.]
Friday we were all expected to solemnly and reverently pay our last honors and gracious respect to the memory of President Harding as he was laid to his final resting place. A man who was for humanity first, regardless of whether there was anything in it for him or not. He was not for humanity, for fame, for himself. He was at all times for conditions that would promote ideal conditions for a more ideal humanity. To all outside appearances self was his last consideration, and as such he has left us an imperishable example of love for others and a heroic forgetfulness of self.
In the shower of last week Friday afternoon that rained hail and rained thunder, and lightning striking trees and houses, Chester Burnham was kicked over by lightning at his home at the corner of Providence and Littleton roads while adjusting a tire on an automobile. Three cows standing closeby [sic] were also sent to the ground with more speed than the normal law of gravitation could transport them. Neither the man, cows or ground were injured. It certainly was a remarkable escape.
And now arises the question, being fully discussed, was Vice President Coolidge legally sworn in as president of the United States? Opinions are divided about equally. The writer offers a minority report of one that when he took the oath of office as vice president by the constitution he automatically becomes president of the United States when there is a vacancy, and the presidency is all involved when he is sworn in as vice president, and all creation cannot prevent it this side of impeachment proceedings. I am not bidding for an appointment on the bench of the supreme court of the United States—I couldn’t think of such a change and leave the pumpkins and potatoes of the Old Oaken Bucket farm.
I.O.O.F., M.U., lawn party, band concert and dance, town hall, Littleton, Friday, August 17.
Introduce Us to the Bard
I quote the following from the Man About Town: “With all respect to the erudite descriptions of Stony Brook and Westford record gardens immortalized by the bard of the Old Oaken Bucket farm,” etc. Now what I uprise [sic] for now is what is meant by “erudite?” What is the meaning of the word? I suppose I might look it up in the dictionary, but sakes alive they sometimes use wrong words in their diagnosis of individuals, so I am going to compete with the dictionary in the diagnosis business. I guess the “erudite” referred to is something propelled almost wholly by hot air and without any emergency brakes or proper steering apparatus, and forever perpetual, and this last is its weakest defect, “Bard?” Who is he anyway? I have lived in the Stony Brook valley almost seventy-eight years and I do not know as I ever heard of him before, and I am well acquainted all over town, including “Texas,” Cathead, Cathead Spring and all other curio places, but no bard. I would like to be introduced because the meeting and greeting would be so fresh and refreshing. That is to be one of the chief advantages of my Harvard teachers coming to visit their kindergarten scholar. For the first fifteen minutes he is likely to appear fresh in the first introductory rounds, after that small potatoes suffering from drouth and malnutrition.
Eighty-cent Wheat. I like the way the Man About Town writes up “The agricultural situation.” It is decidedly entertaining, although most emphatically disagreeing with reference to the McCumber-Fordney tariff bill. Only for that emergency brake foreign countries would be paying their debts to us with foreign goods while we were thrown into an involuntary vacation of idleness and without anything to buy cheaper living with. Reference has been made to the duty on wheat, which I believe is thirty cents a bushel, which put Canada at a disadvantage in our market. Consequently our Canadian friends take our European markets away from us. Now see here, Mr. Man About Town, any tariff that foreign countries do not like, such as the McCumber-Fordney tariff, you can lay down as fundamental law of common sense to build on for the future that is a good tariff for the American people.
In regard to Canada taking the [paper torn, line missing] why the whole civilized wheat world is overstocked with wheat and it is difficult to get a market to grab in proportion to the surplus wheat to supply with and only for the thirty-cent tariff our own market would be gobbled up by anxious foreign supplies. Hence our protective tariff does not suit foreign free trade. Do not forget these things even if you forget to say amen at the end your prayer.
That the wheat farmers are in financial trouble there can be no doubt, with eighty-cent wheat that they claim cost a dollar to raise, and five-dollar-a-day mechanics to build machinery to raise this wheat with, and everything else that he has to buy out of proportion in price to his eighty-cent wheat, and the situation is financially serious to the farmer. But the wheat farmers are not the only ones who have years when they get into financial straight-jackets. Last year the potato farmers in the west got badly pinched and thousands of acres were never dug, and thousands of bushels were fed to stock that did not pay the cost of raising, and within five years the Aroostook farmers claimed not to have got enough to pay their fertilizer bill. Nor is this all. Many eastern farmers who specialize in raising apples did not get out whole last year, reckoning their own time at current farm wages.
Here is a sample: My gross receipts for apples was $5000 and my gross expenses $6000. Now if the government, by extra session of congress, which is being petitioned for, is going to fix the price of wheat at a rate per bushel that will make them prosperous and guarantee all losses, pass it around to apples, potatoes, peanuts and chewing gum. For one I am opposed to the principle. The new senator from Minnesota was asked, “What are you going to do?” His reply was “I don’t know.” Like all of us, he is over stocked with “don’t know knowledge.”
Eighty-second Anniversary. I certainly was interested and delighted to read last week under the Shirley news of the plans for the eighty-second birthday anniversary of William Jubb to be held at the home of his daughter, Mrs. L. J. Edgarton, last Saturday and Sunday.
I wish to add just a personal word of tribute. I clearly recall him as a boy and man living at Westford Corner on a small farm with his parents and other brothers and sisters. He was a most genial and lovable youth, interested in all departments of public welfare, and best of all he has preserved this youthful, active, self-sacrificing spirit for more than four score years, and is still in action. Too many spike their guns far too early and begin to prepare for the underground residential section, and it is so refreshing to find an occasional youthful spirit like a refreshing oasis in a desert that does not age up or edge up to final years before it gets there. The slang phrase has it “You’ll be a long time dead.” Just so, and because it is so why lengthen the stay by arriving years before you get there for “keeps” by paralyzing the youthful spirit by inaction? I am glad to pay tribute to one youthful spirit who has not. Keep it up, William.
I recall that the last time that I saw him, as I recall it now, was at neighbors’ night meeting at Groton Grange. He still held well preserved the legacy of his youthful spirit, well illustrated by his apt, youthful story-telling. The home of his youthful days in Westford is now owned by the Abbot Worsted Co. and from this farm is pumped the water supply for the growing village of Brookside.
I will close with just a brief allusion to his military record in the civil war not brought out last week. Hodgman’s History of Westford says “Sergt. William Jubb enlisted August 5, 1862, 33rd Regiment, Company E, and was discharged June 11, 1865, at expiration of service and close of war.” Of the 33rd Regiment the historian says in part, “It performed the task of climbing Raccoon Ridge [Chattanooga, Tenn.] October 29th, and charging the enemy and driving him out of his rifle-pits. This was declared by General Hooker to be the greatest charge of the war. In that perilous undertaking Thomas J. Hutchins [of Westford and also of Co. E] was killed and his body was found within ten feet of the enemy’s works. Sergt. William Jubb leaped over the defences [sic] and was collared by a stalwart rebel who attempted to stab him with a dirk. Sergt. John F. Buckley knocked down the ‘reb’ with his musket and saved the life of his comrade.” Such and more was Sergt. William Jubb in the history of the civil war, and such is plain William Jubb in the varied activities of life as I recall his youthful spirit.
An Interesting Trip. A visit by madam’s sister, Mrs. Grace Manchester, of Newport, R.I., furnished an excuse for an extended auto trip, so last week Tuesday we started northward on the Daniel Webster highway. The next morning from the beginning of the Franconia Notch we went onward past the Profile House, little thinking that before reaching home it would be in ashes. Passing through the Crawford Notch we turned again northward, through the Pinkham Notch to Gorham. From there we rode by the bank of the Androscoggin river which for many miles was nearly covered with logs, largely for the paper mills at Berlin, the next town, where were huge piles of logs, covering acres and more than 100 feet high. In one place, where a dam held back the water, more than 100 acres of logs were in sight at once. After several stops we passed the Dixville Notch and camped for the second night between there and Colebrook. Haying in this region was still at its height; the season, because of latitude, being about two weeks later than with us.
Roads were very dusty, indicating that drouth was full as intense as with us. Two autos of the wildest looking gypsies we ever saw met us headed toward the east. The third day we journeyed southward by the Connecticut, through a fertile valley of prosperous, large dairy farms. Little was here to be seen of the unused farm and empty buildings of the smaller farm so much in evidence in some other valleys we passed along.
Parts of the route we followed between Lancaster and Wells River are not to be recommended as automobile highways to say the least. The third night a thunder shower threatened us an extra bath, but did not materialize. In the morning a leaking carburetor, a blown generator fuse and a punctured tire were to be reckoned with to show that never does everything go smooth in this world. Needed things for a punctured tire were under the seat and the other things were quickly seen to in the next town. Barre, Vt., claimed to be the greatest granite center of the world. From here we went down the Williamstown Gulf, through Royalton to White River Junction. Thence we went past Sunapee Lake to Franklin, N.H., and along the Daniel Webster highway home after a trip of 573 miles in five days.
- W. Wheeler
Graniteville. The mills of the Abbot Worsted Company were started up at the usual time on Monday morning when the employees returned after enjoying a brief vacation.
The Abbot Worsted club have been having rather hard luck of late, but broke into their winning stride on Tuesday evening when they won a fine game from the Gardner A.A. by the score of 6 to 2. On Wednesday the Abbots played a [paper torn, line or two missing] and on Thursday evening the Brooklyn Royal Giants were the attraction in Graniteville. On Saturday afternoon of this week the Abbots will play the Woonsocket club here in a Twilight league game. The game will be called at three o’clock.
Public memorial services were held in the town hall on Friday in honor of our departed president, Warren G. Harding. Special memorial services were also held in St. Catherine’s church in the evening at 7:30, conducted by the pastor, Rev. A. S. Malone.
The postponed swimming party under the auspices of the members of the Epworth league and the Graniteville Brotherhood will be held at Long pond, Littleton, this Saturday.
A daughter [Elizabeth Healy] was born to Mr. and Mrs. Edward Healy on Saturday, August 4.
Both masses in St. Catherine’s church last Sunday morning were celebrated by the pastor, Rev. A. S. Malone. Preparations are now being made for the big carnival that will be run in aid of the church building fund in the near future.
Ernest Deeming, formerly of the Samoset Worsted Co., Woonsocket, R.I., has recently accepted the position of superintendent of the Abbot Worsted mill in Graniteville.
Forge Village. A group of seven young men from this village and George and Charles Cavanaugh, from Groton, sons of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Cavanaugh, spent last week camping at Silver lake, Hollis, N.H., returning home on Sunday evening with a good coat of tan. Although the first of the week was not very pleasant, during which time they spent in indoor sports, such as boxing and wrestling, the latter part of the week was spent in swimming, ball playing and boating, making up for time lost by being kept indoors the first of the week. All enjoyed themselves and are looking forward to another week next summer at the same place.
Miss Ruth Cavanaugh spent last week with relatives in Pawtucket and Providence, R.I., making trips to Newport and Narragansett Pier during her stay and enjoyed the cool breeze of Narragansett Bay during the hot days, returning home on Sunday evening all tired out.
Ayer
District Court. Joseph McDonald, of Westford, was before the court for assault and battery on his wife, Josephine McDonald. Upon the request of Mrs. McDonald the case was dismissed, costs of $7.39 being assessed on Mr. McDonald.
Extension Service Notes
At Greenfield fair, September 10-13, will be held the first state-wide exhibit of preserved fruit and vegetable products. There will be one entry from each county, each entry to be made up of products from not less than twelve individual club members. … Among those who have promised to help are Rachel Knight, Littleton; Alice Haywood, Westford; Hester Russell, Townsend, and Thelma Nutting, Ayer.
Westford has a fine canning club this year. Alice Haywood is president and Miss Ruth P. Tuttle is the leader. The members have decided on a goal. They hold their meetings at the playgrounds when the weather is pleasant and at Miss Tuttle’s home if it is stormy. Members from all sections of the town are combined in one club and many have to walk several miles to attend meetings.
Footnote:
President Warren Gamaliel Harding died August 2, 1923, at the Palace Hotel in San Francisco at the age of 57. He was on a west coast speaking tour. “Nine million people lined the railroad tracks as the train carrying his body proceeded from San Francisco to Washington, D.C., where he lay in state at the United States Capitol rotunda. After funeral services there, Harding’s body was transported to [his home in] Marion, Ohio, for burial.” See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warren_G._Harding.