Turner's Public Spirit, August 13, 1921
A look back in time to a century ago
By Bob Oliphant
“Center. Mr. and Mrs. Oscar R. Spalding are enjoying a trip to the White Mountains with
headquarters at Bethlehem, N.H.
“Master Richard Hildreth [age 6] broke his right arm while at play one day last week.
“A collection of Pilgrim books and pictures of interest at this time is on exhibition at the
library. A group of dolls in Pilgrim and Indian dress, representing actual children captured by the
Indians at Deerfield has been arranged in the children’s room….
“Alec MacDougall found by the roadside one day this week a wounded carrier pigeon. He
befriended the bird, feeding and watering it, but it died the following day. On a band around one
of its legs was a Lawrence address. Mr. MacDougall communicated with this address, but has
not yet received a reply.
“Some fine loads of produce have been carried to the Boston market by the auto truckmen this
last week. Apples, corn and some peaches have been the principal items. On Sunday night
Perley E. Wright was obliged to send two trucks.
“About Town. Mt. Katahdin, Maine, has been set apart by the state as a game reservation,
and there will be no trespassing on this reservation for four years from the time of reading this
notice in the paper. This reservation is already the best stocked in New England, largely because
of the difficulty of reaching it, being isolated all by its lonesome by eighty miles from steam car,
electric car, auto or bicycle. The state is to build a road and patrol the reservation. This is one of
the greatest moves in New England in the interest of the preservation of nature life.
“Amos Polley on the Prairie farm, has a small plot of tobacco growing. This is the first
tobacco grown in the Stony Brook valley and looks in a healthy condition. If this experiment
proves a success the acreage will be increased next year.
“Another Formula. We did not intend or expect to stir the whole countryside in our claims
for morning glories as a feed for milk and cuds, but it seems that we did come close to it. Neither
can we discount anything to those who keep stock and took stock, because we have over half an
acre growing it, being the second crop they are just beginning their second blooming, and they are
just splendid to look at and their training climbing habits can’t be beat, even by poison ivy. They
will climb to the highest pinnacle and are never known to let go of its cling hold….
“Death. Eugene Cornell [Connell] died at his [parents’] home on the Lowell [Beaver Brook]
road on Sunday, July 31, aged thirty-five years. His death was the result of being stung in the ear
by a honey bee, which caused a clot of blood to form on the brain….
“Interesting Captive. By invitation the writer visited the camp of Henry A. Fletcher on Lake
Nabnassett last Saturday…. Among the many attractions of the camp is the large horned owl
which Mr. Fletcher secured in Maine. Mr. Fletcher is an authority on bird life and nature study
generally. The horned owl … in captivity at Mr. Fletcher’s camp is fed twice a week on snakes,
fish, mice and frogs; it being strictly anti-vegetarian in its habits, it has no use for farm ‘apple
sass’ generally. This bird measures nearly five feet from the tips of its wings and is a saucy
looking bird when it sights you with those large staring eyes, snaps its jaws and tears with its
claws. They live to a great age. Mr. Fletcher recalled one in Tyngsboro that has been in captivity
for sixty years and is now owned by Benjamin B. Lawrence.
“Incendiary Fire. An attempt was made between the hours of midnight, Sunday, and the
early hours of Monday morning to burn the new Methodist church in West Chelmsford, which is
in process of construction…. Fortunately the fire had not gained much headway and was quickly
extinguished. A shirt saturated with oil and a Boston American of August 4 were found close by
where the fire started. It will be recalled that the former church was burned a little over a year
ago, evidently by an incendiary fire, and the new building was under construction by Edwards &
Monahan, who hold the insurance on the unfinished church….
“Graniteville. The Abbot Worsted Co. club defeated the fast Hudson town team at Abbot
park here on last Saturday by the score of 1 to 0….”
A 1925 photo of Oscar R. Spalding (1867-1941), who was born and died in the family home
at 1 Leland Road. He was a well-known lumber dealer, orchardist and town official. Courtesy
Photo / Westford Historical Society.