The Westford Wardsman, August 16, 1919
Center. Mr. and Mrs. William A. Woodward of Rockport, were in town on Wednesday, calling on friends. Mr. Woodward was a former teacher at the academy.
We note the recent engagement of the daughter of Walter D. Falls, Miss Rachel Helen Falls, to Ernest Richard Orrell, of Lowell.
Misses Gertrude D. and Julia H. Fletcher have been on a vacation this week at Hampton Beach and other points of interest.
Ervin L. Farr is having a few days’ vacation, visiting his daughter Frances in Middleton, Vt.
Mr. and Mrs. E. E. Campbell and daughter Anne and Miss Gladys Felch of Townsend have been recent guests of Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Bridgeford; also Mrs. Daniel Campbell, of Townsend hill, has been spending a week with Mr. and Mrs. J. K. Felch.
Mrs. H. S. Cheever and daughter Ida spent last week with Mrs. Sydney B. Wright.
An aeroplane [sic], very audible and visible, passed over town Wednesday evening about seven o’clock, going in an easterly direction.
Elmer Bridgeford has recently spent a week with relatives in Townsend.
Miss Maude Robinson, who has had an interesting experience in school teaching in Montana, and who had remained after the usual closing of schools in June for special summer work in teaching, arrived in Westford on Thursday of last week and was able to be with her sister, Mrs. Hartford, the last days of her life. The tie between these two sisters was an especially affectionate one and she has the sincerest sympathy of her friends in the loss of her only sister.
Sidney B. Wright’s team and an auto truck collided Wednesday morning not far from the town hall, and what looked like a serious mix-up for a few minutes came out without serious result to either party. The accident was caused by Mr. Wright’s horse taking fright and backing into the auto truck.
A series of tragic happenings have come to the George H. Hartford family within a comparatively few months, or at least well within a year. Last fall Stella, the youngest daughter of the family and a young bride in a new home, died [Dec. 27, 1918, in Plaistow, N.H.,] after a few days’ illness with influenza. This was during the serious epidemic of influenza last fall. A few weeks later the husband of Marion, another daughter, was killed in an automobile accident [May 5, 1919, in Lowell]. This was the late Bert E. Cole. And now comes the sad death [August 10, 1919, in Westford] of the wife [nee Grace May Robinson] of the youngest son, James B. Hartford.
Mrs. Annie Barnard and Miss Florence M. Barnard, of Brookline, are spending the remainder of the month of August with Mrs. C. Willis Hildreth.
Miss Jennie M. Chandler was in town last Saturday, calling on old friends.
The A. H. Sutherlands drove to Swanzey, N.H., Sunday. They left Miss Lillian for a visit with friends, she having formerly taught school there.
Miss C. S. Atwood has recently returned from a pleasant visit in Winthrop.
F. A. Hanscom conducted the single service of the vacation period last Sunday evening in the Congregational church. Mr. Hanscom treated his subject with interest and originality and a number of others helped in sustaining the service. J. W. Rafter will have charge of the meeting on Sunday evening.
Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Knight and Mr. and Mrs. H. L. Nesmith made a pleasant trip to Maine recently, going in the Nesmith automobile. They were gone three days and visited various kinspeople of Mr. Knight between here and Portland.
Rev. and Mrs. David Wallace, of Sterling, announce the engagement of their daughter, Pauline Stone, to Ernest L. Burland, of Malden. Mr. Burland has recently returned from two years in the field hospital service.
Death. The community was sincerely saddened Sunday morning to hear that Mrs. Grace Robinson Hartford had passed away in the early morning hours. Death was not unexpected for reports had gone out from her sick room for some days of her very critical condition. Mrs. Hartford had been ill for about six weeks and the result of death was from complications following an attack of influenza. Her death has caused the sincerest sympathy for the stricken family among a wide circle of friends.
Grace M. Robinson was born in Fitchburg on June 24, 1895, but the greater part of her life had been spent in Westford. She was the oldest daughter of Capt. and Mrs. Charles W. Robinson. Her education was received in the town schools and at Westford academy, and later she finished her training along business lines at the Lowell Commercial college, after which she was employed by the F. S. Beane commission house and the S. K. Dexter Co., wholesale grocers, in the capacity of bookkeeper.
On May 8, 1918, Miss Robinson was united in marriage to James B. Hartford, and they had established for themselves a pleasant new home in Ayer, where Mr. Hartford is employed by the Lowell and Fitchburg street railway.
Mrs. Hartford possessed a most attractive personality. Capable, womanly and affectionate, she filled a place in the home circle as the elder daughter to her devoted parents, sister and brother that makes her loss seem irreparable. These same attributes she carried into her new home and the loss there is the same. In the circle outside the home she enjoyed a wide friendship. She was a member of Westford Grange and of the Rebekahs of Lowell, and had been affiliated with the Unitarian church. She loved young people and children and was very skillful in teaching them and in training them for little plays, declamations and entertainments, especially, as she possessed good musical ability.
Besides her parents the deceased is survived by her husband, James B. Hartford; her sister, Maude, and a brother Fred.
The funeral services were held from the home of her parents, where her sickness and death took place, Tuesday afternoon at two o’clock, and the house was filled with the sorrowing relatives and friends. Rev. William E. Anderson, of the Graniteville M.E. church, was the officiating clergyman, and it was a very beautiful tribute he paid to the life of Mrs. Hartford and a message of hope and cheer and comfort to the relatives and friends. A delegation from the Lowell lodge of Rebekahs conducted most impressively the last rites of their order for their dead sister. Mrs. Nettie E. Roberts sang three beautiful selections, “In the garden,” Shall we meet?” and “God be with you.” The fair young form of the deceased, robed in white and in its white casket, was completely embowered in flowers. The entire room seemed filled with beautiful flowers—many large pieces from the family circle and from the various societies, as well as many other tributes, each having their eloquent message of sympathy.
The bearers were Leon F. Hildreth, Fred A. Meyer, Fred R. Blodgett and John Feeney, Jr. Interment was in Fairview cemetery.
Graniteville. It is with deep regret that the many friends of Mrs. Grace Robinson Hartford heard of her death that occurred at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Robinson, in Westford, early last Sunday morning after an illness of several weeks’ duration. Mrs. Grace Robinson Hartford was a young woman of beautiful character, only twenty-four years of age. Prepossessing in appearance, with an amiable disposition and pleasing personality, she had a bright smile and a cheerful word for everyone, and her passing is unusually sad. All that a loving husband and fond family could do, aided by the best of medical attendance, was done to alleviate her suffering, but God called her for his own and she passed into the great beyond. Gone in the full bloom of her young womanhood, she will be sadly missed by all, and the deepest sympathy is expressed for her grief stricken husband and family in the loss of one whom they held so dear.
The G.A.C. team of this village visited Littleton last Saturday afternoon and met with defeat at the hands of the Littleton A.A. by the score of 8 to 7. Littleton will play a return game here later.
Mr. and Mrs. William Gilson, of New York, are visiting relatives here.
The members of Cameron circle, C. of F. of A., held their regular meeting on Tuesday night with a good number in attendance.
Miss Catherine McCarthy, of North Chelmsford, has been a recent visitor here.
Baseball. The Abbot Worsted Co. team defeated the strong Putnam Machine Co. team of Fitchburg on the local grounds here last Saturday afternoon by the score of 8 to 7, in one of the best games of the season. Boyce, formerly of the Fitchburg New England league club, was on the slab for the Putnams, while Mulno, the regular pitcher, was in the box for the Worsted team. It was surely a battle royal with both clubs getting the same number of hits. Although both sides made errors there were some brilliant plays pulled off. The feature of the game was the triple play staged in the third inning by Mulno, Liston and Belleville. In the first of the third for the Putnams, Warsans and Morin were passed, Sargent was safe on an infield fumble, and the sacks were filled. Francis, the next man up, sent a roller to Mulno, who got Warsans at the plate. Liston threw to Belleville at first, getting Francis, and Morin, who tried to score, was extinguished at the plate, Belleville to Liston. On Saturday of this week the Abbot Worsted team will play the Forge Village club at an outing to be held at Forge Village.
Forge Village. William Blodgett of the Ridges was doing his chores about the barn last week Friday evening when he was attacked by a masked man who aimed a blow at his head with a coal shovel. He saw the man just in time to miss the full force of the blow, although he received a bad cut on his head. Mr. Blodgett grabbed the man and both fell to the floor, but the intruder however got away. The police of Groton were notified and it is thought that robbery was the motive for the assault, as tracks were found through the meadow to the place where the automobile was kept, but which has not been used since the death of the owner, the late Samuel Blodgett. The same evening the two young sons of William Blodgett were taken to ride by two strange men in an automobile. Mr. Blodgett received medical attention and it is evident that the intruder intended a knock-out blow.
The Forge Village A.C. will play the Abbot Worsted Co. team at the ball grounds when the members of Loyal Self Help Lodge, I.O.O.F., M.U., will hold a field day. There is also a fine list of sports to be run off.
The Forge Village A.C. will commence football practice shortly and Manager Kelly is making arrangements for the coming season.
A daughter [Marie Rose Rita Cantin (sic)] was born to Mr. and Mrs. Amidee Canton [sic] Friday, August 8 [9]. Also a daughter [Mary May Rose Gaderie (sic)] to Mr. and Mrs. Hellie Garaipey, August 7 and a daughter [Veronica Gertrude] to Mr. and Mrs. James Kelly on Friday, August 8 [7].
The Forge Village A.C. defeated the 36th supply baseball team of Camp Devens on the local grounds on Saturday afternoon to the tune of 16-0. The battery for Forge was Munroe, Spinner and Edwards.
The following young people are spending this week at the beach: Misses Mary Merrick, Margaret and Alice Kavanaugh at Salisbury; Elizabeth Delaney, Mary and Winnie Mulligan, Harriet and Mary O’Neil, Emily McNiff at Nantasket Beach.
Beatrice Allan of Pepperell returned home Monday after an enjoyable visit with Miss Eva Scott.
Mrs. Sarah Longbottom and two sons, Fred and Walter, and her daughter-in-law, Mrs. Ernest Longbottom [nee Polly Burnett], motored here from Lexington Sunday.
John and James McMurray, Ernest Mountain, John Kavanaugh, Joseph McDonald, Joseph Orange, Joseph Bennett, John Sullivan and George Weaver motored to Boston Saturday and enjoyed a fishing trip on the steamer King Philip.
Joseph Cantara and family have returned from a six weeks’ automobile trip to Canada.
Mr. and Mrs. Frank Collins of Cambridge are spending two weeks’ vacation at the home of their parents [Miles and Efcie (Bailey) Collins].
Pleasantly Surprised. The home of Mrs. Edmund Pendlebury was the scene of a pretty party on Thursday evening, when the many friends of Mr. and Mrs. William Cushing gathered to wish them many years of happiness. Mr. and Mrs. Cushing were married on July 24. Mrs. Cushing was a popular teacher in Cameron school until a year ago, when she accepted a position in the First National bank, Ayer. She was very active in the Red Cross, being the chairman in this village practically all the while the Red Cross was active.
Mr. Cushing arrived at Camp Devens on July 4 from across, he being a member of Company B, 326th Field Signal Battalion. He enlisted when the war was declared and served his last year in France and in the Army of Occupation in Germany.
Their many friends took this means of showing their love and esteem for them, so when Mr. and Mrs. Cushing came in from having spent the evening with friends, they were greeted by all their friends, who presented them with a clothes basket loaded with many gifts of linen, cut glass, silver, china and useful household articles. Mrs. Cushing accepted the gifts and assured them all that each and every one of them would be welcome in their home when they start housekeeping, which will be in the spring. The Forge Village Baseball club, of which Mr. Cushing is a member, were all present.
After opening the parcels Mr. and Mrs. Cushing helped their guests to enjoy the remainder of the evening. Refreshments were served and the guests departed at a late hour.
New Advertisements – Card of Thanks
We, the undersigned, wish to extend our heartfelt thanks to neighbors and friends for the many manifestations of sympathy in our sorrow and recent bereavement. We also wish to thank all for the many beautiful floral tributes.
James B. Hartford,
Capt. and Mrs. Chas. W. Robinson and family.
Westford, Mass., August 14, 1919.
Ayer
News Items. Mrs. Grace Robinson Hartford passed away on Sunday morning at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Charles W. Robinson, Westford, after an illness of six weeks, resulting from an attack of influenza. Mrs. Hartford was the wife of James B. Hartford, who is employed as a conductor by the Lowell and Fitchburg street railway. Since their marriage in May, 1918, they had established for themselves a home in town, located on Third street. During her illness she had been cared for at the home of her parents in Westford, where her death occurred. The funeral was held on Tuesday afternoon in Westford, Rev. William E. Anderson of the M.E. church, Graniteville, officiating. Burial was in Fairview cemetery.
Camp Notes. Brig. Gen. John J. Bradley has reported at Camp Devens under orders from the war department to take charge of the work of demobilization. He replaces Brig. Gen. William R. Sample, who has been reduced to his pre-war rank of colonel and sent to Syracuse, N.Y., to take charge of recruiting.
The demobilization group at the camp was reduced this week so that its daily capacity for discharging returning soldiers will be 200 a day, instead of 600 as previously. This is taken to mean that demobilization is nearly completed. It will mean a cut of twenty officers and twenty-six field clerks, who will be released from the service immediately.
A new camp adjutant has reported here for duty from the Adjutant General’s office in Washington. He is Major John M. Merrill, a regular army officer. Since the departure for service abroad of Major Charles C. Quigley, Capt. R. G. Sherman has been acting camp adjutant. He is now assistant to Major Merrill.