Turner's Public Spirit, August 18, 1923
A look back in time to a century ago
By Bob Oliphant
Center. Mr. and Mrs. Herbert L. Whittemore, of Washington, D.C., are spending their vacation in town as the guests of the latter’s mother, Mrs. Addie Buckshorn [nee Fisher]. Mrs. Whittemore, who is a graduate of Vassar and Johns Hopkins university, will take up her duties in the fall as resident physician at the former college. Her many Westford friends, who will remember her as Miss Elizabeth Kittredge, wish her much success in her chosen profession.
Mr. and Mrs. Cecil Gibbs, of Boston road, are being congratulated upon the birth of a son [James Whitney Gibbs] on Sunday, August 12.
Alfred Sutherland, of Boston, who has been spending part of his vacation in town with his sister, Miss Lillian, and has been enjoying a trip to Campton, N.H., with Mr. and Mrs. A. H. Sutherland [his parents], spent the weekend in New Hampshire, going by auto, and while there visited the ruins of the Profile House, which was recently burned [on Aug. 2, 1923].
The members of the canning and sewing clubs attended an outing on the grounds of the Groton School, Groton, Wednesday, as the guests of the Farm Bureau.
Master Claude Wright [7 years old], who was gored by a cow some weeks ago, underwent an operation on his eye on Tuesday, performed by Dr. French, of Lowell.
Master Louis Clement, of Augusta, Me., is the guest of his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Gumb.
It may be of interest to the general public to get some idea of the calls handled by the local telephone exchange daily. The managers of the exchanges are required by the company once in every six months to give an account of the calls in twenty-four hours’ time. On August 7 there were 1275 local calls, 435 in-coming calls and 135 ticket calls. The calls to tool operators were not included in this list. This is just an average day’s work. The manager, Miss Phonsie Isles, handles these calls with the assistance of Miss Mabel Prescott and Mrs. Hilda Bosworth, and excellent service is given.
Mr. and Mrs. A. E. Bullock, of Manchester, N.H., who winter at Dayton Beach, Fla., have been recent guests of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Gumb. Mr. and Mrs. Bullock motored from Florida this spring in company with Mr. and Mrs. Gumb.
John Kimball, Leo McDonald, Lawrence Ingalls and Orrin Treat started this week on a seven-days’ camping tour. They intend to go over the Mohawk Trail to New York and home through the White Mountains.
Rev. J. H. [James Howard] Anderson and family of Oswego, N.Y., are spending a few weeks at the home of his brother, Rev William E. Anderson.
St. Catherine’s parish will conduct a carnival at Forge Village this week Friday and Saturday, and next month the Legion will hold their carnival.
Appropriate services in memory of our late president were held under the direction of the American Legion in the town hall on last week Friday afternoon.
Annual Reunion. The annual meeting and reunion of the Spalding Light Cavalry association was held on last week Thursday afternoon, over fifty of the veterans being in attendance and renewing old acquaintances.
During the afternoon the shoot, which is one of the big events of each reunion, was held in the field at the rear of the academy. Fred Morrison, of Chelmsford, gained possession of the coveted silver cup with the low score of 17 out of a possible 25. Edwin Currier, who had traveled 1500 miles from Lake City, Columbia county, Florida, to attend the affair, was the runner-up, making a score of 14 out of a possible 25.
The annual meeting was held at the association building on [20] Boston road. Capt. Sherman H. Fletcher presided. Reports were submitted by the treasurer, Charles E. Bartlett, and the secretary, E. A. Fisher. Resolutions were adopted on the deaths of Ernest Bartlett, George Wilkins and Elmer E. Shattuck. Five new members were voted into membership.
The officers of the past year were all re-elected for the ensuing year as follows: Sherman H. Fletcher, pres.; John J. Monahan, vice pres.; Charles E. Bartlett, treas.; Edward A. Fisher, sec.
Following the business meeting the company adjourned to the lawn at the rear of the building where a clambake was served. Clams, lobsters and all the fixings were devoured in quick time. Just previous to partaking of the food set before them, the members stood for one minute in silence and with bowed heads in tribute to President Harding.
The program of entertainment which brought the meeting to a close comprised songs by Albert W. Brown, piano selections by Wilfred Kershaw, storytelling by Jack Sidney and a number of mystifying sleight-of-hand tricks by Joseph Yarick.
Wedding. The Arlington Heights Baptist church was the scene of a pretty wedding, when Rev. John Howard Blair, of Philadelphia, Pa., a former pastor of the Congregational church in this town [1921-1923], and Miss Hazel Arlene Hovey, of Arlington, were united in marriage on Wednesday evening at eight o’clock by Rev. R. J. Davis, pastor of the church.
The bride was given in marriage by her father. Miss Sarah W. Head, organist, played the wedding march. The church was decorated with palms, ferns and pink and white asters. The wedding reception was held under a pretty white arch from which was suspended several miniature wedding bells.
The bride wore a gown of white Canton crepe with veil and she carried a shower bouquet of bride’s roses and lilies of the valley. The maid of honor, Miss Ruth Freeman, of Arlington, wore peach-colored crepe de chine and carried yellow roses. The bridesmaid was Miss Lucy Stockbridge, of Danvers, who was gowned in blue crepe de chine and carried blush roses. Ray Armstrong, a college classmate of the bridegroom, was best man.
The ushers at the wedding and reception which followed in the church vestry were William T. Murphy, Jr., of Worcester; Aynsley De Loriea, of Woburn; Maynard Hammond, of Arlington; and Elwin B. Hovey, a brother of the bride.
Miss Hovey is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. N. Hovey, of 115 Ronald road, Arlington, and is a graduate of Gordon College of Theology and Missions. Mr. Blair is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Howard Blair, of Philadelphia, and after his graduation from Colgate university and his service in the world war took a post-graduate course at Gordon college.
After the wedding Rev. and Mrs. Blair left for Vermont, and from there will motor to Philadelphia to take up their residence where Mr. Blair has accepted a pastorate.
Rev. and Mrs. Blair received many gifts of silver, cut glass and money. They have the best wishes of a host of friends.
About Town. I was much interested in reading in last week’s issue the article entitled “An interesting trip.” I read it several times for its effect which was nearest to the reality of taking the trip, and better in some respects less expensive; also, avoid meeting the “wildest looking gypsies we ever saw.” The description of this romantic mountainous region is true to the life-size picture that nature furnishes to all who will absorb it.
Prices of apples seem to indicate that the crop is not as near the famine time as lumber. The New York State Horticultural society in a recent bulletin says, “There will be about two-thirds as many New York fall apples this year as last, three-quarters as many Greenings, more McIntosh and Northern Spies and nearly twice as many Baldwins.” As I recall it last year bushels of apples rotted on the ground in New York state, so plentiful that they did not pay for picking up, and this year seems to be close to the same line. Here in town there is an encouraging prospect that early apples will be cheaper than last year. Be this as it may, here are two samples: One of the largest raisers in town is reported as saying “One dollar per box is the highest price I have got this year.” The Old Oaken Bucket farm folks say “One dollar and twenty-five cents is the highest that we have received, and that for only one box, and now they are selling all the way from fifty cents up to fifty-one cents.”
Mrs. John A. Taylor, of Cincinnati, arrived at the Old Oaken Bucket farm on Wednesday. This is the third time that she has arrived within a week and still arriving.
We attended the Farm Bureau meeting in Groton on Wednesday. It was just one sunny, inspiring affair, weather and environments. Groton cornet band, speaking sports and friendships. It was a splendid act of cheer to meet so many friends, some of long standing and some of a first “How do you do?” introduction under these cheering environments. Those in attendance from Westford were Mr. and Mrs. Houghton G. Osgood, Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Kendall, Mrs. Harry L. Nesmith, Miss Florence Wilson, T. Arthur E. Wilson, Samuel L. Taylor, Fred Burbeck, George A. Kimball and probably others that I did not see, or have forgotten. Allister McDougal, a native of this town, and now extension service administrator, presided.
Here is something to confirm facts that have been doubted. Miss Jessie M. Hoover, milk specialist, says “Our country children do not drink enough milk because their parents sell it instead of using it and the country children are more under-nourished than their city cousins. The minimum amount of milk that each child should drink daily should be one pint. It is a well known fact that we have been talking about balanced rations for hogs and cows for years and we forget sometimes that the human part of the family needs balanced rations also. This statement of Miss Hoover is confirmed in part by Dr. Eugene Kelley, agent of the state board of health, when he says, “A child born in the city has five times the chance to live and grow up than a child has born in the country.” The child in the city has a greater quantity of food. The diet of the country children and adults is heavily over-balanced with hog, ham and lamb generally, and the harvest season for doctors in the winter season is in those sections where the farmers live on salt pork and flour bread. Our excess meat diet all around is but a slight removal from cannibalism.
Charles O. Prescott is reported to have sold his home on Main street at the Center to Ralph N. Fletcher, Oak hill, in the Nabnassett district.
The houses that Edwards & Monahan are building for the Abbot Worsted Company at Brookside are a clear addition to the beauty of Brookside village, which has already been so greatly improved since the Abbot Worsted Company located there.
The Harvard teachers for the Old Oaken Bucket kindergarten scholar have planned to hear him recite the lessons they have been giving him on Saturday or Sunday afternoon.
Lest we forget—the next meeting of the Grange will be held on Thursday evening, August 23. Middlesex-North Pomona Grange, by its officers, will play company with us that evening. Luncheon that will fetch.
There will be a meeting of the trustees of the Middlesex North Agricultural society next Monday evening at the rooms of John A. Weinback on Middlesex street to take action in regard to a charity fair at [the] auditorium at Lowell and take some action in regard to the fair of the Lowell Drivers’ association.
The Henry B. Read family of Barre have been vacation camping at the Henry A. Fletcher camp at Nabnassett. After calling on their numerous friends in town they left for their home in Barre last Saturday. We never saw them look better or wiser.
The Old Oaken Bucket farm folks attended the County Farm Bureau social, sporting and speaking demonstration in Groton on Wednesday.
Oliver Desjardins has bought the meadow grass on the Coolidge farm.
We forgot to thank the superintendent of roads for oiling the Lowell road several weeks ago. Being late at the thank you business we add on a few extra thanks at the present time. And say, Mr. Superintendent, we are willing to pay our share for oiling the road. Oh yes, that’s so, perhaps the tax collector will attend to that.
Old-time Band. At the annual reunion of the Spalding Light Cavalry association held at the Association building on Boston road last week Thursday afternoon and evening, T. Thompson Blood, of Concord Junction, presented the association with a framed picture of the Dunstable cornet band, taken in 1893, before their band house in Dunstable. A list of the men is given at the bottom of the picture. They are in uniform with their instruments in their hands, standing in the places they are when playing.
The association gave Mr. Blood a rising vote of thanks for presenting this picture of the old-time associates.
The following is the list: Frank Tolles, Hiram Spalding, Addison Woodward, William Franck, Joseph Jeanette, Owen Parker, Fred Robbins, James Smith, John Upton, Alfred Greigorie, Silas P. Shattuck, Frank French, Guy Robbins, Fred Swallow, Ellsworth Palmer, Fred Wright, Xenophone Tolles, Leroy Woodward, John O. Bennett, Nat Kendall, Clarence Spaulding, Walter Lunt; standing in the house is William Rouse.
In this list we miss the names of many who were part of the original members of the band—George Fletcher, a former representative from this district; Clifton Woodward, another former state house representative; Charles Woodward, Thomas Woodward, Daniel Swallow, Jack Woodward, Henry H. Tolles, John A. Parkhurst, Lawrence Brooks, David Rideout, Brooks Cummings, Alfred Kendall and others that memory is unable to recall. They were a substantial part of Dunstable, all of whom I believe in this added list have passed on to the music of the “choir invisible.”
In the days of the Spalding Light Cavalry they were the only mounted band in the state and were an attractive novelty playing for the military drill and marching of Company F, Spalding Light Cavalry. Their style of music and style of playing always made a decided hit, mounted or dismounted.
At the annual meeting of the association Capt. Sherman H. Fletcher was re-elected president; Capt. John J. Monahan, vice president; Hon. Edward Fisher, secretary.
In the line of sports Private Morrison of Chelmsford led in sharp shooting. Albert E. Brown, of Lowell, sang several solos.
Prohibition. With others I am sorry that Teacher No. 1 wrote “finis” at the rear of his paper on “Men who made old Harvard.” Although I knew but few personally, and the others only as associated with the life of Harvard and the public welfare generally, yet it was refreshing to read what can be accomplished by effort concentrated and sensibly balanced.
But here is something “finis” may not finish, for I started a breeze which has got into the whirlwind stage when I criticized Teacher No. 1 for his views on national prohibition to which he has ably replied and at quite a length, but none too long, I hope, for my reach. I shall not attempt to reply in full at this time or in the first round, as it is classified in boxing matches. First, it would take all the space in this paper, and second, I have not the time to devote to a first round that would take all the space of this newspaper as I am busy ready to plant sweet corn next year early, instead of so late as this year, May 1. So here we are both in the ring. He started the sparring. I countered with a rebuke for so good a man to stand in with so damnable a business and all the more so because Teacher no. 1 or any other teacher or preacher or private cannot prove that the use of intoxicating liquors as a beverage is essential to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
Let us audit the question of the use of intoxicating liquors as a beverage as an essential to health, wealth, business and moral welfare generally as compared with national prohibition, has anyone noticed a greatly increased business for the undertakers? Does the daily use of a medicine when you don’t need it tend to make it more effective when you do need it? As a medicine we are coming to see that it has been very much over-estimated there. Strychnine is good as a medicine and is frequently used, but it is not recommended as a daily diet on bread as a substitute. Just as sensible, though, as intoxicating liquors as an indispensable daily beverage.
Wealth as it relates to business—before we had national prohibition about 85% of business men failed. I am a long ways from even hinting that they were all caused by the use of intoxicating liquors, but supposing that none of the 85% ever used intoxicating liquors, would you be willing to go on record as saying that if they had used intoxicating liquors daily as a beverage they would not have failed? Isn’t it a clearly self-evident fact that the daily use of liquors as the average is the most prolific cause of business inefficiency from daily laborer to millionaire business men? Would anyone outside or inside of an asylum for fools be willing to go o records as saying that if everybody would join the saloon league and be a stockholder by way of patronage for their stomach’s sake and business sake that there would be noticeable improvement all around?
Then there is the question of improving the morals of the community. In a cleaning-up campaign would there be less to do and easier to do if all hands around took to ourselves the drink habit? Now dear No. 1 Teacher, if you cannot answer these questions in the affirmative what are you standing upon and contending for, in siding in with the rum traffic? It does not seem to be essential to health, wealth, happiness or morals, because I know that you are too sensible a man to answer these questions affirmatively, and besides the liquor traffic has caused crime, poverty, vice and the premature death of 150,000 people annually.
Now the question arises has government got a moral right to prohibit what is not essential to normal life, and is a menace to health, happiness, wealth and morals? And you cast in your influence with the lowest of the low in a chorus of “No government as a right to prohibit that which cause this condition.” Well say, doctor, I mean teacher, what are you standing on to get this viewpoint? Talk about skating on thin ice, you don’t seem to be on any ice (if you are to use a slang phrase) “you’re not cutting any ice.”
Say, Teacher No. 1, to digress a little and give you the advantage of my digression, did you read under West Acton news last week of Minister Wheeler’s allusions to the morals of West Acton? I am always interested in Acton because it was my mother’s native town. I did not know that Acton covered such a large area until I read Minister Wheeler’s allusion to its morals and as such it covers the whole territory of the United States, and like the air we breathe, this evil is everywhere present, is twin to the liquor traffic and far more aged and stubborn to prohibit than its twin, the drink habit. And of both it can be said as of old, “A pestilence that walketh in darkness; a destruction that wasteth at noonday, at last it biteth like a serpent and stingeth like an adder.” Evil does not need any energy from No. 1 Teacher to propel it, as it generates its own self-propelling power. Don’t take much; all down grad; equipped with non-applicable emergency brakes; settle transportation charge at the end of the route and terminal which is generally the almshouse or the cemetery. How proud anyone ought to feel to be privileged to help any glorious cause like this along in the name of “Prohibition never did prohibit and never can.”
Graniteville. The funeral of Mrs. Rose Hemen [or Hemans] took place from her home at 8:30 o’clock last Saturday morning and was largely attended. At nine o’clock a funeral mass was celebrated in St. Catherine’s church by Rev. A. S. Malone. The regular choir, under the direction of Miss Mary F. Hanley, sang the Gregorian chant. There were many floral offerings. The bearers were Frank Healey, Joseph Carpentier, Henry J. Healey, Joseph Couture, William H. Healey and Alfred Prinn. Interment was in St. Catherine’s cemetery, where the committal prayers were read by Rev. A. S. Malone.
There will be no services at the Methodist church on Sunday, as a large number of the members are planning to attend the Methodist camp meeting at Sterling Junction. There was no prayer meeting on Friday evening.
Rev. J. H. Anderson and family, of Oswego, N.Y., are spending a few weeks at the home of his brother Rev. William E. Anderson, Westford.
Mrs. Patrick Murphy and Mrs. Hannah Cronin, of Somersworth, N.H. and Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Butler, of Lewiston, Me., have been recent guests of Mr. and Mrs. William L. Wall.
Rev. J. H. Anderson, pastor of the Trinity Methodist church, Oswego, N.Y., preached an eloquent sermon to a large congregation at the Methodist church on last Sunday morning. The soloist was Mrs. Thomas Woodworth, of Somerville.
Many from here attended the public memorial service in honor of the late President Warren G. Harding that was held in the town hall at the Center on last week Friday afternoon at 2:30. The Methodist church bell was tolled at five o’clock designating the time of the funeral in Marion, Ohio.
Miss Reta [sic] Pendlebury is spending a two-weeks’ vacation at St. Anne’s camp, Long-Sought-for pond as the guest of Mr. and Mrs. C. J. Ingalls and family, of Lowell.
A special memorial service in honor of the late President Harding was held in St. Catherine’s church on last week Friday evening. The services were conducted by Rev. A. S. Malone, who gave an eloquent address, followed by the reading of the Psalms especially fitting for the occasion. The regular choir was in attendance, and under the direction of Miss Mary F. Hanley, sang “Lead, kindly light” and “Nearer, my God to Thee.” After Fr. Malone had read a special prayer dedicated for this particular occasion, the choir and congregation joined in singing “Holy God, we praise thy name.” The services was most impressive.
All the places of business, including the stores, were closed here on last Friday. One could not buy a soda or cigar on this day. The day was really a day of mourning in keeping with the sorrowful occasion.
Groton
Field Day. Wednesday was an ideal day for the third annual field day and picnic of the Middlesex County Farm Bureau and the Middlesex County Extension Service. Roughly estimated about 2000 persons were said to be present, coming largely in automobiles, about 250 of which were parked on the grounds of the Groton School, where this event was held. …
In the croquet championship, in which women competed, Elizabeth Carter of Westford, 12 years old, took the championship over 14 older women, defeating Mrs. Tennyson W. Simpkins of Chelmsford in a close final game.
In the morning also there were sports for the members of the junior achievement clubs, held between towns. For the third consecutive year Westford won the greatest number of points, thus gaining permanent possession of a silk banner. Races were included in these sports, which were often closely contested.
In the afternoon there were 27 races, ranging from dashes of various lengths to spoon and egg races, sack races, tugs of war, pipe and tobacco races, shoe scrambles and arithmetic races, relay and chariot races and an amusing Ford race between women drivers, who had to drive between two rows of barrels set close together, without hitting them. … Five banners were awarded to the towns represented by the winners in these contests and at the close of the day Carlisle was present with a huge banner, having won the most points. The winning towns, with their scores, were as follows: Carlisle 197, Chelmsford 97, Burlington 82, Westford 43, Groton 36. …
Ayer
Real Estate Transfers. The following real estate transfers have been recorded from this vicinity recently: …Westford, Amasa A. Brown to Steevir Zinkavich, land on Westford road; John H. Eacrett to Young Women’s Christian Association of Lowell, land on Tyngsboro road; Thomas G. Robbins est. by adm. to John H. Eacrett, land on Tyngsboro road.