The Westford Wardsman, August 19, 1916
Center. John R. Draper is the guest of Leon F. Hildreth this week.
Miss Hazel B. Hartford is enjoying a two-weeks’ vacation at home.
Mrs. Henry L. McCluskey, of Worcester, is a guest this week at Charles H. Wright’s. Dr. McCluskey hopes to come down Sunday for calls with the Westford friends.
Miss Lillian Sutherland is visiting in Swansey [Swanzey], N.H., where she formerly taught school. Thursday of this week was Old Home Day, for which quite a celebration was planned.
C. Willis Hildreth has been having various repairs and improvements about his pleasant home buildings this summer and William Sutherland has been doing the work.
Miss Eunice Smith, of Franklin, N.H., is visiting her aunt, Mrs. S. B. Wright.
Miss Evelyn Hamlin was among those present at the lawn party and dance under the auspices of the A.A. this week.
Mrs. J. Herbert Fletcher is spending a week or ten days at South Sudbury with her cousin, Miss Nellie Gill.
Wallace L. Cutter is discontinuing housekeeping and will board at Charles H. Bicknell’s.
William Sutherland has been spending the greater part of this week visiting a married daughter in Methuen.
The historic old First Parish church is having a repainting most appropriately in keeping with its colonial architecture, continuing to be white with green blinds. While the graceful proportions of belfry and spire of Christopher Wrenn pattern have always been much admired, it is no easy undertaking to renovate them and the weather vane at the top of the spire. It has been an interesting sight to see the workmen with their careful arrangements of ladder at work on the tall spire this week. The man who has done this particular part of the work is no professional steeplejack, but just a good painter with steady nerves and level head. It is about twelve years since this church was last painted. E. C. Pearson, of Lowell, has charge of the work, and P. Henry Harrington is in charge of various repair jobs and carpentering.
Henry Colburn has a Maxwell auto and is building a garage for the same.
While a man employed by Perley E. Wright was out Monday afternoon gathering produce to go to Boston, he met with an accident that fortunately proved no worse for him than it did. While going down Richardson’s hill something went wrong with the harness, startling the horse to run, and at Willis Hildreth’s driveway the wagon overturned, throwing the man out. The horse was kept from running away, but the harness and wagon was somewhat demolished, and the driver was pretty badly bruised and shaken up.
Miss Sarah W. Loker conducted the evening service at the Congregational church on last Sunday, which was the single service of the day. This coming Sunday evening Houghton G. Osgood will have charge of the service.
It was a great victory for the Westford A.A. last Saturday afternoon at Whitney playground to win the game from the strong St. John’s T.A. team of North Chelmsford. Both teams had an enviable season’s record and were out with a strong lineup to win. The victory went to the Westford A.A. by the score of 3 to 0. It proved the best game of the season in point of attendance and interest, there being a good attendance from both sides to witness the contest.
It was a merry group of friends and past masters and their wives of Westford Grange that gathered at the home of Frank C. Wright, master, on Wednesday evening, it being Mr. Wright’s [56th] birthday. In behalf of the company Mr. Wright was presented a handsome rocking chair and smoking set. A social evening was enjoyed and refreshments were served by Mrs. Wright.
Death. The sad death of Mrs. Ellen M., wife of Arthur H. Burland, took place at the Melrose hospital on Friday of last week. Mrs. Burland had been a patient at the hospital for five weeks, when she underwent a surgical operation when first entering the hospital. Serious complications made her case hopeless and at the last her death was not unexpected.
Mrs. Burland had not lived in Westford but a comparatively short time but all who came within the circle of her influence were impressed with the sincerity, simplicity and womanliness of her personality. She is survived by her husband and four children: two sons, Charles and Leonard, and two daughters, Ethele and Helen, and to this family circle of which she was the center, and from which she will be so sadly missed, she gave of her best in loving ministration. Mrs. Burland’s age was fifty years.
The deceased was a member of the Central M. E. church, Malden, and at her funeral service at her late home on last Sunday afternoon her pastor, Dr. L. H. Bugbee, officiated and paid loving and sincere tribute to her memory. There was a large group of relatives, friends and neighbors present. The bearers were L. H. Nation of Lynn, E. Moshier of Malden, and J. P. and H. L Wright of Westford. Burial was in Fairview cemetery. The floral offerings were unusually beautiful and large in number.
Cavalry Association Reunion. The Spalding Light Cavalry association held a most successful outing and reunion at Whitney playground on Thursday of last week. Good weather conditions and other attractions made it possible for fully 200 to be in attendance, representing Westford and all the surrounding towns.
In the afternoon, at the clay pigeon shoot, John H. Wilson, of Chelmsford, secured the cup, shooting 17 of 25 birds; Henry A. Fletcher came second with a score of 14, securing the sweepstakes.
At 6:30 a dinner was served by the D. L. Page Company in the lower town hall, the menu being of the best. The entertainment in the evening was by the University quartet, of Boston. The members of the quartet were in excellent voice and their numbers gave much pleasure. They were supplemented by Herbert Clark, of Boston, in character songs impersonations and sketches. At the annual meeting held at the association building [20 Boston Rd.] in the afternoon the following officers were chosen: Capt. Sherman H. Fletcher, pres.; Capt. Horace W. Wilson, Carlisle, v.p.; Hon. Edward Fisher, sec.; Charles E. Bartlett, Chelmsford, treas.; Capt. John J. Monahan, Lieut. W. J. Quigley of Chelmsford and Caleb L. Smith of Lowell, fin. com.
About Town. At a meeting of the republican town committees in the eleventh Middlesex district, held at Chelmsford Center on last week Friday evening, Dr. Frank Small, of Chelmsford, was chosen as chairman and A. B. Northrup as secretary. A committee of one from each town was appointed by the chair to make an allotment by towns for representative for the next ten years—Alfred W. Hartford, Westford; Charles A. Kimball, Littleton; Louis Pfeiffer, Bedford; Charles Nichols, Chelmsford; Charles Allgrove, Tyngsboro; James S. Anthony, Carlisle; James Grimes, Acton. The committee reported and it was unanimously accepted and adopted the following allotment: Chelmsford, 1917-18; Carlisle, 1919; Westford, 1920-21; Tyngsboro, 1922; Littleton, 1923; Bedford, 1924; Acton, 1925-26. Among those making remarks were C. A. Kimball, Herbert E. Fletcher, Alfred W. Hartford, Louis and Immanuel Pfeiffer, Jr., James S. Anthony, Charles Allgrove, Edgar H. Hall and S. L. Taylor.
Miss Luanna B. Decatur, with a party of seven from Illinois, Virginia and Kentucky, none of whom had been nearer the north pole than New York city, took an auto view of New England. To all except Miss Decatur the scenery was a new revelation of the beauty of the world we know so little about. The route took in all of the interesting places in New England. To those who had never seen the unlimited resources of New England for inspirational beauty it will never be forgotten.
The field day of Westford Grange will be held on next week Thursday. There will be music by the Middlesex Training School band, sports, reading, singing, etc. Through the influence of the state lecturer, Mrs. George S. Ladd, Henry Cabot Lodge, senator, will give the address of the day. Other speakers will be George S. Ladd, past master; Mrs. George S. Ladd, state lecturer, and Lewis A. McBragne of Lowell. The state lecturer will provide a reader and entertainer. Basket lunch. Everybody is invited to participate in this field day, whether a Granger or not. If the weather should be of the too moist variety, the dryness of the town hall will be the convening place.
Mr. and Mrs. S. L. Taylor of Old Oaken Bucket farm, are by invitation camping at Sandy pond [Ayer] today, enjoying the sea breezes and listening for rattles on Rattlesnake hill [Snake Hill, Ayer].
Mrs. Leonard Walker, of Groton, has been a recent visitor at the Old Walker homestead farm on Main street.
Mrs. Anna Dupre, camping at Sandy pond, has been looking in at old-time neighbors in the Stony Brook valley, where in the by-gone days she dwelth [sic] with her family at the Dupre homestead farm [probably Dupee Tavern, 178 Carlisle Rd.], near Westford station [on the Framingham & Lowell Railroad].
John A. Taylor of the Old Oaken Bucket farm is catching health, pleasure and friendship at York Beach, Me.
Fred A. Snow and others, as per automobile, were guests of themselves last Sunday attending at the sight-seeing heights of Harvard.
Edwards & Monahan have charge of the repair improvements at Miss Ella Wright’s, Brookside.
John P. Wright has a new Series 17 Studebaker seven-passenger car which he purchased of the Ayer Auto station.
Forge Village. Mrs. Chester L. Blodgett is visiting at the home of her sister, Mrs. George Wyman, of Camden, N.J.
Miss Corinne Leclerc has returned home after a week’s vacation spent with friends at Barre.
Miss Henry Byron [nee Albertine Leclerc] and their children of Fitchburg were recent guests at the home of Mrs. Byron’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Felix Leclerc.
William Bennett of Providence, R.I., has been the guest of his sister, Mrs. William Hosmer [nee Jennie H. Bennett].
Mrs. A. H. Comery [Comey, nee Susannah Mellor] and two daughters spent last Thursday at Revere beach.
Many from here attended the meeting held in the town hall, Westford, on Tuesday evening to discuss the matter of extension of the electric lighting system.
William DeRoehn, of Worcester, is the guest of his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. William Weaver.
A son [Edward Merrick] was born to Mr. and Mrs. Frank Merrick of Haverhill on Tuesday [Aug. 15] at the home of Mrs. Merrick’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Mathew Elliott.
Mrs. Frank Farrell and four children, who have been staying at the home of Mrs. Margaret Wilson for several months, have gone to Canada for a visit, after which they will return to their home in St. Louis, Mo.
Cameron school will reopen September 5. The following teachers will be in charge: Miss Letitia V. Ward, principal, assistants, music Mary Garvey, Abbie M. Blaisdell and Eva F. Pyne.
Miss Edith M. Forster, who has substituted at Cameron school for the past year and a half in place of the principal, Miss Letitia V. Ward, has accepted a position as teacher in the Winchester schools in the seventh and eighth grades.
Graniteville. The members of Court Graniteville, F. of A., are busy making plans for their picnic that will be held at Nabnassett lake on Saturday, August 26. Numerous attractions will be offered, among them being the ball game between the regular Graniteville team and the South Ends or Kimball System club of Lowell. The boys are surely going to make it one good time.
St. Catherine’s Picnic. The annual picnic of St. Catherine’s church was held at Cameron park, Forge Village, last Saturday, under conditions that were in every way ideal. A large crowd were in attendance and the affair proved a great success. Numerous attractions were offered and all did a flourishing business. The Middlesex Training School band was in attendance and under the direction of James P. Larkin enlivened matters during the afternoon. Among the sporting events listed, the first was the ball game between the Red Sox of Forge Village and Tigers of Graniteville. The Forge boys played the better game and won in a hard hitting contest by the score of 18 to 14. The batteries were Connell, Gagnon, Ledwith and Pivicotte for the Tigers, while Douglas and Rose were on the firing line for the Red Sox. Harry Hartford was the umpire.
A fine list of sports were then run off that resulted as follows: 100 yd. open, won by James Mulligan, George Gower second; girls’ race, Gewinea Smith first, F. Cushing second; boys’ race, Ed Socha first, J. Belmot second; hop, step and jump, John Provost first, Ed Riney second; broad jump, Ed Riney first, J. E. York second. At the conclusion of the sports the time was spent in listening to the excellent band concert and taking in the other attractions.
The affair was brought to a pleasing close by a social dance in Abbot’s hall with Marinel’s Crescent orchestra furnishing excellent dance music. The dance was largely attended, many being present from out of town. A late car conveyed the merry party to their homes after the dance. The whole affair was one grand success and much credit is due Rev. Henry L. Scott, who had general supervision of the affair, for bringing about such a very enjoyable event. A. R. Wall was appointed general manager for the picnic, but owing to illness in his family the bulk of the work fell upon Edward Riney, the assistant manager, who was a great help to Rev. Mr. Scott and a very busy man all day. Francis Gower was the secretary and Hugh F. Dailey the treasurer. The sporting committee consisted of R. J. McCarthy, Joseph Wall, William Ledwith, James Kelley, Fred Gagnon. The ticket collectors were James and Thomas May, James Sullivan, M. B. Ledwith. Sale of checks, Miss Katherine Ward, Gladys Dailey. The ladies of the parish also ably assisted during the afternoon and evening. The committee in charge is deeply grateful to all those who helped in any way toward the success of St. Catherine’s church picnic.
Death. Miss Sarah Hayden, a well-known resident of this village [Graniteville] for many years, died at her home in West Graniteville on Friday night, August 11, after a long illness, at the age of sixty-two years. Miss Hayden, though a woman of quiet disposition, had many warm friends and was beloved by all who had the pleasure of her acquaintance. Her nearest relatives are a sister, Mrs. Hattie Reed, with whom she lived, and Fred E. Reed, a nephew, who resides in Lowell.
The funeral took place on Sunday afternoon at two o’clock and was well attended. The services were held at the house and were conducted by Rev. Alonzo S. Fite, pastor of the M.E. church, whose consoling words made a deep impression. Misses Mattie and Myrtle Blanchard sang with deep feeling and expression, “Abide with me,” “Sometime we’ll understand” and “The christian’s goodnight.” There were many beautiful floral tributes. The bearers were W. G. Blodgett, O. A. Nelson, Samuel Balch and A. H. Comey. Burial was in the family lot in Groton, where Rev. A. S. Fite officiated at the committal service.