The Westford Wardsman, December 14, 1918
Center. Edward M. Abbot has received his honorable discharge from the officers’ training camp at Camp Zachary Taylor, but will take a vacation before returning to Westford.
Mrs. Harold W. Hildreth spent over the weekend with a former college classmate at Abington this last week.
Miss Mabel Drew visited a few days this week with a long-time friend in New Bedford.
Miss Elinor Colburn is playing the organ at the Congregational church during the absence of Miss May Atwood in Florida.
The regular meeting of the Red Cross took place Wednesday afternoon at Library hall. There is a large consignment of refugee garments to be completed and sewers are needed. Will more willing needlewomen plan to give the time each week to these meetings? Many bags of clothing were packed and sent from this branch last week, the articles being useful and of uniformly good quality with many woolen things among them.
The home guard drill Tuesday evening brought out only fair attendance. Major Tuttle of Concord with his adjutant was present for inspection. Several young men were present as new recruits. Others are wanted as according to our officer’s statements there is no danger that the home guard will be mustered out for eighteen months or two years. Men who neglect attendance on drills may get a bad surprise in the shape of a dishonorable discharge. It developed that the North Chelmsford delegation of the company were having trouble with their feet, so that the company voted to hold a dance in North Chelmsford next Friday night.
Last Sunday at the Union Congregational church Rev. Overt L. Brownsey commenced his pastorate with earnest and appropriate sermons in the morning and evening. A good attendance greeted him at both services.
A liberty loan flag has been suspended across the highway near Wright & Fletcher’s store with its four blue bars indicating the four liberty loans and underneath two blue stars which signifies that Westford went over the top twice with its allotment. The total allotment for the four loans was $200,000 and the amount raised was $279,000 by the town of Westford.
An all-day Ladies’ Aid meeting is being planned for next week Thursday, probably at the home of Mrs. Arthur E. Day.
The meeting of the Tadmuck club next Tuesday afternoon at Library hall will be a relief work meeting and a program for the afternoon will be in charge of Mrs. Harold W. Hildreth. Members please take notice and be loyal to their club and to the relief work.
A group of Charles A. Blodgett’s friends numbering about fifteen gave him and Mrs. Blodgett a social surprise party Wednesday evening. Incidentally it was Mrs. Blodgett’s thirty-seventh birthday anniversary and as Mr. and Mrs. Blodgett’s marriage took place in the early autumn [Sept. 11, 1918] their friends took occasion to remember both events with pretty individual gifts. Their coming was a real surprise and pleasure to the recipients and a happy evening was spent with sociability, cards and refreshments. The guests departed at the close of the evening with many good wishes for long life, health and prosperity.
George H. Walker had the misfortune to lose a horse this last week.
Don’t forget the Red Cross membership drive this next week. Everyone should feel that he or she can afford a dollar for membership in this organization. Alfred N. Hartford is chairman of this drive for membership fees.
About Town. Secretary McAdoo, the successful legal pocket picker as it relates to liberty bonds, passed over the Stony Brook railroad on Thursday, going towards Ayer.
Gerald H. Decatur, who has been in the employ of H. E. Fletcher Company, stone contractors on Oak hill, left town on Thursday for New York city, having accepted a position with the American Sugar Refining Co.
It was award night at the Grange at the last meeting. George Trask, of the Middlesex Farm Bureau, was present and exhibited some attractive lantern slides relating to conservation of food as it is related to canning. The girls’ canning club displayed an excellent array of all kinds of canned goods. Ruth Sargent and Anna Shaddick raised two pigs last year. The writer, not being able to be present, can’t say whether the pigs were there or not. They were commended by Mr. Trask for their future sight in raising a pig. Marion Woodbury and Ruth Loveless read papers relative to the growing and canning of garden truck. This club was formed by Mrs. Frank C. Wright and Mrs. William R. Taylor, and the following girls are members: Marion Woodbury, Ruth Sargent, Edna Sargent, Ruth Loveless, Marion and Mildred Fletcher, Gladys Ingals and Anna Shaddick. They all did their best and received prizes which were presented by Mr. Trask.
The Ladies’ Sewing circle and Westford Branch Alliance will meet with Mrs. Alma M. Richardson this week Saturday afternoon at 2:30; subject, “Shakers.” Miss Alice M. Howard and Miss Mabel Drew will present the subject. This is to be an important meeting and all members are urged to be present. This alliance is a vital part of the working force of the First Parish Unitarian church and was organized in 1891. The following is a list of those who were active in the welfare of the Alliance and church: Honorary members, Mrs. Benjamin H. Bailey, Mrs. Harrison B. Hall; in memoriam, Mrs. J. M. Bernard, Mrs. W. F. Balch [d. 1913], Mrs. Alvin Fisher [d. 1914], Mrs. John M. Fletcher [d. 1913], Mrs. H. M. Seavey [d. 1914], Mrs. George T. Day [d. 1917] and Mrs. Hiram Whitney [d. 1917].
Our old-time friend, neighbor and schoolmate at the Stony Brook school, Charles E. Walker, called on us Tuesday. It was an hour of familiar reminiscences of ye olden days, when he was a tall, familiar figure in school and on the farm. He is holding well to his legacy of health and Yankee intelligence and will reach four score years next March. At present he is living with his two sisters on a small farm in West Fitchburg.
The funeral of Mrs. Nellie V. Lowe, for several years a resident of Westford, took place last week Thursday afternoon from her home on Middlesex street, Lowell. The services were conducted by Rev. Oliver W. Hutchinson minister of the Highland M.E. church. The bearers were Harry Grover, Charles T. Killpatrick [sic], Fred W. Bowles and George Q. E. French. Burial was in the family lot in Westlawn cemetery.
The next meeting of Westford Grange will be held on Thursday evening, December 19, and will be observed as Christmas night, in charge of Ella May Wright and Edith Wright.
While we have been gnashing our teeth in a national chorus of “the high cost of living,” we were actually being pampered in comparative luxury. A local paper shows the needlessness and ingratitude of the chorus. “The cost of food in Italy is startling. Word comes from reliable sources that eggs in Italy are worth 25¢ each, fish $2.30 a pound, condensed milk 85¢ a can, Quaker oats $2.60 a package, shoes $18 a pair and a decent garment like a serge mantle costs $160. Prices like these cause us to realize here that we have been comparatively comfortable and that our managed affairs in food, fuel and material have been beneficently conducted.”
John A. Taylor writes from Paris that he recently got acquainted with a Y.M.C.A. worker in the same camp, who said she was from Kansas and her father was born in a humble town in Massachusetts. A few inquiries brought out the information that it was Westford, she being Elizabeth Flagg, the daughter of Edwin Flagg, so well known to Westford people as the good, exemplary citizen, born at the Flagg residence [in 1839]. Her father died in Kansas and is laid at rest in Fairview cemetery, Westford. Miss Flagg is a cousin of Elliott F. Humiston of West Chelmsford. Old friendships take on added importance when renewed 3000 miles from home and under the surroundings of war. He writes of teaching school at Miami university one year and recently at the Y.M.C.A. camp in Paris came across a professor at Miami in a Y. uniform whom he had not seen for nine years. He is a professor of French and extremely handy at it and useful interpreter.
Mrs. Margaret O’Brien died at her home in South Westford Tuesday, aged 72 yrs. and 9 mos. Fuller particular and an account of the funeral, which was held Thursday afternoon, will appear next week.
Obituaries. The funeral services of Mrs. Clara (Griffin) Bradbury, who died in the early part of last week, took place from the home of her sister, Mrs. George Withed, Lowell, last week Thursday afternoon. The services were conducted by Rev. Herbert E. Benton, pastor of Grace Universalist church. There was an exceptional display of flowers. The bearers were George Whithed, Charles M., Frank A. and Adams Griffin. Burial took place in the family lot in Fairview cemetery, Westford.
Mrs. Bradbury will be pleasantly remembered as Miss Clara S. Griffin, one of seven children of Timothy L. and Lydia (Gates) Griffin, and was born in Westford in 1861 at the old Griffin homestead in the south part of Westford, in Parkerville. Her father took a prominent part in the Parkerville lyceum and debating society, held in the “little red schoolhouse” in the palmy days of district schools.
Mrs. Bradbury is survived by two sisters, Mrs. George Whithed and Viola Griffin, and three brothers, Frank A., Adams and Charles M. Griffin, who is living in the old homestead in Westford.
Miss C. Abbie Butterfield died last Saturday night at her home in Tyngsboro at the age of eighty-four years. She will be remembered by the residents of the old Stony Brook school district as the first teacher in the new Stony Brook schoolhouse, and continued as teacher for a long term of years. It was through her efforts that the mottoes on the walls of the schoolroom were hung as an incentive to ideal living. She has been affectionately remembered by her former scholars in this district and only recently several visited her at her home near the banks of the Merrimack river in Tyngsboro, her native town, and where all her life was passed.
She was actively interested in village improvement endeavors, public library, aesthetic attainments of the town and when health would permit a constant attendant at the First Parish Unitarian church, where she was active in all movements for its welfare and where her father, the late Deacon Cyrus Butterfield, was an officer for many years.
The deceased is survived by one brother, Jesse B. Butterfield, and a sister, Miss Rebecca R. Butterfield; two nephews, Wallace P. and C. Frank Butterfield.
The funeral took place from her late home in Tyngsboro, Tuesday afternoon, Rev. Albert C. White, minister of the Unitarian church, conducting the service. The bearers were A. A. Wallace, C. Frank and Jesse B. Butterfield. Burial was in the family lot in Sherburn cemetery.
Forge Village. A very pleasant party was given on Saturday at the home of Mr. and Mrs. James Kelley [Kelly?] on the occasion of the twentieth birthday anniversary [Dec. 8] of their son Thomas. Mr. Kelley received many beautiful presents, among them being a gold watch chain from his mother. Songs were given by Alexander Scott, William Kelley, Master John Kelley, Thomas Gallagher and Thomas Costello. The accompanists were Miss Annie Kavanaugh and Master John Venn. Refreshments were served by Mrs. Philip Lord, Mrs. Thomas May and Mrs. George Mitchell. Among the out-of-town guests were Mr. and Mrs. George Mitchell of Lowell, Martin Judge of Methuen and Miss Valentine of North Chelmsford.
The annual Christmas tree exercises will be held in St. Andrew’s mission on Wednesday evening, December 18.
George D. Wilson has returned from Camp Humphries, Va., and has accepted an excellent position with the Abbot Worsted Co., where he was formerly employed.
Francis Sullivan has received his honorable discharge from the navy and is at home again.
John Spinner, jr., who has been at Camp Devens for the past few months, is at home again and has resumed his former position with the Boston and Maine railroad.
There were no sessions at Cameron school last week Friday afternoon owing to the storm. The pupils are rehearsing for the Christmas exercises, the grammar grades under the direction of the principal, Mrs. Nelson O’Clair, will give a drill as a special feature.
Mrs. Percy Hargreaves of Somerville visited relatives last week Wednesday.
John Brown caught an unusually fine mink recently. Several skunks and muskrats are also among his collection.
Mrs. Ellen Flynn is very ill at her home, her illness dating back several months. Her daughter, Miss Mamie, who is caring for her mother, has also been under the doctor’s care.
Preparations are underway to hold an experience party for the benefit of St. Andrew’s mission early in the coming year.
Mrs. Ada Brooks of Whitman is the guest of Mrs. H. E. Randall.
Graniteville. Howard Haynes, the nine-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Nelson Haynes, of this village, died suddenly of hemorrhage of the brain early Tuesday morning, December 10. Besides his parents he leaves seven brothers and one sister. The Haynes family moved here from Framingham some few months ago.
The members of Cameron circle, C. of F. of A., held their regular meeting on Tuesday night with a good attendance.
The moving pictures are making a great hit here. Some fine pictures were thrown on the screen on both Monday and Wednesday night and an entire change of program will be given on next Monday night.
The Red Cross membership drive will commence on December 11 and continue till December 23. All are urgently requested to renew their membership for 1919.
Pepperell
Camp Devens Orchestra Here. The second appearance of the 212th Field Signal orchestra from Camp Devens was met with pleasure by the audience which assembled in the vestry of the Congregational church on Thursday evening of last week. The leader, Corp. Earle, is a graduate from the New England Conservatory of Music, and each member of the orchestra is an artist. The entertainment was a success, socially and financially. Thirteen boys came up from camp and were first given a good supper by the ladies.
The program consisted of orchestra selections, piano and vocal solos, character sketches, camp songs and an instructive talk upon field signaling. Demonstrations were given, with messages furnished by the audience. The messages were given by the “buzzer,” by semaphore and by wig-wagging.
The evening’s program was in charge of Corp. Earle, who proved himself a fine organist. Before returning to Camp Devens the men had a “pie feed.”
On this occasion, as well as their previous appearance at the high school dance, the orchestra certainly added to their laurels already established in Ayer.
Ayer
Camp Notes. The statement officially coming from war headquarters that the 76th Division has been reduced to 1000 men from the 27,000 which originally comprised it has been misconstrued by a great many people who think that the division has had 26,000 casualties. As a matter of fact the losses in killed and wounded in the original division has been very small. The diminution of the number as given above is due to the fact that practically the whole division has been used as replacement troops to fill the places of men in the other divisions who have been rendered unfit for duty. It is understood that many of the men have been transferred to the famous fighting 26th Division to fill the places made vacant by the above causes.
A battalion of the 36th regiment of infantry at Camp Devens has been ordered for service in Boston. It is not known what specific duty will be given to the 1000 men in the battalion, most of them enlisted volunteers from the middle west.
The 42 infantry regiment has been ordered to Camp Upton, N.Y., where only limited service men are now known to be located. According to reports the regiment is intended for garrison duty for the camp and to receive returning men from overseas.
About 1200 men per day are being discharged from Camp Devens, beginning last week Tuesday. Previous to that time smaller numbers have received discharges daily. That the men returning to civilian life are pleased to be relieved from military duty is shown by their conduct coming to the railroad station from the camp to start for home.
Limited and domestic service men will continue on duty in the permanent camp units, which they have creditably performed. General service men are filling the ranks to full strength.
The review of the 74th infantry regiment, which was postponed on account of the inability of Major General Clarence R. Edwards, recently returned from France, and Governor McCall to be present, took place last week on the division parade ground in the presence of a great crowd.
To Camp Devens has come the distinction of being selected as one of the sixteen camps in the country for the entire American army for demobilization.
Major General McCain, commander of the camp, addressed the entire 12th Division recently for the last time. Among other things he counselled the men to take back to civil life the lessons they had learned in the army; to keep what they had, clean bodies and minds and a high sense of loyalty to the government.
Up to this week Friday night 10,000 men will have been discharged from the Deport Brigade and development battalions.
Six hundred spruce lumber men have arrived from Maine to be discharged.
Up to date 7000 jobs have been offered to discharged men, chiefly from railroad companies.
The Boston Red Cross opened a canteen at the discharging station on Tuesday. Hot coffee and biscuits were served.
Another fine entertainment was given at the Soldiers’ club on Monday evening, which was largely attended by the soldiers and their friends.
Eleven wounded soldiers arrived here last week from a hospital in Washington, D.C., and went at once to the base hospital at Camp Devens, where they will remain until fully recovered.
Federated Church. At 10:30 Sunday morning Rev. George K. Carter, secretary at Y.M.C.A. hut 30, Camp Devens, will preach. At twelve o’clock the Sunday school meets. Herbert J. Webb is to lead the men’s bible class. The young people’s meeting will be held at 6:30, the pastor being the leader. All are invited, especially the soldiers. The mid-week prayer service will be held on Thursday evening at 7:30.
Federation House Notes. Saturday afternoon and evening, at 2:30 and 7:30 motion pictures—Pathé News; “The girl of the golden west,” with all-star cast, and cartoons.
Sunday evening, at 7:30, religious service with speaking by the superintendent. Singing by Miss Ruth Mitchell, contralto, of North Andover.
Wednesday evening, December 18, at 7:30 motion pictures and musical entertainment; free to soldiers and civilians.
Friday evening, December 20, at 7:30, the First Baptist church of Fitchburg will furnish entertainment for the soldiers and their friends.
District Court. Henry Roach was found guilty of a similar offense [violation of the town automobile law] and was fined ten dollars. After this sentence was given it developed that Roach had been found guilty of a serious infraction of the state automobile law several months ago in the local court, when the court increased the fine to twenty dollars, which the defendant smilingly paid. Under the last-named complaint Roach was found guilty of recklessly driving an automobile when he ran into an automobile containing soldiers on the East Main street overhead bridge, knocking the machine with its occupants through the fence, down the steep slope of the bridge, wrecking the car and slightly injuring the soldiers. Roach, upon being asked if he lost his state license on account of this accident, sprung a joke when he said that he had no license to lose, it being the first time that this fact became known.
Groton
News Items. A regiment of soldiers passed through town on Wednesday.
Ayer
Aviators Arrive. A great crowd was at the railroad station on Wednesday afternoon to greet more than a thousand aviators who were bound for Camp Devens. The trains came direct from the dock at Charlestown, where the men arrived on the Steamship Canopic, from France, in the forenoon. There was much disappointment when the trains failed to stop at the station, the soldiers being taken around the “Y” south of the depot to the detrainment point at the camp near Davis’ crossing. Many in the large crowd had come in the expectation that they would see their relatives and friends among the party of air warriors. When it was seen that the trains were not going to stop a great rush was made up the track to the camp in order that they might be able to see them there. They were again disappointed as no one was allowed this privilege, as the soldiers are to be in strict quarantine in order to prevent any possible outbreak of disease.
At the camp the returning warriors were given a great reception. A parade, led by a camp band, which met the men at the train, took place, the march being through the main highway in the camp to the barracks reserved for the new arrivals, who will remain there until discharged. Contrary to expectations none of the 76th Division came. Forty-seven states were represented in the returning men.
Townsend
Center. Townsend seems to be hard hit by the second appearance of the influenza epidemic in town, the physicians reporting between fifty and sixty cases at the present time.
Harbor. Influenza is the order of the day in this village. So many children are afflicted that school closed Wednesday for the remainder of the week.