Turner's Public Spirit, December 17, 1921
A look back in time to a century ago
By Bob Oliphant
“Center. The town house chimney that was put out of commission during the recent storm [of
Nov. 28] is being repaired. This accident to this chimney may have been a blessing in disguise,
for when the masons got to work it was found unsafe, in fact a pretty good fire menace. The
kitchen chimney at the back of the building also needed attention.
“Mrs. Alice May (Gilson) Kilminster’s sudden death is much mourned in this village, where
she had many friends. She attended and graduated from Westford academy and was a singer of
ability and had taken part in entertainments at the town hall.
“Westford Center is on its third week without electric lights and still crippled telephone
service, although the latter is getting back to normal better than the former. Postponements of
gatherings are still the order of the day, especially any gatherings at the town hall. The
Congregational vestry has an equipment of lamps that have made evening services possible, and
at the J. V. Fletcher library the open evenings have been managed with lamps.
“Tadmuck Club. The Tadmuck club sale on Tuesday afternoon at the Congregational vestry
did not have the most favorable weather, but the attendance was good and good sales resulted in
about sixty dollars for the club treasury. Pretty gifts for Christmas were to be found at the apron
and fancy table and a fine array of bread, cakes and pies, etc., at the poinsettia trimmed food
table. Afternoon tea was served, this table being presided over by Miss May Balch and Mrs. C.
L. Hildreth. The committee in charge were Mrs. Perley E. Wright, Mrs. J. Edward Clement, Mrs.
C. L. Hildreth and Miss Mattie Crocker. Mrs. Robert Prescott assisted at the food table….
“About Town. The Wardsman is like a community letter which goes to many places in the
United States. We feel that it is none too early to wish through these columns a Merry Christmas
to all former residents of Westford to whom this community letter goes.
“Harry Lauder – Sir Harry Lauder we might say – of Scotland, whose musical voice is well
known in this country, has sold his Woodland Park to the forestry commission of Scotland. He
had intended it for his boy – his hope and heir – who died in the world war. We are interested in
this because it was near the birthplace and homes of our own Scotch kith and kin.
“Westford may take a pardonable pride in the poems of Mrs. William R. Taylor which are
appearing under the name of Elizabeth Cushing Taylor in the Mayflower. All the Sunday school
children all over the country love this admirable little paper which the Congregational society
publishes. The poems of Mrs. Taylor make an attractive feature of it.
“We are all pleased that Donald Cameron, in the Lowell election this week, had the honor to
be elected councilor from his ward. We also note that at the recent fiftieth Y.M.C.A. convention
held in Worcester Mr. Cameron was unanimously elected a member of the state committee of the
Y.M.C.A. of Massachusetts and Rhode Island…. For the last three years he has been vice
president of the Lowell Y.M.C.A.
“A mad dog in Chelmsford Center has caused much trouble. The animal bit four persons and
several dogs. All dogs must be muzzled for ninety days.
“In the Ogdensburg Journal of New York … is an article by the editor regarding G.A. [Gilbert
Alphonso] Schellenger, who recently passed away at the home of his sister, Mrs. S. L. Taylor
[nee Alta Mahala Schellenger], here:
“‘The Ogdensburg town hall and Opera House building, which was designed by G. A.
Schellenger, a noted architect, is regarded by competent authorities as the finest example of pure
Norman architecture in this section. The stately lines of the structure, whose walls are of blue
limestone with red and white trimmings, have often caused it to be mistaken by strangers for a
church. The ornamental feature of the town hall is the great rose-shaped stained glass window
over the portico facing Ford street. This is a replica of the famous rose window of the Rheims
cathedral which figured prominently in the war news….’
“The regular correspondent of ‘About Town’ [Sam Taylor] is ill with bronchitis.
“Graniteville. The Abbot Worsted Soccer club defeated the Gray and Davis teams at the
Cooper street grounds in Lynn last Saturday. Score 2 to 0. This was a state cup game and the
Abbots will now enter the semifinals for the state championship.”
Westford poet Elizabeth Cushing Taylor (1885-1972) called “God’s Love” her “most published poem” (in her handwriting) from her book of collected poems, “Happiness to Share,” donated to the JV Fletcher library in 1939.
For more Westford Wardsman listen tp “Bob Oliphant’s Weekly Westford Wardsman Podcasts.
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