Turner's Public Spirit, December 8, 1923
A look back in time to a century ago
By Bob Oliphant
Center. The next meeting of the Tadmuck club will be held in Library hall on Tuesday afternoon, December 11, at 2:45. The speakers of the afternoon will be Mrs. Adeline M. Buckshorn, subject, “A half hour with books,” and Miss Eleanor A. Cameron, subject, “Chateaux of France.”
The music committee of the Tadmuck club will conduct a whist party at the Unitarian church parlors on Friday evening, December 14. Play will begin at eight o’clock, and will consist of both plain and bridge whist.
Philip Prescott began his studies at Lawrence academy, Groton, Monday.
A dog belonging to Henry Fletcher broke loose on last Saturday afternoon and made his appearance at the Center. While on the rampage the animal, which was evidently a victim of the rabies, bit several other dogs. The animal was shot by Chief Whiting, who also disposed of one of the bitten animals the following day.
Rev. Mr. Disbrow, the new pastor, occupied the pulpit at the Congregational church on last Sunday. This Friday evening the men will conduct a roast beef supper and during the evening there will be a reception to the new pastor and his wife. The speaker of the evening will be Rev. Grey Robbins. Supper will be served at 6:30.
The Ladies’ Aid of the Congregational church will hold an all-day meeting with Mrs. George F. White on Thursday, December 13. All those attending are requested to bring a twenty-five cent article for the Christmas party which will be one of the enjoyable features of the day.
Thanksgiving guests at the home of Mrs. Stiles, Boston road, were Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Schworer, of Bradford; Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Stiles, of Athol, and Miss Barbara Borthwick [sic], of Millers Falls.
The firemen held their annual ball in the town hall on Thanksgiving eve with a large attendance. On Tuesday evening they held another of their enjoyable suppers. The committee included William Millis, Clarence Hildreth and Edward Clement.
The fire company responded on Wednesday forenoon to a call for a chimney fire at the home of Eben Prescott [now 181 Main St.] and answered a call to a chimney fire at Brookside the same evening.
Mr. and Mrs. Frank C. Wright spent Thanksgiving day as the guests of Mrs. Wright’s [nee Aurilla Mary Decatur] sister, Mrs. James Fraiser [nee Nancy Ann Decatur], of Groton.
The safe arrival of Rev. and Mrs. William Anderson and son William in West Virginia is reported, they having made the trip by auto.
While the firemen’s ball was in progress last week Wednesday evening a telephone call was received to the effect that there was a brush fire in progress on Prospect hill, one of the greatest elevations in this section. Chief of Police Whiting, together with Capt. Watson and Peter Clement of the fire department, investigated and found a large cross covered with burlap and saturated with oil in progress of burning. No trace of those responsible was found, but it is believed to have been the work of the Ku Klux Klan who are said to announce a large membership in any community in this manner.
In fact, at 468 feet, Prospect Hill is the highest point in northern Middlesex County. See Robert W. Oliphant, The Westford Gazetteer (2010).
Miss Mary Grant is the guest of her aunt, Mrs. Harry Whiting.
The bronze tablet which is to be placed on the flag pole on the common by the Village Improvement society was exhibited at the last meeting and met with the general approval of those present. It will probably not be put in place until next spring, and in the meantime will be exhibited at the various schools, where the inscription will be explained to the pupils.
The rabies situation among the dogs has become so serious that it has become necessary to place a special police officer in each of the villages to enforce the orders of the selectmen. Most of the citizens are cooperating, but others are allowing their dogs to run with muzzles put on so loosely that they do not serve the purpose intended or cover the law at all. Such persons are in danger of being minus a dog as well as being summoned into court.
John Feeney, Sr., while attending Keith’s theatre in Lowell on Thanksgiving night, was taken with an ill turn and removed to the Lowell General hospital. He has been brought to his home here, but is still confined to his bed. His many friends hope for a speedy recovery.
Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Hartford entertained a large family party at dinner on Thanksgiving day.
Miss Blanche Lawrence was the reader at the entertainment given by the Girls’ club of St. Andrew’s mission at the mission house, Forge Village, Thursday night.
Dr. C. A. Blaney and family spent the holiday in Lowell.
About Town. Oscar R. Spalding is cutting off a large lot of wood and lumber around Cow Pond Meadows in Groton, near the Groton road.
Mrs. Hamilton Tallent, who has been visiting with her daughter, Mrs. Amos B. Polley, has returned to the home of her daughter, Mrs. Barlow, in Peabody.
Philip Prescott was enrolled Monday as a student in Lawrence academy, Groton.
Hon. Edward Fisher, of Westford and Lowell, has been reappointed as associate commissioner of the department of labor and industry by Governor Cox. Mr. Fisher is chairman of the division of arbitration and conciliation [appointed] by former Governor Coolidge, now President Coolidge. The appointment shows good business sense on the part of the appointing power.
Charles A. Randlett, of Chelmsford, living on the Lowell road, has sued the Y.M.C.A. of Lowell for injuries in an automobile accident last July. The accident happened at the intersection on the Lowell road at its intersection with the road running from Chelmsford center to North Chelmsford. Mr. Randlett was standing close to the stone wall at the intersection of these roads when the Y.M.C.A. car came down the Lowell road, headed towards Lowell, and rammed a broadside collision into a car on the Chelmsford road, turning it over on its side and pinning Mr. Randlett against the wall, from which he was extricated and sent to the Lowell General hospital, where he remained for several weeks. He sues for $12,000 damages.
Guy R. Decatur had a cow badly choked with an apple last Saturday afternoon. Norman Whitten was called and administered a head-on collision of two wooden sticks against the apple that disabled its choking capacity. S. L. Taylor was second assistant in looking on.
That old landmark square white house at Westford Corner is being modernized and newly painted, much to the improvement of Westford Corner, West Chelmsford and pedestrian road travelers.
The rain on last week Friday, following the recent rains, geared into action all the lazy, inactive wells, springs and trout brooks, and it looks like “Auld Lang Syne” to see the water precipitate with a small cataract tumble off Frances hill to the Stony Brook road, thence crook, turn and tumble to the Lowell road and thence with a few more aesthetic gestures it falls in love with the Tadmuck brook and Joe Wall’s recent trouts [sic].
Have just finished the November crop report of the secretary of agriculture in Washington, D.C. Now to show up “strain at a gnat and swallow a camel,” as it relates to the wide chasms in the administration of justice, let me quote from the outside of the government envelope in which these crop reports are sent: “Penalty for private use $300”—and only a two-cent stamp involved; but if I had the brain capacity I could start a civil war, lay away in the cemeteries 750,000 human beings and pile up a debt for eternity to pay, and get off with it without even a trial by jury to investigate whether I am guilty or not.
It was so dry at one time that it made us all red in the face complaining about it and now it is so rainy at one time that we are all red in the face complaining about it. Why not whereas and resolve that henceforth the weather shall suit everybody.
Dinosaur eggs are quoted in New York at $2000 apiece by the director of the Museum of Natural History. The eggs, twenty-five in number, were discovered by the Roy Chapman Andrews expedition in Mongolia.
The theory that a race of supermen can be developed by the transmission from generation to generation through heredity of improved mental and physical characters acquired during the life time of each generation was brought to America by Dr. Paul Kammerer, biologist of the University of Vienna, who arrived on the Resolute November 27. He claimed in support of his theory that he had succeeded in teaching the offspring of land frogs to swim, developed eyes in blind newts, and predetermined the color of salamanders. He told a group of distinguished scientists who met him at the pier and who have arranged an American tour for him, that he had found tangible proof in animal experiments that characteristics acquired during the lifetime of an animal can be transmitted by heredity to its young. Let’s put hereditary world wars out of existence and save world court jury trials.
“Paul Kammerer (1880-1926) was an Austrian biologist who studied and advocated Lamarckism, the theory that organisms may pass to their offspring characteristics acquired in their lifetime, meaning variation would be directed towards creating adaptations.” See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Kammerer.
Mrs. E. B. Carney, of Tyngsboro, recently spoke before the Educational club in Lowell. She advocated the passage of laws preventing the coming to our land of all who were morally, physically and mentally unfit, and also urged the deporting of those who refused to become citizens here or obey this country’s laws. Amen and amen, which I would not be unkind enough to say if we were not already overrun with idiots and contribution boxes and in support of this she quoted Secretary of Labor David, “If we do not Americanize the aliens they will alienate us.” This is all good, modern scripture—let’s heed it.
The Berkshire Hills report a large fall of snow with drifts five feet deep in some places. Kansas City, Mo., and all around that region reports nine inches of snow on the level, the largest snowfall in November in the memory of the oldest inhabitants. Another cause for Thanksgiving thanks here in New England that we were blessed with being forgotten.
Daniel H. Sheehan is planning to cut off the wood and lumber on his farm of eighty acres. He will utilize one of his several portable saw mills of modern make. J. Arthur O’Brien has the contract of doing the teaming. This lot is bounded by the Stony brook, Rocky hill and Plain roads. About forty acres will be cut this winter.
The cellar for a new house is being put in nearly opposite the residence of Arthur H. Burnham, on the Littleton road.
A party from Ayer was in town on Monday, looking at a farm on the Lowell road, Stony Brook valley, with a view to buying the farm, the price yet to be named. No—it’s not he [Samuel L. Taylor, author of this item], he has lived seventy-eight years on his farm and not until the stars are for sale will he consider selling. Guess again; I have hinted at a clue.
Filling up the jolts on the Lowell road is being pushed. This is one of those oiled roads that hardens the surface but not enough to prevent auto trucks and other vehicles from breaking through and making jump jolts of the road. Some of us are still of the opinion that less oil applied at one time and oftener would keep our roads in better shape. We have had enough of pouring our roads with oil; better the gravel road without oil than an excess that hardens the road without holding it. Another sample of oiling to the excess of hardening and wretched jolting-shaking-up in the direction of where the stars do business is the Littleton road from its intersection with Boston road to the Westford-Littleton town line. Here you will go up in a sort of astronomical excursion and come down, breaking one of the ten moral commandments unless you have been well trained in grip hold on your moral backbone.
Mrs. Francena Sherburne, of Tyngsboro, under the auspices of West Chelmsford Grange, visited the Quessy grammar school and gave a talk on “Birds and their winter feeding.” Parents and friends, school committee and superintendent of schools were present. More such talk on nature that is close to us that has an inspiring song and aesthetic plumage and less hair-splitting grammar nonsense and other needless technical nonsense would do more to lift youth into an inspiring and charming individual orbit.
Some portions of the Old Oaken Bucket farm folks are planning to go to Harvard on Tuesday or the next convenient day by invitation of that live wire correspondent and conversationalist who promises some important sights and sites in Harvard, including Tahanto and Shakerton. Many thanks in advance of delivering the good. “Millions are now living who are already dead” does not include the gentleman whose generous invitation the Old Oaken Bucket farm accepts. The millions referred to are chiefly those who go through life largely void of any introduction to public welfare. The slang phrase, “Let George do it” is their trademark and they will stand no infringement of a contribution box.
Tahanto was a Sagamore of the Nashaway tribe who sold land to the white settlers of what would become Boylston, MA. See https://www.boylstonhistory.org/email1-6.htm. Shakerton is probably a reference to the Shaker village in Harvard.
Crystal Springs, Miss., reports a cotton boll weevil eradicator has been found in the Argentine ant, according to a cotton planter near Crystal Springs. He planted two patches of cotton on the same farm this season. One of them was in ground infected with the ants. He has brought to Crystal Springs and exhibited to cotton men a stalk from each patch. That from the ground infested with ants contained 149 balls of cotton to the top of the stalk, while the stalk of the land infested with the weevil contained only shriveled squares and small, undeveloped balls.
I hope you all read Mr. Lundberg’s advertisement in this paper. He is just one good man to deal with, who has no unexpected reserves lacking in his personality to suddenly spring a price on you above the agreed price when you settle. He is at the growing village of Brookside.
And now comes forward another minister of the liberal faith and gives his recipe of how to cure the world of war. In substance it reads “Call the nations of the world into a world court convention and have them affirm that whereas war is an evil and whereas we wish to rid ourselves of it, therefore be it resolved that we the nations of the earth, pass a law making war illegal.” Presto-change-o. Now you see it and now you don’t. Say, why not pass a law saying that whereas sin is an evil, therefore be it resolved that we will all quit?
Church Notes. First church (Unitarian)—Sunday service at 4 p.m. Music by chorus choir: “Our faith is in thee,” Ball, Miss Eleanor Calbourn [sic, Colburn]. Preacher, Rev. Frank B. Crandall, the minister. Subject, “The dangers of independence.” Church school at 2:30 p.m.
George H. B. Turner, editor of the Wardsman [Publisher of Turner’s Public Spirit], accompanied by Mrs. Turner, his son and daughter, John H. Turner and Miss Rachel Turner, and Miss Bertha White motored from Ayer on Sunday and attended the service.
Fisher Buckshorn, treasurer, and Gordon Seavey, delegate from the Westford chapter, will attend the meeting of the executive committee of the North Middlesex Federation at Lowell on Sunday afternoon.
On Sunday an offering will be received for the benefit of the Christmas tree and party of the church school.
Library Notes. At a recent meeting of the trustees it was decided to close the library on Sundays for the present.
“Pictures for children” by Jessie Willcox [sic] Smith is a most attractive set of pictures just received from the Library Art club and now on exhibition at Library hall, where they will remain till December 24. It is very appropriate to have these famous and well loved pictures of children just at the Christmas season.
The exhibition and sale of children’s books have been of interest to many. The books will remain in the reading room till Christmas to give all a chance to see them with a view to borrowing or purchasing.
Graniteville. The Abbot Worsted soccer team played a tie game with the Pacific Mills club at Lawrence last Saturday in the third round of the national cup series. This means a replay, and possibly the game will be staged in Forge Village.
Rev. Joseph Malone of Alabama, who is the guest of his brother, Rev. A. S. Malone, pastor of St. Catherine’s church, celebrated the 10:30 o’clock mass at St. Catherine’s church on last Sunday.
Last week Friday evening the young men of the M. E. church held their first meeting in the church dining-room for the purpose of forming a young men’s association, under the leadership of Rev. Leroy Fielding, pastor. T. R. Williams, secretary of boys’ work of the Lowell Y.M.C.A., gave an interesting address on “The challenge to the young men of today.” During the evening refreshments were served under the direction of Oscar Benson and Roy E. Blanchard.
The night school was well attended both on Monday and Wednesday evening of this week. The pupils are now planning to hold a concert and entertainment here on next Wednesday evening in order to raise funds to meet the expense of the school. A fine program has been arranged with the best of local talent and all who attend are assured of an evening of pleasure and at the same time they are helping in a worthy cause.
Saturday, December 8, being a feast day and a holy day of obligation, two masses will be celebrated at St. Catherine’s church. The first at 5 o’clock and the second at 7:30 a.m.
The choirs in the different churches here are now busy rehearsing special music for Christmas. The usual Christmas tree exercises will be held in both churches here during the holiday season.
Commencing this week and until further notice the mills of the Abbot Worsted Co. will run on a five-day per week basis.
The “backward” social given by the Epworth league Saturday evening was a remarkable success. The guests were escorted to a table where they were instructed to write their names backwards. Many interesting games were played during the evening, several of which were put on in reverse order, furnishing considerable amusement to both the participants and onlookers. Later in the program refreshments were served. The affair was under the direction of Miss Ada Eaton to whom much of the success is attributed.
Holiday Gathering. Among the family gatherings held during the holiday season, the most pleasant and one that assumed the proportions of a reunion, took place at the home of Mr. and Mrs. A. W. Hartford in Westford and extended over the weekend.
On the holiday Mr. and Mrs. Hartford and daughter Hazel entertained fourteen for dinner, among them being three generations of the Hawkes family. Among those present were Mr. and Mrs. Charles E. Stebbins and son, Charles, jr., and Newton R. Hawkes of South Deerfield; Mr. and Mrs. Frank P. Hawkes of Melrose, Mr. and Mrs. Wesley E. Hawkes of Malden, Mr. and Mrs. Wesley O. Hawkes of Graniteville and Miss Dora M. Hawkes of Boston. Besides the dinner, which was greatly enjoyed, an excellent program was presented that included piano solos by Miss Hazel Hartford, vocal solos by Mrs. C. E. Stebbins and Charles Stebbins, jr., and recitations by Frank P. Hawkes.
The event will be long remembered by all those who were present.
Groton
Lawrence Academy Notes. With the coming since Thanksgiving of Frederick Brown, of Lexington, and Philip Prescott, of Westford, the academy reaches its highest enrollment since it was reorganized a year ago last September. The sixty-three boys now in the academy represent a number of states, thus showing a growing national interest in this ancient school, but it is particularly gratifying to trustees and faculty that the number of local pupils is steadily increasing. Six Groton boys, two from Ayer, one from Pepperell, and this latest comer from Westford academy, to whom Lawrence was recommended by his own principal, indicates that it is resuming its old-time and important function of serving the towns in the region where it is located, as well as doing a useful work for boys from a greater distance.
The preacher at the academy vesper service on Sunday at five o’clock will be the dean of New England preparatory school teachers, Dr. H. S. Cowell, of Cushing academy, Ashburnham, who after thirty-seven years at the head of his large school, and the recent burning of the building, continues to be one of the recognized leaders in the field of preparatory education. Though he is a neighbor it is not often that Groton has so good a chance to hear Dr. Cowell.
Real Estate Transactions. The following real estate transfers have been recorded from this vicinity recently:
Westford, Samuel Rosenberg et ux. to Ernest T. Lehman et ux., land on Littleton road. …