Turner's Public Spirit, February 11, 1922
A look back in time to a century ago
By Bob Oliphant
“Center. One of the largest attended dancing parties was held in the town hall on last week
Friday evening when all of 150 couples were present, mostly attended by people from the
surrounding towns. The Jefferson & Johnson colored orchestra, of Boston, furnished music for
the dancing….
“J. Herbert Fletcher is out with a new Ford truck, which is being used for the delivery of
groceries.
“Hon. Edward Fisher, a former resident, who was recently elected as president of the Lowell
Chamber of Commerce … left on last Sunday for Washington, D.C., going to Boston, where they
were to be conveyed direct to the capital city in a private car set aside for Chamber of Commerce
officials from New England. The conference with Secretary Herbert Hoover of the department of
commerce was held on Monday and Tuesday.
“The groundhog had the chance to see his shadow on February 2 if he had the nerve to come
out of his hutch in the ground….
“Registration of voters for the annual town meeting on Monday came to a close on last
Saturday evening, when a total of 152 new names were added to the check list…. At the present
time there are 908 voters in town, of which 523 are male and 385 are female voters….
“Death. The sad tidings of the death of Mrs. Harold W. Hildreth (Edith Lawrence) at her
home on last week Friday evening came as a great shock to all her relatives and friends who had
entertained hopes of her recovery….
“Mrs. Hildreth taught in the academy, making a total service in the school of six and one-half
years….
“Cut off in the prime of young womanhood her memory will live and be cherished by all who
knew her. The community is the poorer for her untimely death, but the richer for her sweet,
inspiring life….
“Town Meeting. The warrant for the annual town meeting on Monday contains forty-six
articles. The annual election of officers will take place on the same day….
“Undoubtedly the most interesting of the political contests will be the election of a new
selectman. One aspirant for the office, Robert B. Prescott, has taken out nomination papers; also,
Harry L. Nesmith, tree warden, seeks re-election and has taken out nomination papers, as both
were defeated at the citizens’ caucus held last week. It was the first citizens’ caucus in the history
of the town when John Gray, of Forge Village, was nominated for selectman, and J. Edward
Clements for tree warden. Therefore the two aspirants for office seem to liven up the campaign
all of which tends to bring out the biggest vote in the history of the town….
“Annual Supper. The Abbot Worsted Company band held their second annual supper and
entertainment in Abbot hall, Forge Village, Wednesday evening of last week and the affair
proved to be a great social success, in which good fellowship prevailed from beginning to end….
“About Town. The last article in the town warrant … is a new, fresh and inspiring one, and
right fresh from the realms of progressive modern thought, ‘To see if the town will authorize the
selectmen to appoint a committee to investigate and report at the next town meeting on the
possibility of establishing a town forest.’ … [Westford has] 18,000 acres of land, and we are
neither producing food nor lumber in proportion to our acreage. Let us have this committee and
hear their report….
“Superintendent’s Report. The report of the superintendent of schools should be read by all
the people…. We quote a few extracts …:
“‘Particular mention should be made of the generosity of Alexander Cameron, who gave
prizes for the best health posters by the boys and girls of the different schools; to Otis Day for his
untiring efforts with the boys and for the part he has taken in helping the boys to exhibit their pigs
at the Groton fair….’
“As bearing on the average cost per capita for education we quote from the superintendent’s
report of the four towns in this district:
“‘Littleton $93.92, Acton $82.72, Westford $67.64, Carlisle $113.10…. It is evident that the
per capita cost for Westford schools is below that of the other towns in the same district.’
“Graniteville. The members of the Abbot Worsted soccer club played the Falcos of Holyoke
in the semi-final game for the national cup in Pawtucket, R.I., last Saturday, the Abbots winning
by the score of three goals to one….”
For Westford Wardsman readings see “Bob Oliphant’s Westford Wardsman Podcast” at
museum.westford.org.
John Herbert Fletcher (1880-1960), c. 1897, was the postmaster and the proprietor of the Fletcher general store on Lincoln Street started by his grandfather and father. In 1922 he bought a Ford delivery truck. Courtesy Photo / Westford Historical Society.