The Westford Wardsman, February 15, 1919
Center. Bertram Sutherland has recently been a patient at the Somerville hospital, where he had an operation on his nose. The injury was caused by a blow while playing ball a season or two ago.
Edmund Baker, who is a patient at a sanitarium in Lawrence, has been in town this week, being present at the town meeting on Monday. He has been attending to disposing of some of his household goods by private sale.
Rev. O. L. Brownsey attended the funeral of one of the members of his former parish in Northbridge Center, last Saturday.
Miss Elizabeth Wells returned from the hospital last week and is gaining strength each day from her recent operation for appendicitis.
Mrs. H. G. Osgood, who has been a patient at the Lowell General hospital for a number of weeks, undergoing a serious stomach operation, continues to gain and is expected home this week.
Good reports come from Mrs. William L. Woods at her home in Somerville. Although still very weak from her serious illness from pneumonia she is gaining each day.
The reading circle of the Tadmuck club met with Mrs. Harold W. Hildreth on Tuesday evening. There was a good number present who enjoyed reading Shakespeare’s famous five-act drama, “Merchant of Venice.”
Members and friends of the Tadmuck club are again reminded of the sale and entertainment next Tuesday afternoon at the Congregational vestry at 2:30. Mrs. Mary Baillie Bartlett, author-reader, will give the entertainment. Sales tables for food and fancy articles and social tea will be served.
Little William W. Sargent, who met with such serious injury while coasting some weeks ago, and who is a patient at a Boston hospital, is reported seriously sick this week.
Mrs. William Pollock is sick at her home at Cold Spring farm and the youngest child of William E. Green, which she has so faithfully cared for since its mother’s tragic death last October, has been returned to its home with the other children.
It is not the most pleasant reading recounting the sick ones, but among those reported sick this week are Mrs. Harry B. Prescott, Mrs. Louis H. Buckshorn, Alexander MacDougall, Miss Mabel Prescott, Edna Hamlin and two of the Blaney children.
The home guard ball next week Wednesday evening at the town hall with Poole’s orchestra, will be the social event of the month. Concert from eight until nine, and dancing from nine until one, with refreshments at intermission. Owing to this event and the Tadmuck club sale and entertainment, Tuesday, and the relief work of the Red Cross still going on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, it makes a full week and the social for February at the Congregational church will be postponed until the following week.
A pleasant evening was enjoyed with Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Knight on Tuesday evening, when a surprise birthday party was arranged for one of their group of teachers, Mrs. Martha Grant Whiting. A pleasant social evening, two tables for bridge whist, refreshments and a happy surprise for Mrs. Whitney made up the evening’s enjoyment.
The Westford family and friends of Charles Robey have been glad to welcome him home from duty overseas.
Word has been received of the death of Cyrus Hosmer, an aged resident of Wakefield. He will be remembered as a frequent visitor in town while his daughter, the late Mrs. W. M. Wright, was living.
The Red Cross workers gathered again Wednesday for an all-day meeting at Library hall to work on the consignment of relief garments. The six sewing machines were kept busy, one of which was fitted with buttonhole attachments, which helps out in getting the buttonholes made for the garments. Mrs. Hildreth and Mrs. Goode are in charge of the work. Anyone who can plan for time either on Wednesday or again on Friday afternoon is earnestly requested to do so and thus finish up this last consignment of work. An appetizing luncheon is served to the workers Wednesday at noon.
Rev. O. L. Brownsey’s morning subject, Sunday, will be “Greatened be our tasks.” At the evening service “Our country’s mission and destiny.” Last Sunday morning the Roosevelt memorial service was much appreciated. A good picture, draped with a large flag, stood in front of the pulpit, appropriate music was sung and some eloquent tributes to the late Mr. Roosevelt were given. Eighty were present at the morning service and about fifty at the evening for the song service and address by the pastor.
About Town. As alluded to last week, the next farmers’ institute will be held on Wednesday, February 19, at the Paige Street church, Lowell. No excuse for not going, planting has not arrived in large quantities to stay. Dr. George M. Twitchell, of Maine, will speak in the morning on “Our new social and economic conditions as it is related to rural life.” In the afternoon Dr. Miller will speak on “Some health suggestions for farm life.”
At the last meeting of the grange was neighbors’ night, without being listed, as fifty-four visitors were present from West Chelmsford Grange and few from elsewhere. Next week Thursday evening Walter Fletcher will have charge of the entertainment, as “Brothers’ night.”
At the apple meeting at the town hall last week Friday evening, Profs. Cole, Jenks and Chenuny of Amherst Agricultural college, gave a timely, helpful and appreciative talk on “Fruit problems.” Several were present from Littleton. They advised dormant spraying for the scale, and if he isn’t around to catch it something else will be overtaken to surrender.
The last meeting of the Pomona Grange was the largest for years. The discussion, “Should government continue merging war-time control and price fixing?” precipitated a hot discussion that generated summer heat to a boiling point. The afternoon listened to a continuation of summer heat on the question of “A league of nations, to enforce peace.” Rev. E. Ambrose Jenkins, of North Chelmsford, was orator and expressed his ideas in equally as warm a manner as the forenoon debates and [was] applauded with a show of hands and some feet.
The telephone folks are busy setting back telephone poles on the line of the Stony Brook railroad to allow for the double tracking of the road.
Several farmers from town attended the corn show and other shows at Horticultural hall, Boston, this week, and report farming in the hall.
Mr. and Mrs. F. A. Snow are stopping at Hotel McAlpin, New York city, for a week. Mr. Snow will attend the stone cutters’ convention. They have also been out to Bound Brook, N.J., to visit Mr. and Mrs. George Howard.
Hon. and Mrs. H. E. Fletcher, Mr. and Mrs. Harold Fletcher and Miss Hazel Fletcher are in New York city this week. Mr. Fletcher and son will be in attendance at the stone cutters’ convention.
Annual Town Meeting. The annual town meeting on Monday was the most unanimous and smallest during the remembrance of the oldest inhabitants. Everything was unanimous that was asked for except rum; that was denied by a vote of 62 to 8. This, with 770 assessed polls, showed what a small town we were Monday.
Hon. Herbert E. Fletcher was chosen moderator, who, with Joe Wall, John M. Fletcher and Alonzo H. Sutherland, served as election inspectors.
The result of the balloting showed that the following had got some votes and not many either, averaging about seventy-five, but as non-competitiveness was the spirit of the day they needed no more votes: Three year terms, selectman, Sherman H. Fletcher; assessor, James W. Rafter; overseer of poor, Samuel H. Balch; school committee, Charles O. Prescott, Frank L. Furbush; trustee of library, Charles O. Prescott; cemetery commissioner, David L. Greig; the following were elected as yearlings: Treasurer, Harwood L. Wright; collector, Leonard W. Wheeler; tree warden, Harry L. Nesmith; constable, Charles S. Ripley.
Articles 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10, relating to hearing reports, were all accepted as printed in the town report.
Art. 11. Relating to fixing the compensation, was on motion of John C. Abbot, fixed at 1 ¼ percent on actual collections.
Art. 18. Relating to hearing the report of a committee to inquire in regard to purchasing a chemical motor driven fire engine, Edward M. Abbot, chief engineer, reported, asking more time, which was granted.
Art. 19. Relating to appropriating the unexpended balance to complete the firehouse at Westford Center; voted yes.
Art. 20. Relating to selling the cottage house on firehouse land, Edward M. Abbot moved to dismiss, and it would have gone through, but he was implored to withdraw, which he did in favor of a motion of investigation, left in the hands of the selectmen, to report later.
Art. 21 also related to selling out, this being land on the north side of Cold Spring road. It was voted to appoint the selectmen selling agents.
Art. 22. Relating to changing the name of the town farm, almshouse, poor farm to something not so suggestive of unfortunate poverty; was, by suggestion of the overseers, to be known henceforth as Westford town home.
Art. 23. To see if the town will adopt the monthly system of rendering bills, monthly cash won.
Art. 24. We quote in full: “To see if the town will vote to erect or establish a monument or other memorial to commemorate the patriotism and valor of the young men of Westford who have entered the service of the United States or the Allies in the recent war, appropriate money therefore and act in relation to the same.” On this article the finance committee reported: “We recommend that a committee be chosen to make an investigation as to the most suitable form of memorial, and that a sum not exceeding $300 be appropriated for the use of the committee in making the investigation.” This recommendation was in substance embodied in a motion made by Robert J. McCarthy, with the following committee named in the motion: Edward M. Abbot, Oscar R. Spalding, Mrs. Julian A. Cameron, Miss Alice Howard, Edward T. Hanley, Goldsmith H. Conant, P. Henry Harrington, Axel G. Lundberg, William R. Taylor.
Art. 25. Relating to purchasing of fire extinguishers, attention was called to the report on the burning of the Wetmore farm buildings, when the temperature was below zero, which froze the nozzles of the extinguishers. Inquiry was made at this point if it would not be advisable to purchase some dry chemical extinguishers. The reply was that the Wetmore fire was so hot that you couldn’t get near enough to use dry chemical extinguishers. It would seem that in this great heat that froze up the liquid fire extinguishers and over heat the dry extinguishers, that one was as useful as the other, and that dry chemicals in the incipient stage of a fire could be used efficiently in zero weather when the liquid chemicals are badly frost bitten; also, in forest fires, where water is scarce and snow not available in large quantities.
Art. 26. Voted to appropriate $50 as salary for the fish and game warden. The query was raised whether Knopp’s pond, in Groton, was large enough to hold 500,000 fish as against 8000 in Forge pond. This was satisfactorily explained by Joe Wall, the warden, and any alarm at overflowing the banks of Knopp’s pond by so sudden a deposit of fish was cleared of its worry.
Art. 29. Which wanted to do the kind act for the branch line of electric road, from Westford to Brookside, the attitude of the Lowell & Fitchburg railroad, the town and the public service commission were explained by Hon. Edward Fisher, counsel for the town. A motion offered was amended by W. R. Taylor, which in effect was to follow the recommendation of the finance committee and appropriate an unexpended balance and $1500 in aid of the running expenses of the road. The amendment passed.
Art. 33 called for $50 to be expended in demonstration work in agricultural and home economics and elect a director. The money was raised right on the spot everybody present contributing and those absent contribute in the same way. The director was not elected on the spot, but will be elected at some other spot by the selectmen.
Art. 34. Voted $300 for military purposes by Company L, M.S.G., located in Westford.
Art. 37. To see if the town will raise and appropriate money for the employment of a public health nurse. After explanatory remarks by Major Dr. Sprague of Camp Devens, showing the health efficiency of this movement, the meeting went into a committee of whole and unanimously endorsed Dr. Sprague and the recommendation of the finance committee and appropriated $1500 for a health nurse, to be selected by the board of health.
In money appropriations the town followed closely the recommendations of the finance committee and raised and appropriated about $69,830, less $30,968 income from the state and $1400 poll taxes, leaving $37,462 to be raised by direct tax. The following are the larger appropriations: Library $1300, roads, $10,000, town debts $10,000, support of poor $3000, schools $20,000, tree warden $1100, fire department $600, public health nurse $1500, electric lights $3800, hydrants $2080, notes and interest $4500, county and state tax $10,000, repairs on state highway $1000.
The rate is figured by the finance committee to be $16 per $1000 against $15 last year.
The auditors’ report shows $14,438.98 available assets due the town January 1, 1919, as against $11,853.47, January 1, 1918. The report also shows all taxes assessed for 1917 collected, and only $893.05 uncollected for 1918, and a special excise tax as per assessors’ warrant of $562.07. It is questionable whether there are many towns in the state that can show such a record of close collecting.
Herbert V. Hildreth was elected a member of the park commission in place of Hon. Edward Fisher, removed to Lowell. The town voted to continue the present finance committee, Herbert V. Hildreth, Julian A. Cameron, Elbert H. Flagg, Louis H. Buckshorn, William R. Taylor.
Graniteville. Both masses in St. Catherine’s church last Sunday morning were celebrated by the pastor, Rev. C. P. Heaney. At the first mass the members of the Holy Name society received holy communion in a body. Sunday being within the octave of St. Blasé, the ceremony of the blessing of the throats took place after each mass.
The members of the Ladies’ Aid society of the M.E. church met with Mrs. L. B. Blood on last Thursday.
The mills of the Abbot Worsted Company were closed here on Monday to enable the voters to attend the annual town meeting. As the mill is now running on a four days a week schedule the help all worked Friday in order to get in the four days.
A letter recently received here from Private Frank H. Sullivan of the 305th F.A., A.E.F., fully verifies the facts concerning Private Norbert Brule’s death that took place in France on November 9, 1918. Private Brule was a Graniteville boy and both he and Private Sullivan had been together from the time they entered the service, leaving Westford on the same date. Private Brule was gassed and later contracted pneumonia, and being in a weakened condition after having returned from a hard drive, had not the strength to combat the disease. Of the three Graniteville boys who have made the supreme sacrifice, this is the only personal story that has been received of their deaths.
Private Emile J. Milot, who was wounded in France, is now on a furlough from a hospital in New Jersey, and is spending a few days at his home here.
T. Alfred Hughes, a former Graniteville boy, who has seen foreign service as a member of a submarine chaser in the U.S. navy, has recently received his honorable discharge from the service and has been visiting his father, Thomas Hughes, and other relatives here this week.
J. A. Healy, with his sister, Miss Mary A. Healy, are visiting with relatives in Canada for a short time.
The members of Cameron circle, C.F. of A., held a largely attended and interesting meeting in their rooms on Tuesday evening. Much business of importance was transacted. During the session the following officers were elected for the ensuing term: Mrs. Maria Wall, c.c.; Miss Laura McCarthy, s.c.; Miss Martha Doucette, r.g.; Mrs. W. J. Robinson, l.g.; Miss Rachel Wall, rec. sec. The circle also voted to hold a whist party and dance in the near future.
The local Red Cross held their regular meeting on Wednesday afternoon and much work was accomplished by the members. It is hoped that all members will attend faithfully for the next few weeks, as it is expected that the full quota of work will be finished by that time.
Forge Village. The mills closed on Monday for the annual town meeting in Westford, remaining open on Friday instead.
At St. Andrew’s mission last Sunday a special collection was taken for the war work of the Episcopal church.
Mrs. Wiley Johnson, of Knopp’s pond, entertained Mrs. Rita Burrington, of Lowell, over the weekend.
Mrs. Chester Blodgett, of the Ridges, was the guest of Mr. and Mrs. William A. King, of Fitchburg, the last of the week.
Mr. and Mrs. Clifford LeGuere, of California, who came last fall with the intention of remaining east, have decided to return to the land of sunshine and started last Monday for their former home in Oakland, Cal.
Mrs. John Merrick suffered a painful injury to her right arm last week Wednesday while at her work in the mill. She slipped on the floor and her arm struck the rail of a roving frame and one of the pegs punctured her arm.
Miss Mary Merrick, who has been suffering for several weeks with rheumatism, is still unable to resume work.
Mr. and Mrs. John Shaddick entertained Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Duffy, of Everett, over the weekend.
Mrs. Michael Molloy has suffered a severe shock and is in a critical condition at her home here.
Exercises for the late Theodore Roosevelt were observed at Westford academy last week Thursday. Those who spoke were Miss Mary Sullivan, freshman; Francis Daley, sophomore; Forrest White, junior, and Miss Ruth Sargent, senior.
Rev. Angus Dun will preach at St. Andrew’s mission on Sunday afternoon at 4:30 o’clock.
Miss Sarah J. Precious has been suffering this week with a severe cold.
Mr. and Mrs. Frank Collins and baby daughter, Frances, of Southbridge, spent Sunday at the home of his brother, Miles Collins.
The Misses Margaret and Annie Orr are confined to their home with severe colds.
Miss Maude Briggs, of Ayer, spend Sunday as the guest of Miss Gladys Baker. Miss Lillian Baker spent the weekend as the guest of Miss I. Mildred Parrott, of Lowell.
Miss Edith P. Precious spent Monday at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Hindle, of Chelmsford Center.
Many from here attended the town meeting at the town hall, Westford, Monday. The freshmen and sophomore classes attended the meeting, as this is an interesting addition to those taking civics.
Ayer
News Items. Medical Examiner Frank S. Bulkeley was called to Camp Devens to report on the case of Corp. Maynard J. Padgett, Company A, 36th Infantry, who shot himself Wednesday night while at camp. It is thought that the young man was despondent over a love affair. The casket containing the body, draped in an American flag, was shipped to the home of the father, David Padgett, Peru Va. Corp. Padgett was twenty-five years of age.
Netatco Hall on Pleasant street, the telephone operators’ home, is now accommodating only about thirty operators. When the camp was full of men and business at its height, there were at times over sixty telephone operators required for the camp and local business. Telephone traffic has dropped to about one-half, but the girls seem to be busy figuring out the new phone rates which have caused so much comment.
A very large gathering of soldiers and civilians attended the Roosevelt memorial service held at the Federation House, under the auspices of the War Camp Community Service, last Sunday night. The speaker of the evening was Dr. Murlin, president of Boston university. Lyman K. Clark presided at the meeting. Other numbers on the program included a vocal solo by Mrs. Ames, of Groton; violin solo, Private Shaw, from the base hospital, Camp Devens, and orchestral selections by a camp orchestra. Community singing was conducted by Mr. Grant, of Boston, who is well known in connection with the work of the War Camp Community Service.
New Coffee House. The Suffrage Coffee House has been given over to the joint management of the United Canteen committee of Boston and the War Camp Community Service. Parties are given every Tuesday and Friday for fifty convalescents from the base hospital, the entertainers and hostesses coming from Boston. Informal dances take place frequently for the medical detachment and entertainments are planned for the future. The committee is as follows: Mrs. Evelyn Peverly Coe, chairman; Miss Lucy Conant, sec.; Richard D. Coe, treas.; J. F. Ferguson, executive secretary W.C.C.S., Mrs. George R. Fearing, jr., Mrs. Wm. A. Gaston, Mrs. A. J. Kelly, Mrs. James Lawrence, Mrs. Jesse Koshland, Miss Julia Prendergast, Mrs. Barrett Wendall, Mrs. Theodore Burgess, Mrs. F. J. Hobbs, Mrs. R. M. Saltonstall, Mrs. Charles F. Adams, Mrs. Felix Vorenberg, Mrs. Harry Leibmann, Mrs. Robert W. Weeks and Mrs. A. Lawrence Rotch.
The house is open from twelve to two and five to 9:30, cafeteria service. It will hereafter be called the Coffee House with Miss Natalie B. Bigelow of Ayer as resident manager.
Camp Notes. The government is taking advantage of the location of this camp at the principal freight transfer point in New England by selecting the camp as a receiving depot for army supplies and equipment to be sent back from France and England. A reason is that the freight yards here are the largest in New England and second on the Boston and Maine system to the big freight exchange at Schenectady, N.Y. It is a junction point for three railroad lines.
It is predicted that many million dollars’ worth of clothing and equipment will be sent here for storage, classification, inspection, salvage, sale, condemnation, destruction or transfer to quartermaster depots in the south and west. This gives the camp an importance even greater than that of a disembarkment and demobilization camp. It is believed that the location of the remount depot here will be useful in trucking army supplies.
The camp laundry will be opened within a week and will be the largest plant of its kind in New England, with a capacity of 75,000 pieces daily. All the clothing worn by soldiers returning from overseas will be laundered at the plant. Articles of bedding will be laundered and packed away. The laundry will be very useful in connection with the salvage work. There are 17 electric motors, ranging from one-sixth up to 40-horse-power, to operate the laundry machines. The laundry can do the washing of a city of 40,000. It occupies 44,000 square feet on one floor. Capt. R. C. Jacobs of the salvage depot is in command of the unit and it will be operated by Superintendent C. H. Bailie of Washington. Hundreds of applications are being received from wives of soldiers for employment. The hours of work are forty-eight, with half holiday Saturday.
Maj. Gen. McCain will remain as camp commander, it is predicted, irrespective of whether the camp is placed under jurisdiction of the Northeastern department or not. Col. A. G. Lott, chief of staff of the 12th division, succeeds Col. George L. Byroade as camp executive.
Lieut. Wallace A. Modjeska of Scranton, Pa., 74th infantry band leader, was appointed camp music director to succeed Modeste Alloo, representative of the committee on training camp activities, who returns to Boston, where he was a member of the Boston Symphony orchestra at the start of the war. Sergt. George A. Junb of Milwaukee, Wis., has been appointed camp boxing instructor.
Pepperell
News Items. On Friday evening of last week, by invitation of the 325th Motor Transport Company, of Camp Devens, about twenty-five ladies, including the force at the telephone exchange in town, were entertained at the barracks of the company. The guests were conveyed to Ayer in two large auto trucks and were royally entertained by a banquet and dance. The turkey supper was served by a caterer, and there were very handsome souvenir menus and favors for the guests. Dancing followed in the upper hall of the barracks, with music by a Jazz band. The decorations, in the color scheme of red and green, were most elaborate and some of the officers of the company proved good after-dinner speakers.