The Westford Wardsman, February 17, 1917
Center. One of the pleasant events of next week will be the dramatic reading at the Unitarian church on Friday evening. Mrs. Nina Spalding, of Lowell, will read the charming story, “Peg o’ my heart.” a prominent lawyer in Illinois and an intimate friend of President Lincoln. Mrs. Sweatt wrote to the president of this fair and he sent several of his photographs with his autograph on each for sale at the fair. Mr. Fletcher showed us one of them which was purchased then for a dollar. Needless to say a dollar would not buy it now. The reader may note that this town meeting was being held on the anniversary of Mr. Lincoln’s birth.
All reports of town officers were accepted as printed in the annual report. The tax collector’s compensation will be the usual one percent on collections. Two new hydrants were authorized, one on River street, Graniteville, and one near the end of Paradise lane on main street in the Center.
Article 21 was tabled until more information was available. This asked for $200 toward a George Washington Memorial building in Washington, D.C.
Articles 22 and 23 were quickly carried, assuring the making over of the old academy building into quarters for the Center fire department; $1,500 is to be borrowed on three notes for this purpose, and $1,500 was raised.
Under article 24, $3,000 is to be borrowed on five notes to go with $3,000 from the county and $3,000 from the state for the road from the Center to Graniteville. This improvement will take care of perhaps the most dangerous spot on our roads.
Under Article 25 a committee of five was appointed to arrange and contract with the Westford Water Company for water.
The “hardy annual” vote authorizing the treasurer to borrow monthly until the tax collector can pry enough away from his victims was passed, and said collector was instructed to work as provided by law.
Article 30 re-elected the finance committee save that W. R. Taylor was chosen in place of W. O. Hawkes.
Re-election was again the rule for town officers chosen by hand vote, and so the newly-married men were spared new duties.
Article 34 was passed so that the town treasurer could draw a small deposit from a Lowell Savings bank for the overseers of the poor.
The following appropriations were made: Public library, dog license money, unexpended balance and $1,000; burial grounds, $250; roads and bridges, $6,500; town debts and charges, $7,500; poor, $2,000; schools, unexpended balance and $15,973.75; moths and beetles, $1,100; fire department, $450; new hose and fire apparatus, $350; piano for town hall, not over $500; Center firehouse, $1,500 and borrow $1,500; fish and game warden, $50; sidewalks, $600; Memorial day, $150; transporting library books, $100; lights on Lowell road, $270.
The officers elected were as follows: Selectman, Oscar R. Spalding; assessor, J. Willard Fletcher; overseer of the poor, Wesley O. Hawkes; treasurer, Harwood L. Wright; collector of taxes, Leonard W. Wheeler; auditor, Edward T. Hanley; constable, William L. Wall; school committee, John Spinner, Arthur E. Day; library trustee, John P. Wright; commissioner of public burial grounds, George T. Day; tree warden, Harry L. Nesmith.
Tadmuck Club. One of the best of mid-winter meetings of the Tadmuck club took place Tuesday afternoon at the vestry of the Congregational church. The usual procedure of the meeting was reversed, the speaker of the afternoon coming first and the business session later. The president, Miss Howard, introduced Hugh F. Molloy, superintendent of schools of Lowell, who gave a lecture on “Marie Antoinette.” Mr. Molloy proved a finished and fluent speaker, a thorough student of history, and presented the brilliancy and tragedy of the reign of this beautiful woman and the period of the French revolution in which she lived with much ability.
At the business session Miss Howard paid loyal tribute to Lincoln, whose birthday anniversary was just passed, and the autographed photograph, described elsewhere in this column, was passed through the audience.
Miss Cyril A. Blaney sang two ensemble selections, “The sapphire of your smile” and “Love’s dream. Loving tribute was paid to the memory of Mrs. E. J. Whitney, passed on since the last meeting. A report of the State Federation meeting recently held in Wakefield, written by Mrs. Story[?], was read and notice of coming meetings of interest was given. At the next meeting Miss Mary G. Balch, chairman of the art committee, will give an address on “Color harmony.”
About Town. Henry O. Keyes of North Westford, had both legs broken in a rear-end collision from an electric[?] car off[?] the Groton road near the Brookside end[?] Tuesday evening. Mr. Keyes was homeward[?] bound from Lowell with a two-horse warsled[?]: two horses fore and two horses aft and the sled[?] tent[?] lighted]?] with lantern[?] signals. The collision precipitated[?] Mr. Keyes from his seat on the sled to the ground seat between and under the horses legs. The rear horses escaped without injury. Mrs. Bacon, hearing the crash, went to the scene and Mr. Keyes was carried to her house. Dr. Varney, of North Chelmsford, was called and drove him in his automobile to St. John’s hospital, North Chelmsford. In this kind of slow slip ice it is easy to see how while driving in the [electric] car track and having turned out, the rear of the sled slewed back onto the track. This is the explanation of the writer on the spot of the moment statement that an explanation could be given as to the cause.
The next meeting of West Chelmsford Grange will be held on Wednesday evening, instead of on Tuesday evening. The evening will be a Washington night, with many new features about it never dreamed out loud in public before.
Rev. Charles E. Spaulding, well-known in West Chelmsford where he received the device of marriage, will conduct the fourth quarterly conference at the Village church Sunday afternoon and evening. He is an endurable speaker with a large line-up of sense and tolerance.
Mr. and Mrs. Fred A. Snow have been stopping at the Hotel Imperial, New York city, for a few days. While there they made a trip out to Bound Brook, N.J., to visit Mrs. Snow’s sister, Mrs. George Howard.
At the annual luncheon of the Woman’s club of Bound Brook, N.J., which was held at the Middlebrook Country club, Mrs. Martha Taylor Howard responded to the toast “New England forever,” which was received with great applause.
The funeral of Arthur Abrahamson, better known as Otto Abrahamson, who was killed in an accident last week Friday at the Ayer Tannery, took place from the home of his parents on Strawberry hill, West Chelmsford, on Monday afternoon, Rev. W. F. Hudgings, of Brooklyn, N.Y., conducting the services. A quartet composed of Elsie and Edith Lundberg, Paul Lundberg and Rev. W. F. Hudgins sang “Earthy treasures fail,” “Shall we meet?” and “Thy will be done.” Flowers, the tribute of friends and relatives, were abundant. The bearers were friends of the deceased, Albert and Adolf Nelson, Harold and Albert Miller. Burial was in the family lot in West Chelmsford cemetery. The deceased was born in West Chelmsford twenty-three years ago, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Abrahamson. He received his education of the village, had a host of friends who will miss his cheer and companionship. He is survived by his parents, three sisters and six brothers.
About twenty-five people and other folks in a sleigh-ride, partly from Lowell, last Saturday, when opposite the residence of Mr. and Mrs. William R. Farnham, a few sled lengths north of Keyes’ pond, came to a stop, unloaded, went into the house, helped themselves to a clever good time, and Mr. and Mrs. Farnham looked on and helped.
Graniteville. The children of Mr. and Mrs. C. E. Dudevoir have recovered from scarlet fever and quarantine has been lifted.
Extreme cold weather has prevailed here during the week, the mercury registering between 16 and 20 degrees below zero during the early morning hours.
Sleigh-ride parties are now being enjoyed by many while the roads and hills are in excellent condition for coasting.
The sudden death of Arthur Abrahamson, who died as a result of an accident while at work in Ayer on last week Friday, came as a shock to his many friends here. Abrahamson was a former resident here and worked on the quarry and in the machine shop.
Although it is rather early to talk about baseball it is safe to say that Graniteville will have a good, fast club on the diamond during the coming summer. The new ball park will be in fine shape by that time and plans are now being formulated whereby the fans are assured of some good games every Saturday during the coming season. As soon as the important details are attended to the management will make arrangements to get the team together. More particulars will be given later.
The members of Cameron Circle, C.F. of A., held a well-attended and interesting meeting in their rooms on last Tuesday evening. Much business of importance was transacted and at the conclusion of the meeting a social hour was enjoyed.
Several young ladies of this village are planning on a sleigh-ride party to Lowell on Saturday evening, when the attendance at the theatre, to be followed by a supper is among the pleasures being planned.
The members of Court Graniteville, F. of A., held their regular meeting on Thursday night.