The Westford Wardsman, February 24, 1917
Center. Word has been received by Westford friends of the serious illness of Albert D. Taylor with typhoid fever. Mr. Taylor lives in Cleveland, Ohio, but has recently opened a branch office in Florida for his work in landscape gardening. He is sick at the Flagler hospital in Miami. His fiancée, Miss Brainard, and her parents are also staying in Miami.
Those who took the parts in the living pictures illustrating well-known songs at the Congregational church social on last week Wednesday evening were as follows: “Mother,” Mrs. S. L. Taylor, song by Elinor Colburn; “The rosary” Elinor Colburn, piano solo by Miss Julia Fletcher; “Tipperary,” Frances Wright, song by audience; “Sweet and low,” Alice Wright, song by Elinor Colburn; “Annie Laurie,” Miss Osborn, song by Mrs. Wright and Mrs. Colburn; “Ben Bolt,” Mrs. Meyers, song by L. Burland and Mrs. Colburn; “America,” Miss Lottie Dunn, song by audience; “Kathleen Mavorneen,” Mrs. Clarence Hildreth, song by Mrs. Colburn and Elinor Colburn; “Juanita,” Mrs. W. R. Taylor, Mrs. C. H. Wright and Miss Edith Wright; “Girl of the sky blue water” Ethel Burland; reading from “Hiawatha” by Rev H. A. Lincoln; “Drink to me only with thine eyes,” Miss Helena Denfeld; “Star Spangled Banner,” song by audience. A solo was contributed by Leonard Burland and readings by L. W. Wheeler.
Miss Marguerite Young, a former teacher at Westford academy, was a weekend visitor at Mrs. George H. Walker’s and attended service Sunday morning at the Congregational church. Miss Young teaches at the Burdett Business college in Lynn, and enjoys her work very much, but was glad to renew former Westford associations during her brief visit.
Schools were closed Thursday for the holiday and the teachers returned to their homes and as Friday was scheduled as a school visiting day schools do not reopen until Monday.
The reading circle of the Tadmuck club under the auspices of the Good Literature and Library Extension committee will meet with Mrs. W. C. Roudenbush Friday afternoon of next week. Some contemporary dramas are to be read by the class during the remainder of the season.
The meeting of the community sing was held at the Congregational vestry Tuesday evening under the direction of Mrs. W. R. Taylor. There were thirty-two present and much interest and enthusiasm was shown in singing from the collection of songs the gathering is using for the purpose, containing many of the favorite old ballads, patriotic selections, old-fashioned rounds and many others.
The meeting of the Tadmuck club next Tuesday afternoon will be at the vestry of the Congregational church and not at Library hall as given in the calendar. The trio, consisting of W. R. Taylor, Mrs. C. A. Blaney and Mrs. John Feeney, jr., will sing and the change is for availability of piano. Miss Mary G. Balch will give an art talk on “Color harmony.” All who remember Miss Balch’s address last year will anticipate with pleasure the meeting next Tuesday afternoon.
On Thursday of last week Miss Alice M. Howard, president of the Tadmuck club, attended the meeting of the woman’s council of the home department of the Middlesex County Farm Bureau held at the home of Mrs. James Storrow, Boston, at 1:30 o’clock. At one o’clock the council and women directors all over the county were entertained at lunch. Mrs. Storrow then called the meeting to order and then presented Miss Laura Comstock of the Agricultural college, who is so pleasantly remembered by Westford people on account of her able work with the Extension school held here last winter. Miss Comstock presented the work of the home department of Farm Bureaus in general. Mrs. Storrow then told of the plans for work in Middlesex county and the discussion which closed the meeting showed that all present were interested and enthusiastic. Mrs. Frank C. Wright, the woman director from Westford, was unable to be present.
Well Presented. The three-act comedy drama presented by the senior class of Westford Academy at the town hall last week Friday evening was very well given and also very well received. A large audience of interested parents and friends were in attendance to enjoy the young people’s impersonations which reflected credit upon themselves and upon their teachers. Miss Marion C. Moreland, a former teacher, but now teaching in the Girls’ Latin school in Boston, was the soloist of the evening and her selections were much enjoyed. She was accompanied at the piano by Miss Julia H. Fletcher.
Those who took the various parts were Miss Dorothy Jordan, Miss Claire Payne, Miss Edith Judd, Miss Beatrice Hosmer, Miss Josephine Socha, Miss Elva Judd, Miss Frances Wright, Bertram Sutherland. The play was given under the direction of Principal Roudenbush, Miss Denfield and Miss Osborn. The stage settings were well arranged and after the play dancing was enjoyed with Miss Precious of Forge Village at the piano. The proceeds of the evening go toward the graduation expenses of the senior class.
About Town. The second farmers’ institute of the winter series will be held at Grange hall, Dracut Center, next Wednesday at 10:30. The forenoon address will be given by Charles E. Allen of North Abington, secretary of the Massachusetts Poultry society, subject, “Essentials to successful poultry raising.” In the afternoon George D. Aiken, of Putney, Vt., will speak on “The small fruit garden.” Dinner by the ladies of the church, followed by music and after-dinner attractions. Cars leave Merrimack square eighteen minutes past the hour and every fifteen minutes from thence forward.
Successful in presentation, but chilled in attendance by the zero hold-up, was the talk on “Poultry” and lantern slides by Rev. L. H. Buckshorn and Harold Hildreth last week Monday evening.
Among the places visited by Mr. and Mrs. Fred A. Snow in their recent trip to New York city was the Bankers’ Trust Company building, situated on the corner of Wall and Broad streets. The building is thirty-nine stories and 540 feet high and stands on land costing $825 a square foot, the highest price ever paid for land. What made the building appear as a reminder of home was its construction of granite from the quarry of Hon. Herbert E. Fletcher, Oak hill, Westford. It is worth the while to see both Fletcher’s and Westford’s trade mark in the building.
The members of the Jolly Twelve club, an organization of well known young women of this village, conducted a very successful sleighride party to Lowell on last Saturday night. John Connell with his fine horses and big sled conveyed the merry crowd. The entire party took in the performance of “Peggy O’Moore” at the Opera house, after which a bountiful supper was enjoyed at the Chinese restaurant. The return trip was thoroughly enjoyed, the sleighing being fine. The whole affair was voted one grand social success and was given under the direction of Miss Nettie Hanning and others.
Anyone who would like to help the relief work in France by knitting caps, sweaters, scarfs [sic] and stockings, or making comfort pillows, can get the material from Mrs. W. H. Sherman in this village.
The quarantine has been lifted from the home of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Ledwith, where their little granddaughter, Ursula Donahue, has been ill with scarlet fever.
Mr. and Mrs. Fred Longley and little son who have been living in Waterbury, Conn., have recently taken up their residence here.
Methodist Notes. Rev. Dr. [Charles E.] Spaulding, district superintendent, preached last Sunday morning at the Methodist church. Immediately after the morning worship Dr. Spaulding presided at the fourth quarterly conference, receiving reports. Dr. W. H. Sherman, George Wilson and William Gilson were elected to the board of trustees. Miss Lottie York was added to the board of stewards. At the men’s bible class session the district superintendent gave a masterly lecture on “Thou shall not steal—a new interpretation.”
The junior league surpassed its previous splendid record of attendance on Sunday afternoon with forty-one present.
At the Epworth league service Geo. Wilson led the meeting in its discussion of “What constitutes a christian.” The dedication service at 7:30 saw the vestry room well filled. The chairman of the renovation committee made a partial report. Late in the service pledges were received for current obligations, after which splendid singing by both choir and audience and preaching by the pastor of “The only foundation,” the day’s enjoyment of services in the new room was over. Through the courtesy of friends the front of the room was beautifully decorated with plants and flowers.
Forge Village. Alexander Milot, of Graniteville, and Amelia Lemney, of this village, were united in marriage at St. John’s rectory, North Chelmsford, by Rev. Henry Scott.
Mrs. Elizabeth Splaine is critically ill at her home on Union [now E. Prescott] street, Dr. O. V. Wells being in constant attendance. Latest reports from her bedside show no improvement.
The cottage of the late Henry Catchpole will be sold at auction on this week Saturday.
Mrs. Mary Lowther is ill at her home on Bradford street.
The A.F.B. club’s dance held in Cameron hall on Tuesday was a success, both socially and financially.
Miss Annie Keefe, of Townsend, was a weekend visitor here.
Mr. and Mrs. John E. Burnett and son Leonard spent the weekend here with Mr. and Mrs. William Burnett.
Mrs. C. E. Denham is visiting her son in Chicago and expects to be absent six weeks.
Measles again have paid the village a call, several families being at present quarantined. Latest reports show all are doing well.
Ayer
Military Camp Here. The report that Ayer will soon have within its borders a military training ground, capable of caring for the entire fifth division of the United States National Guard, caused a great stir here this week. The fifth division comprises all the military companies in the New England States, and numbers 25,000 men.
The location of the camp grounds is on the vast piece of land known as “the plains,” which run from the Worcester, Nashua and Portland division railroad tracks to Shabokin. The land is level with a small growth of underbrush covering it. Plans are being considered to have the cavalry stationed on the western part of this lot, together with infantry units. There is ample room for the aviation corps movements also. Military men say that there is ample room for 25,000 men. Col. J. H. Buck, adjutant of the fifth division, recently made an inspection of the land for the proposed new camp ground and expressed himself as well pleased with it.
It is said that Camp Stevens, on the Woods Village road, near White’s bridge, will be brought into use for the artillery units. This camp ground was used in civil war time by the 53rd regiment.
The camp grounds at Framingham for many years in use are said to be too small and may be discarded.
The location of the proposed camp is considered ideal by military men because of the nature of the soil, the nearness to unsurpassed transportation facilities for which Ayer is famous, and the ample room there. The trouble between this country and Germany has been said to be the cause underlying the movement for the larger grounds for mobilizing troops in case of war or any other contingency.