Turner's Public Spirit, February 25, 1922
A look back in time to a century ago
By Bob Oliphant
“Center. The snow plow was attached to one of Perley E. Wright’s Mack trucks early
Wednesday afternoon, clearing off the snow that had fallen during Tuesday night and Wednesday
morning. The big Mack truck, to which was attached the road plow, has done great work this
winter so far on all the main roads—a width of several feet having been plowed, leaving the hard
surface of ice that makes traveling comparatively easy.
“The heavy snowfall on last week Wednesday caused the schools to be closed on Thursday
and Friday.
“Miss Marjorie Seavey is at home for a few days from her school duties in Swampscott.
“Austin Fletcher has recovered from his recent illness and returned to his duties at the store of
Wright & Fletcher.
“Mr. and Mrs. Arthur G. Hildreth’s youngest child, Barbara, was taken ill this week.
“S. B. Watson was taken ill with the prevailing grippe cold this week.
“Miss Marion Fletcher, who was operated upon for appendicitis at the Lowell General
hospital, is reported comfortable.
“The board of selectmen who were elected at the recent town meeting met at the town hall on
last Monday evening and organized for the ensuing term. Oscar R. Spalding was chosen as
chairman and F. L. Furbush as secretary….
“A special stereopticon lecture was given on last Sunday evening at the Congregational church
on ‘In far Shausi [Shansi?],’ fifty-nine pleasing views of China, including methods of travel,
agriculture and worship being vividly presented, together with illustrations of the home life and
customs of marriage and of burial. Other lectures on mission lands will be given from time to
time….
“Mr. and Mrs. Julian A. Cameron and daughter, Miss Eleanor Cameron, sailed on Sunday
from Baltimore for Havana, Panama canal and Honolulu, planning to return home about the first
of April.
“The public schools were closed on the holiday [Washington’s Birthday].
“No mail was delivered on the R.F.D. routes on Wednesday, it being a holiday, the mail
carriers, Alfred Tuttle and J. Edward Clements, having a day off.
“About Town. The weather on last Saturday morning … was 17 below, or 1 degree below
the previous coldest which at that time did not receive an encore for more, and this last received
an unappreciative welcome on the part of those who love heat. A seventy-six-year-old youth in
the Stony Brook Valley prophesied the first day of February, when it was sunny and thawing,
‘that it won’t go below zero again this winter.’ As many winters as he has non-admired the cold
he ought to have known better than to appear in the role of such a prophecy…. [Samuel L.
Taylor is speaking about himself; he was born Dec. 4, 1845, in Westford.]
“Hon. Edward Fisher, chairman of the state board of arbitration and conciliation, and president
of the Lowell Chamber of Commerce, has been the means of settling amicably the milk strike in
Lowell by getting the producers and consumers of milk to a compromise on fifty-two cents a can,
better than six cents a quart….
“We think passing notice should be given of Harold Wright’s fine snow fort which looks like
bags of table salt all piled up for delivery. It represents quite a little work for an eight-year-old
boy and another boy companion, Richard Green.
“We can hardly keep track of all the cases of grippe that we hear of. Spring must be nearly
here because nearly everyone has had the grippe—that is one of the last stages of winter….
“We can match the report of the sight of a handsome red robin saying ‘Cheer up, cheer up’ at
Kimball’s corner, Littleton, with the sight of a very handsome pheasant eating some unharvested
Porter apples right close to the Old Oaken Bucket farm.
“Graniteville. The February thaw came as an agreeable change here in the early part of the
week, after the severe cold weather we have had previously.
“Soccer Football. All is now in readiness for the special train that will run from Graniteville
and Forge Village to Fall River on Saturday, when the Abbot soccer team will meet the Todd
Shipyard [of Brooklyn, N.Y.,] in the big eastern final. At a meeting of the state soccer officials
held at the American House, Boston, on last Sunday, the committee decided to go to Fall River in
a body on Saturday and root for the Abbot team. This is only proper for the Abbots are the
representatives of Massachusetts in the national cup series, having eliminated the Falcos of
Holyoke, February 4….”
Engagement photo of Marjorie M. Seavey who taught at Swampscott Girls’ Junior High School in 1922. Courtesy Photo / Boston Globe, Feb. 23, 1922, p. 4.
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