Turner's Public Spirit, February 26, 1921
A look back in time to a century ago
By Bob Oliphant
“Center. Harry E. Whiting and not Whitney is the name of the new policeman appointed for
Westford by the selectmen. Mr. and Mrs. Whiting will live in the upper part of the house
occupied by the Arthur G. Hildreths [on Hildreth St.]. This house has been recently arranged for
two families. Mrs. Whiting was formerly Miss Martha Grant of the Frost school teaching force
and her friends here will be glad to welcome her back to Westford.
“J. Herbert Fletcher has changed his Dodge auto for one of the same make of the newer
model.
“Some of the lovers of good music from here were able to hear Fritz Kreisler at the Strand
theatre in Lowell Monday evening.
“The patriotic service at the Congregational church under the auspices of the Young People’s
League, Miss May E. Day, leader, and which was to have taken place last Sunday evening but
had to be omitted on account of the severe storm, will take place this Sunday evening and will be
the single service of the evening.
“The storm of last Sunday was one of the worst of the season. Very few who were not
actually obliged to left the shelter of their homes. It was estimated there was from twelve to
fifteen inches of snow on the level places, but the drifting made it much heavier in the wind-
swept places. There were no school sessions on Monday, which made quite a holiday for
teachers and pupils from Friday until Tuesday. The trucks did not go to Boston market with
apples until Wednesday of this week.
“The truck with snow-plow attached did good work in clearing the streets after the snowstorm
last Sunday.
“Inaugural Ball. The members of the Republican League are making great preparations for
their inaugural concert and ball, which takes place Friday evening, March 4 [inauguration day], at
the town hall. They have appointed the following committees: executive, Alfred W. Hartford,
Arthur G. Walker and Warren G. Hanscom; decorations, Alonzo H. Sutherland, John S. Greig,
Leon F. Hildreth, George D. Wilson and Fred H. Meyer; supper, Charles V. Roby, Walter
Fletcher, Ira Goodwin, Frank Caunter, William R. Wall and Alvin Nelson; reception committee,
Mrs. W. W. Sargent, Mrs. H. V. Hildreth, Mrs. A. W. Hartford, Mrs. William E. Wright, Mrs. A.
M. Wells, Mrs. Robert Prescott, Mrs. J. Herbert Fletcher, Mr. and Mrs. Fred A. Sweatt, John B.
Carmichael, Edward M. Abbot, Mr. and Mrs. Herbert E. Fletcher, Capt. Sherman H. Fletcher,
Charles L. Hildreth, John Edwards and Mrs. A. H. Sutherland.
“About Town. Rehearsals have commenced for the old-fashioned dance that is to be
demonstrated a few weeks hence. The last rehearsal was Wednesday evening. Joe Wall is
manager and Joe Hibbard sendeth forth the music.
“The Brookside mills did not observe the holiday Tuesday, but ran full time. With so many
on the waiting list for work and wages this is the most sensible way to observe Washington’s
birthday.
“A Trout Story. Joe Wall, our efficient fish and game warden, has demonstrated his fitness
for the office in catching a 22 ½ lb. trout in some waters somewhere, some time. On these points
Joseph is very reticent, as he doesn’t care to have a rush to his newly-found fishing banks. His
exhibit is evidently a lake trout for a trout of that size couldn’t grow in any of the trout brooks in
town without overflowing the banks and causing a freshet. Besides being thus useful in catching
large fish he has as fish and game warden been busy in stocking the lakes and trout brooks in the
town with little fish for future 22 ½ lb. fish. Here are some of his contributions towards
preservation of brook trout: Nashoba and Vine brooks 150 adults, O’Brien’s brook 2000
fingerlings rainbow trout, Forge pond 4000 fingerlings white perch, Burgess pond 1000 adults
yellow perch, Keyes pond 600,000 fry pike perch, Nabnassett pond 200,000 fry, town farm brook
6 cans brook trout fingerlings, head waters of O’Brien [now Pond] brook 2000 trout fingerlings.
In the line of game he has liberated in Tadmuck swamp six Maine snowshoe rabbits and 18
pheasants.
“Graniteville. All the mills and shops were closed here on Tuesday for the holiday. Owing
to the bad traveling the schools were closed until Wednesday.
“The Abbot Worsted Co. soccer football club are making great preparation for next season.
They still have three remaining games to play in order to finish their schedule in the industrial
league.
“Ice-cutting still continues at Forge pond.”
The Austrian-born American violin virtuoso Friedrich-Max "Fritz" Kreisler (1875-1962)
performed to capacity audiences at Symphony Hall, Boston, on Feb. 19, 1921, and at the Strand
Theater, Lowell, on Feb. 21. Courtesy Photo / wikipedia.org.