Turner's Public Spirit, February 4, 1922
A look back in time to a century ago
By Bob Oliphant
“Center. Every telephone of the telephone company in town has been completed or put in
temporary order by the linemen, who have had a very busy time since the bad storm of November
29.
“At a meeting of the directors of the Lowell Chamber of Commerce, held January 30, …
Edward Fisher, formerly of this town, son of the late Alvan Fisher, was elected to the presidency.
On February 6 and 7 Mr. Fisher and the secretary-manager, Mr. Wells, will go to Washington by
invitation of Herbert Hoover, Secretary of the Department of Commerce. Chambers of
Commerce of the country will spend two days with Mr. Hoover and his assistants in discussing
various problems concerning commerce and business in general.
“J. Edward Clements is assisting on the delivery route of the R.F.D. this winter.
“The meeting of the Board of Trade on last Wednesday evening was well attended by both
men and women. The chief object of the meeting was to elect officers, which resulted as follows:
Frank C. Wright, pres.; William C. Roudenbush, v.p.; Mattie A. Crocker, sec.; Alfred W. Tuttle,
treas. and col.; H. V. Hildreth, Perley E. Wright, Albert R. Wall, Edward T. Hanley, Wm. Reuben
Taylor, directors….
“At Lowell’s big auto show that was held at the Kasino last week we noticed the variety of
Reo cars and Speed Wagons that was grouped artistically by the dealer, George F. White, who is
a resident of this town and one of our largest taxpayers….
“Chief Harry Whiting went Tuesday to Bridgeport, Conn., with a warrant … for Albert J.
Mouneny, of Forge Village, for desertion and non-support of his wife and minor children. Mr.
Mouneny was found in Bridgeport and brought to Ayer on Wednesday, and will be brought
before the district court there.
“The Westford Water Company held its annual meeting and election of officers on last
Saturday. The officers elected are as follows: John C. Abbot, pres.; Charles O. Prescott, sec. and
treas.; Sherman H. Fletcher, manager; Alonzo H. Sutherland, supt.; Julian A. Cameron, Sherman
H. Fletcher, Harvey W. Tarbell and Alonzo H. Sutherland, committee on construction….
“Citizens’ Caucus. The annual town caucus for the nominating of candidates for the election
of February 13 was held at the town hall on Tuesday evening at eight o’clock. The women voters
were out forty strong and men were also present from all sections of the town with plenty of
“pep.” …
“Tadmuck Club. The next meeting of the Tadmuck club will be held on Tuesday afternoon
at 2:30 o’clock in Library hall, in charge of the education committee, Mrs. Arthur G. Hildreth,
Mrs. Warren K. Hanscom and Miss Mattie Crocker, who have turned the meeting over to a group
of teachers, assisted by Supt. Herman C. Knight, of Littleton. They will discuss the scope of
work covered in the various grades and some of the present day methods in teaching, illustrating
in some cases by charts and textbooks and blackboard or by actual teaching.
“This will be an open meeting and an opportunity to show your interest in your public schools
and willingness to cooperate with the teachers who have so kindly consented to undertake the
meeting by coming to the meeting and by helping to extend the invitation to as many parents as
you are able to reach. If time permits, the formation of a parent-teachers’ association will be
discussed. All are invited.
“About Town. The last two weeks have been ideal for winter sports. Brookside boys have
had a grand time skiing down Guy Decatur’s hills by Tadmuck Brook. They could ski down one
hill and across the meadows and brook and up the other hill, and then down again.
“On February third Mr. and Mrs. Francis Bannister and their daughter Frances celebrated their
birthdays. It is an unique occurrence—three birthdays in one family on the third.
“Mrs. Warren Sweetsir [sic, Sweetser] broke her leg Tuesday night and was taken to the
hospital in Lowell. The sleigh in which she was riding, while returning from the citizens’ caucus
in Westford Center, tipped over and caused the sad accident.
“Last week we wrote up our impressions of the weather at 15 below zero, and we got a chill in
writing about it aside from zero himself, but when we found that it was 36 below in Dunstable
and nine miles north of us 40 below, we concluded that we were mistaken. We didn’t have any
chill—all that we had was nice, comfortable, fairly cool weather.”
For Westford Wardsman readings visit “Bob Oliphant’s Westford Wardsman Podcast” at
youtube.com.
Frank Claude Wright (1860-1927), about 1900,
was elected president of the Westford Board of Trade in 1922.
Courtesy Photo / Westford Historical Society.