The Westford Wardsman, January 1, 1916
Center. The Christmas exercises for the children at the Congregational church were much enjoyed and there was a good attendance in spite of the weather. There were games, supper and a tree for the children and at seven o’clock Mr. Wallace gave a stereopticon lecture on “Child life of the world,” illustrated with a fine set of slides.
The blizzard that started in last Sunday just as people were coming from church was pretty serious for a time. Many branches were blown from shade trees, but the telephone service was not seriously disabled and no other serious damage has been reported.
Teachers spending their vacation with the home people have been Miss Ruth Tuttle, Miss Elizabeth Kittredge, Miss Jennie Ferguson and Miss May Day.
Leon F. Hildreth goes the first of the week to Amherst college to avail himself of one of the special midwinter courses of ten weeks.
Mrs. Burton Streeter has been a holiday visitor with her daughter, Mrs. J. Henry Colburn.
Mr. and Mrs. Perley E. Wright and little son Harold spent Christmas day with Mrs. Wright’s sister, Mrs. Perry Shupe, at South Merrimack, N.H. There was a large family group present with Christmas dinner and a tree. This week Mrs. W. H. Youlden and children have been visiting Mrs. Wright’s.
Good cheer and hospitality abounded at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Frank C. Wright Christmas when a family group of eighteen were present. The guests came from Groton, Springfield, Lowell and Chelmsford.
The annual firemen’s ball will take place on Thursday evening, January 13, at the town hall. The same efficient committee who made the event so successful last year are managing the ball again this year and are Robert Prescott, S. B. Watson, William E. Wright and Edward Clement. Poole’s orchestra will again furnish the music.
Christmas services at the Congregational church last Sunday were admirably carried out. Mr. Wallace gave in place of a regular Christmas sermon an original story of “Eleazer, the brigand,” a vivid story of some events of the first Christmas day. There was a good musical program consisting of a quartet, Mrs. Nora Colburn, Mrs. C. H. Wright, Henry Smith and A. E. Day, and a duet by Miss Lillian Sutherland and Miss Sadie McMaster and anthem by the choir. The platform and pulpit were beautifully decorated with hemlocks, wreaths and poinsettias, the skillful work of Mrs. A. W. Hartford.
Miss Gertrude Hamlin has been a guest at Mrs. A. W. Hartford’s this week.
Bert Walker, who has been at home from the hospital for ten days, is now making a good convalescence after his long, serious illness.
The mails at the postoffice over the holiday were unusually heavy and meant hustle for all concerned and much credit should be given for the efficient way the stacks of packages, letters and postcards were handled. F. C. Wright, R.F.D. carrier, reports the greatest amount of large packages taken care of on his route since he has been a carrier. Mr. Wright will have a well-earned holiday on new year’s day.
The annual appraisal and dinner to the town officers takes place at the town farm this Saturday.
Principal William C. Roudenbush has been entertaining a severe and unwelcome cold during vacation days.
The regular meeting of the Tadmuck club took place on Tuesday afternoon at Library hall notwithstanding inclement weather a good representation of the membership were present to hear Mrs. Clara Bancroft Beatley present the subject “Our boys and girls.” Mrs. Beatley, who was a teacher of wide experience, and since with children of her own, gave a vital talk, practical and sensible, followed with much interest. Many took the opportunity to greet the speaker and express their appreciation at the close of the meeting. In the absence of the regular secretary, Mrs. Harold W. Hildreth acted as secretary pro tem. The next meeting of the club is one of the principal events of the club calendar and will be “guest evening” at the Congregational church, and Mrs. J. Willard Fletcher will be the hostess of the evening.
About Town. There was a fire in the new eight-story fireproof addition to the building of the Boston Athletic association in Boston early Tuesday morning, and among the guests who occupied rooms there that night was V. C. B. Wetmore, of this town.
Quincy W. Day, who has been ailing for some time, is about around, but not out around. We are glad to report that he is slowly gaining in the direction of the outside door. His friends will be glad to see him open it after his old-time strength.
In the death of Frank B. Trull, of North Tewksbury, at the Lowell hospital last Sunday as the result of a surgical operation, a large community loses a large and generous citizen, and agriculture the largest market gardener in the vicinity of Lowell, and the Middlesex North Agricultural society its largest contributor to its annual fair, and all this at the youthful age of fifty-five years. He leaves a wife, seven children, three brothers and three sisters. His wife was a niece of the late Dr. N. B. Edwards, of North Chelmsford, so well-known in this vicinity. Mr. Trull was a prominent member and deacon in the Baptist church in North Tewksbury.
The next meeting of Middlesex North Pomona Grange will be held on Friday, January 7. The forenoon will be in the hands of the lecturer for entertainment. In the afternoon, at an open meeting, the officers-elect will be installed by George S. Ladd, of Sturbridge, past master of the State Grange.
Here is an easy question for all to answer, so easy that there is a liability of its being forgotten: “What important educational advantage is to be offered to the citizens of Westford and surrounding towns by the state at Westford town hall on January 17, 18, 19, 20 and 21?” There will be ample time to answer this question at the town hall on Monday, January 17, promptly at one o’clock. The writer of this article will be there at that time to hear everybody recite their answers to this question. Read the posters bearing on this question every time and everywhere you see one of these posters.
A deputy of the State Grange will install the officers of Westford Grange next Thursday evening. The executive committee will furnish supper.
Herbert A. Walkden is a member of the Massachusetts Agricultural College Glee club and is touring the state. He will graduate from Amherst in June.
Christmas at the Unitarian church on last week Friday night was appropriately and socially observed, and the Christmas tree proved to have a good year for bearing. The older members of the parish who were unable to be present were remembered at their homes with baskets of fruit. The following children, trained by Miss Mabel Drew, gave recitations: Betty Prescott, Esther Fisher, Elizabeth Carver, Elizabeth Wells, Everett Miller. A play, entitled “A Santa Claus frolic,” was given by John Fletcher, Morton Seavey, Fisher Buckshorn, Gordon Seavey, Freda, Alice and Ruth Johnson, Marion and Mildred Fletcher, Edna Hamlin, William Carver, Jr. Santa Claus was impersonated in frolicsome appropriateness by Rev. L. H. Buckshorn. The committee in charge of the event were Mrs. Buckshorn, Mrs. Carver, Mrs. Hildreth, Mrs. Eben Prescott, [and] Miss Drew.
An overhead bridge at Brookside for the electric cars, with the Westford car running to North Chelmsford, has some stockholders in talk. Here is a chance for the town to lay out a new short road from Moors’ mill to Donnelly’s store on the Brookside road, crossing the Stony Brook and the railroad and avoid the present dangerous crossing, the most dangerous in this vicinity—the only warning an electric gong, which doesn’t always go gong or else it goes to the other extreme and is gong all the time. The time is coming when this grade crossing will have to obey the present law abolishing grade crossings. The damage to the Moors mill property [will] be more expensive at the present grade crossing than by the new route. Let it have a hearing
The next meeting of the W.C.T.U. will be held at the vestry of the Congregational church next Wednesday afternoon. This will be a rally day event. The following unions have been invited guests of the Westford union: Ayer, Graniteville, Dracut, [and] Lowell. The address of the afternoon will be given by Mrs. Ada Frisbee, state corresponding secretary; subject, “Contest work.” She will attend the “contest” speaking of the Graniteville union in the evening. For entertainment in the afternoon Mrs. J. W. Thomas, of Ayer, will sing, and Mr. Carr of Long Sought pond will give a violin solo.
During the blizzard of last Sunday the telephone wires went under ground for safety and remained there until called forth by those who knew how to call it. Trees and things generally were upset by the high winds.
Nathaniel Phillips, who has been ill with pneumonia at the home of his parents near Westford station, is much the same and more too for the better.
Rev. L. H. Buckshorn has bought the strip of land between the railroad and Stony brook, opposite the sheds of J. Willard Fletcher.
Forge Village. On Christmas day many family gatherings were held. The holiday was full of good cheer and happiness. At midnight carols were sung at different homes.
William Baker is under the doctor’s care, suffering with a broken finger.
William Davis, formerly of this village, now of Amsterdam, N.Y., is enjoying a holiday vacation of two weeks at the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Davis, of Pleasant street.
Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Deloria have welcomed a little stranger into their home.
John Hobson, of New Bedford, is the guest of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Albert Hobson.
James Byrnes, who has spent the past few months with relatives in New Jersey, is back in the village again.
James Daly, who has been seriously ill with pneumonia, is slowly gaining and his friends are anxious for a speedy recovery.
John Gray, the well-known telegrapher, is now the owner of a Ford automobile.
Mrs. Elizabeth Splain had as her guests over the holidays her daughter, Mrs. Margaret Rose, and children, of Belmont.
Mr. and Mrs. John Hanley and family, Mr. and Mrs. H. Downey and family and Mr. and Mrs. William Hanley and family, all of Marlboro, were among the home-comers at the Hanley homestead.
Mr. and Mrs. William Burnett held their annual family reunion at their home on Christmas. This year four generations were represented. Their guests included Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Longbottom and son William of Charlton Depot, Mrs. Laura Jones and daughter Ethel of Worcester, Mr. and Mrs. Chester Blodgett of Groton, Mr. and Mrs. E. B. Jones and little son of Worcester, Mr. and Mrs. John E. Burnett and son Leonard of this village. The pleasure of the gathering was somewhat marred owing to the illness with pneumonia of their granddaughter, Miss Mabel Wyman, of Camden, N.J.
Rev. Williston M. Ford, vicar of St. Andrew’s parish, was the recipient of an automobile as a Christmas gift from Groton School.
A special carol service was held at St. Andrew’s mission on Sunday afternoon at 3:30 o’clock, and in spite of the blizzard a large number attended. There was special music by the children, and the story of the Christ child was read in a most pleasing manner by the wife of the vicar, Mrs. W. M. Ford.
The ice on Forge pond is now eight inches thick. The skating has been in excellent condition until the recent snowstorms. Sleighing is again being enjoyed by all lovers of the sport.
Loyal Self Help lodge, I.O.O.F., M.U., held their last meeting for the years 1915 in Abbot hall on last Monday evening. An election of officers for the year 1916 was the principal business of the evening and resulted as follows: George D. Wilson, n.g.; Joseph Burnett, v.g.; Elmer DeRohen, elec. sec.; Charles Benson, w.; William Burnett, treas.; George H. Weaver, per. sec.; William Burnett, lodge dep.; George H. Weaver, delegate to district. It was voted to commence meetings at seven o’clock, beginning with January 1, instead of 7:30 o’clock, which has been the usual hour. Dr. Cyril A. Blaney, the lodge physician, gave a very interesting discourse for the good of the order.
Cameron school will reopen Monday after a two-weeks’ vacation.
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Connell and two children, of Woburn, were guests of Mrs. Connell’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Philip Socha, during the holiday.
Miss M. E. Plummer, who was the guest on Christmas of Mr. and Mrs. Creasey, of Salem, has returned home.
A most delightful family reunion was held on Sunday at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Davis, Pleasant street. After an afternoon of music and sociability a bountiful supper was served, at which sixteen were entertained. In the evening the party gathered at the home of Mrs. Davis’ sister, Mrs. Dinah McMurray, and an evening of music was enjoyed. The orchestra was composed of the following: William Davis, violin; Gladys Baker, mandolin; Lillian Baker piano, and John Baker, drums. The guests included Mrs. Jane Baker, Mr. and Mrs. John Baker and two children, Mr. and Mrs. William Baker and family of this village and William Davis of Amsterdam, N.Y.
A very pleasant gathering was held at the home of Mr. and Mrs. John Baker on Christmas night. The evening was spent in games and music.
The services of St. Andrew’s mission will be held at 4:30 Sunday afternoon.
Mr. and Mrs. J. Tyler and family, of Worcester were guests on the holiday of Mrs. Tyler’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. William Weaver.
John W. Catchpole, who has been suffering with an attack of the grippe is now at work again.
Miss Helen Lord is still confined to her home by illness.
Graniteville. The children of the M.E. church Sunday school had a fine, big Christmas tree and an excellent program of exercises in the church on last week Friday evening. The affair was largely attended and enjoyed by all. Joe Wall impersonated Santa Claus and kept the children in good spirits at all times.
In spite of the inclement weather the members of Court Westford, M.C.O.F., held a well attended and interesting meeting in their rooms on Thursday night of last week. This being the last meeting of the year much business of importance was transacted. During the session the following officers were duly elected for the coming year: Mrs. Julia B. Wall, c.r.; Miss Fanny McCarthy, v.c.r; Miss Agnes Charlton, treas.; Albert R. Wall, rec. sec.; Edward T. Healy, s.c.; Mrs. Lena Monahan, j.c.; Mrs. Elizabeth Healy, i. sent.; Mrs. Emma Carpentier, o. sent.; F. G. Sullivan, Henry J. Healy, William L. Wall, trustees; Edward Riney, J. A. Healy, representatives to the grand court convention; F. G. Sullivan, Charles E. Dudevoir, alternates. All of the above-named officers will be duly installed at the first meeting in January.
The members of Cameron circle, C.F. of A., held a well attended meeting in their rooms on last Tuesday evening. Much business of a routine order was transacted and at the close of the session a social hour was enjoyed, during which refreshments were served. The members made this, their last meeting night of the year, a very enjoyable affair.
Christmas day was very fittingly observed in St. Catherine’s church when two masses were celebrated by Rev. Henry L. Scott, who delivered eloquent sermons on “The birth of the Savior.” At the high mass at 10:30 the choir under the direction of Miss Mary F. Hanley, sung the mass of St. Cecilia, the solos being sustained by Joseph Riney, James May, James Byrnes Arthur Charlton Miss Rachel Wall, Mrs. Carrie Prinn Charlton, Miss Rebecca LeDuc, Mrs. Mary Gardner Charlton. The altar was beautifully decorated with red carnations and lilies, with a background of laurel, which added greatly to the solemnity of the service. In the evening services were also held at 7:30 and were conducted by Rev. Henry L. Scott. The choir had a fine program arranged for this service.
J. Omer LeDuc, principal of the school in North Truro, is spending the holidays at his home here.
Miss Issie A. Parker is spending a few days with friends in Ashland.
Mr. and Mrs. Frank P. Hawkes and son Wesley, of Melrose, have been recent visitors here.
Mr. and Mrs. F. D. Riney, Miss Etta May and Alice C. Sheehan and Miss Elizabeth Devine, of Lowell, have been week-end visitors here.
Mr. and Mrs. Frank McLenna have recently visited here coming from Shrewsbury.
Mrs. John V. Downing, with her daughter Zelia, are stopping with Mr. and Mrs. David Moran.
F. Russell Furbush has been spending the holidays at his home here.