Turner's Public Spirit, January 28, 1922
A look back in time to a century ago
By Bob Oliphant
“Center. Many of the village people took advantage of the so-called dollar day in Lowell on
last Saturday.
“Mrs. Adeline Buckshorn recently went to Baltimore, Md., to spend the remainder of the
winter with her daughter, Elizabeth Kittredge, who is a senior at the Johns Hopkins medical
school in Baltimore.
“The senior class of Westford academy held a social dance in the town hall on last week
Friday evening with a good attendance. Dancing was enjoyed from eight until twelve o’clock.
Refreshments were served in the lower town hall at intermission.
“John G. Fletcher won the first prize in the snowshoeing contest at Phillips-Exeter academy
last week. Mr. Fletcher is in his last year as a student at this academy, taking a special course
which prepares him for college. Mr. Fletcher is the son of Mr. and Mrs. J. Herbert Fletcher, of
this town.
“Annual Church Meeting. The annual business meeting, preceded by the church members’
dinner and roll call, took place on Monday at the Congregational church. About fifty-two
members and eight guests enjoyed the well prepared menu of mashed potato, cold meats, squash,
macaroni, pies, pudding, cranberry jelly and coffee. Mrs. Phonsie Isles was chairman of the fine
and efficient dinner committee, assisted by Mrs. Steele, Mrs. Pitkin and Mrs. A. E. Day, and
much credit is due to them for the bountiful repast….
“Town Warrant. One of the coming events in town will be the annual town meeting, which
exceeds the business in the warrant of a year ago by two articles. Besides the reports of the
different town officers and committees and the usual elections and business, the following articles
will be acted upon:
“Art. 21. To see if the town will authorize the erection of a barn at the Westford home….
“Art. 25. To see if the town will appropriate money for trimming and otherwise caring for
shade trees damaged by the ice storm….
“Art. 29. To see if the town will appropriate the sum of $350 to be expended on band
concerts….
“Art. 35. To hear the report of the committee relative to the school accommodation at Forge
Village and Brookside….
“Tadmuck Club. There was a good attendance at the meeting of the Tadmuck club on
Tuesday afternoon, who listened with much interest to Dr. W. H. Loder, a noted physician and
surgeon in Boston, who spoke on the subject of ‘The cancer.’ The direct causes and prevention
rather than elimination of disease were also stressed by Dr. Loder. He also cited several instances
where the knowledge of ills were in existence one should immediately consult a good physician.
The cancer is more common among our people of today and a larger percent of women are
afflicted with this disease. Many other points relative to the cancer were equally well taken up
and the hour was a profitable one.
“Ladies’ Aid Society. The usual large attendance of the members of the Ladies’ Aid society
of the Congregational church were present at an all-day meeting at the home of Mrs. George F.
White on last week Thursday. Reports were given of the last meeting which was held in
December. The board of officers were also elected at the last meeting as follows: Mrs. Perley E.
Wright, pres.; Mrs. Charles L. Hildreth, v.p.; Mrs. L. W. Wheeler, sec.; Mrs. George F. White,
treas.; Misses Mary F. Green, Winifred Green, directresses; Mrs. Arthur Day, Mrs. Harry M.
Gumb and Mrs. Phonsie Isles, asst. directresses….
“About Town. Arthur O’Brien, who broke out the Stony Brook road, reports drifts seven feet
deep.
“Miss Mary Haley saw an extremely handsome fox close by her house on the Stony Brook
road, recently.
“A representative from Boston has introduced a bill in the legislature to prevent women from
smoking in public. That is right; go to it with as much speed as you can consistently risk, which
ought to take eternity to land your bill, or until you can considerately take those cigarettes out of
your mouth while being interviewed by a lady reporter for a Boston paper. One of the reasons
given for the introduction of the bill was that smoking is injurious to health. That’s right, give it
to them in health ways while you keep right on smoking while giving a health reason for the bill.
We should advise reading seriously. ‘Physician, heal thyself.’ …
“Church Dedicated. The event of special interest in the Stony Brook Valley last week was
the dedication of the new Methodist church at West Chelmsford, just over the Westford line, on
Wednesday afternoon and evening, January 19….”
The West Chelmsford United Methodist Church building was dedicated in January 1922.
Courtesy Photo / GoogleMaps 2019
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