The Westford Wardsman, January 8, 1916
Center. The annual appraisal and dinner for the town officers took place at the town farm last Saturday, new year’s day. Those in charge of the appraisal of town property for this year at the farm were Samuel H. Balch, Fred R. Blodgett and Leonard W. Wheeler. Mr. and Mrs. Harvey W. Barnes, master and matron, in charge of the buildings, had everything clean and well kept, and in the best of order. An appetizing dinner finely cooked and well served was enjoyed by the town officers in the early afternoon. Besides the appraisers those present were O. R. Spalding and Frank L. Furbush, selectmen; J. Willard Fletcher and Charles D. Colburn, assessors; Charles L. Hildreth, A. R. Choate, Fred R. Blodgett, overseers of the poor; Edward T. Hanley, auditor, and Dr. C. A. Blaney, town physician. Sherman H. Fletcher, selectman, Austin Healy, assessor, and H. L. Wright, treasurer, were unable to be present.
The severe snowstorm coming the first Sunday of the new year made attendance at church very limited. At the Congregational church there were thirty-one present and adjournment to the vestry for the service was in order, using the piano for musical accompaniment. Mr. Wallace preached an eloquent new year sermon.
The Edward M. Abbot hose company held their regular monthly meeting with supper at the firehouse on Boston road Tuesday evening, thirteen partaking of the good supper prepared and served by Mrs. J. E. Knight, with a menu consisting of clam chowder, cold ham, coffee, rolls and pies. It was voted at the business session to request the selectmen to place in the town warrant an article calling for the town to consider the question of a firehouse in the center of the town. The committee for the annual firemen’s ball, which comes next Thursday evening at the town hall, were busy completing plans for that event. Poole’s orchestra, of Boston, will furnish music for the concert and dancing. The efficient committee in charge are Robert Prescott, S. B. Watson, William E. Wright and Edward Clement.
A very pleasant new year’s eve party took place at the home of Misses Beatrice and Lillian Sutherland last week Friday evening, when sixteen of the younger set of the town were entertained at a social evening of whist. Leonard Burland and Miss Rita Jordan secured the highest scores and Leon F. Hildreth and Miss Maud Robinson the lowest. At the close of the evening the young people welcomed in the new year with songs and good cheer, and afterward departed with many good wishes to their hostesses and to each other for the new year. Incidentally it was Mr. and Mrs. Sutherland’s twenty-fourth wedding anniversary and they were presented with some beautiful carnations in honor of the event.
Gould Buckle, of Wilmington, was a week-end guest of Bertram Sutherland.
Mrs. Charles H. Wright was a guest of Dr. and Mrs. Henry L. McCluskey at their home in Worcester on Monday and Tuesday of last week and enjoyed the pleasure of attending the presentation of “The Messiah” given by the Worcester Musical society on Monday evening.
Members of the Sunday school of the Congregational church had a supper and entertainment at the vestry last week Friday evening. The supper was a competitive event between Mr. Wallace’s and John M. Wright’s class, and the girls’ class did the honors of the occasion. Mrs. John Perkins furnished music on the Victrola for the gathering and Mr. Wallace had general charge of the evening.
Mrs. Sarah T. Harris, who suffered a stroke of paralysis at her home last Saturday, is resting as comfortable as can be expected. Mrs. Harris came up from her daughter’s in Somerville, where she was staying, to attend to some matters at home, and was stricken while at work in the kitchen. She had been invited to have dinner with her neighbor, Mrs. Sydney Wright, and when she did not appear at the time specified Mr. Wright went and found her helpless. Mrs. Harris is being cared for at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Wright.
The annual meeting and dinner of the members of the Congregational church will be held on Monday, January 10. Reports of officers and elections for the ensuing year will take place.
A great deal of sickness is prevalent in the village. Mrs. Frances B. Prescott is sick and under the doctor’s care. Emory J. Whitney has been quite sick for a week past. The little three-year-old daughter [Marion G.] of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Day is among the sick ones. Miss Hilda Isles’ prompt and cheerful voice at the local exchange has not answered the subscribers this last week, being shut in with sickness. Willard T. Millis, who has been confined to the house for two weeks with an injured knee, is able to be out and at work again.
“Gentlemen’s night,” or guest night in the Tadmuck club will be observed next Tuesday evening at the Congregational church at eight o’clock. Mrs. J. Willard Fletcher is the hostess of the evening and a most attractive program has been arranged by the executive committee. All members who have not received their guest tickets by the first of the week will please telephone the corresponding secretary, Mrs. William R. Taylor, who has them in charge.
Mr. and Mrs. Henry M. Wright and Livingston were Christmas visitors at H. L. Wright’s.
Death. The community mourns the loss this week of one of its long-time residents. Mary E. Heywood died at her home on Monday evening after an illness of several weeks, aged 69 yrs. 9 mos. 7 days. Mrs. Heywood was the widow of the late George W. Heywood and for many years lived in the Westford depot neighborhood, where Mr. Heywood was in the grain business with W. H. H. Burbeck. After his retirement from business Mr. and Mrs. Heywood lived at their pleasant home at the Center [7 Main Street] until after the former’s death two years ago, and more recently Mrs. Heywood had bought and established for herself the cosey home near the soldier’s monument.
Mrs. Heywood (Mary Cushing) was born in Roxbury, but at the time of her marriage to Mr. Heywood was the widow of Capt. Mellen, her home being in Medford. Mrs. Heywood was a member of the Unitarian church and of the Tadmuck club. She was a devoted wife and mother and a good friend and neighbor. She gave her late husband the most devoted care during a long period of invalidism.
Mrs. Heywood is survived by an only son, Albert Whittemore Heywood, and an only daughter, Mrs. Charles L. Hildreth; also, three grandchildren.
About Town. Among those substantial and much missed former residents of Westford who were visiting in town and present at the Unitarian church were Mrs. John William Abbot and Mrs. Katherine Kebler.
Read the large posters and the small programs telling all about the large doings that is coming to undo some of our small doings and set up better and larger housekeeping and better and larger farm keeping. Get right into the current my lads and lassies and let it propel you right up to the frontage of the town hall on January 17, at one o’clock in the afternoon. This current is safe from all submarine attacks.
Harry A. Whitney and Miss Sadie A. McMaster were united in marriage at the home of the bride’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. John McMaster, last Saturday afternoon by Rev. David Wallace, pastor of the Union [Congregational] church. Hugo T. Page was best man and Miss Annie Chandler was bridesmaid. The house was all alive with eloquent beauty, the decorations of hemlock, holly and laurel, with white and yellow streamers, wreathed into an arch in the center of which suspended a large white bell, beneath which the marriage took place. These decorations were trained skillfully through the efforts of Mrs. David L. Greig, who always carries skilled efforts in her make-up. The bride was dressed in white satin, over laid with lace and veil caught up with lilies-of-the-valley. The bridesmaid was costumed in yellow. The newlyweds will reside in Westford. They were the recipients of useful and handsome remembrances. All doors in the farm mansion of the McMasters opened to generous hospitality on the occasion.
Deaths. Alden Fletcher Osgood, for the past seven years an inmate of the New England Home for Deaf Mutes in Everett, died at the home of his sister, Mrs. W. H. Brown, in Natick last week Friday of pneumonia at the age of seventy-eight years. Mr. Osgood was born in Westford on August 8, 1837, the son of Peletiah Fletcher and Sophronia (Baldwin) Osgood, and grandson of Jacob and Patty (Fletcher) Osgood, one of the substantial citizens of the town and extensive farmer on Francis hill at Chamberlains’ corner. Alden P. Osgood, for so many years teacher in the old Stony Brook school district was his uncle and our present Houghton G. Osgood a cousin.
Mr. Osgood was highly educated and by nature typical of the Westford Osgoods of high-grade intellectuality. At the age of ten years he was sent to Hartford, Conn., where Dr. Thomas H. Gallaudet had opened the first school in this country for deaf mute children. When he was fourteen years old he was taken before the Massachusetts legislature to demonstrate the possibilities of educating deaf mute children. His success in reading and writing and in the various intellectual tests to which he was subjected proved a powerful argument for the appropriation of funds for the education of deaf mute children in this state. Westford and the Stony Brook school district by this demonstration built better than it knew for this class of shut-ins.
Mr. Osgood learned the trade of leather cutter and for more than thirty years he worked in Boston, Natick, Ashland and Hudson. He had traveled all over this country and written a number of interesting books on travel, visiting Washington many times, the headquarters of General Grant and the army of the Potomac, and at one time visited Jefferson Davis, president of the southern confederacy, when Mr. Jefferson was in prison.
Nature almost invariably balances her accounts and Mr. Osgood, shut off by nature by nature’s telephone and megaphone, was compensated by a highly intellectual nature, optimistic, cheerful and happy. His death brings some of the reminiscences of the Osgoods of Westford and the inroads of death and removal. Of the four once prominent families who were a part of the early and late foundation of the town, Dr. Benjamin, John Jacob and Alden P. and their descendants, born in Westford—all have passed from Westford, and the only representative in town of this once numerous, active and flourishing family is a cousin of the subject of this sketch.
Col. Edwin D. Metcalf, who died at his home in Auburn, N.Y., last week Friday, was well-known to Westford people, having lived here in his boyhood days and attended Westford academy and the public schools. He was born in Smithfield, R.I., March 4, 1848. He married Carrie W. Flint in Fall River on September 14, 1873, and three children were born to them. After spending his boyhood days in Westford he removed to Springfield, where he served as mayor two terms. He was a member of the Massachusetts house of representatives two years and the senate two years, and a member of the staff of Gov. George D. Robinson [governor 1884-1887] and assistant quartermaster general of the Massachusetts volunteers. He was widely known as a financier and manufacturer, and was connected with various firms of large business interests, a director of two banks and an insurance company.
After all these years away from his boyhood Westford, his mind began to revert to these early scenes, and on May 31, 1910, he presented to the town the substantial soldiers’ monument that adorns with memory the village green and the memory of the soldiers of Westford in the civil war; also, in memory of Col. Metcalf’s father, William Metcalf, who enlisted from Westford in Company C, 16th Massachusetts regiment at the outbreak of the civil war. At the dedication of this monument the ever-to-be lamented ex-Gov. John D. Long was orator of the day and Hon. Charles S. Hamlin followed in an appropriate vein seconding the oration.
In his boyhood days Col. Metcalf, with his parents, was an attendant at the Unitarian church, and in memory of this and in memory of his mother and the old First Parish church, he presented a beautiful memorial window to the church. All of us who were in Westford when Col. Metcalf was a school boy recall his quick, resolute business step and sparkling eyes to make a go of it.
W.C.T.U. The W.C.T.U. held their monthly meeting at the Congregational church Wednesday afternoon with representatives from Ayer, Lowell and Graniteville. The weather was rainy and damp, which made it contagious for attendance. Mrs. Janet Wright, president of the union, presided, and made the preliminary opening address, and then introduced Rev. David Wallace, who led in the devotional exercises. The address of the afternoon was given by Mrs. Etta Frisbee, of Boston, state corresponding secretary of the State Federation. The address was a review of the different branches of the work, including the medal contests. Ayer, Lowell and Graniteville responded to roll call by their presidents. Miss Janet Walker, of West Chelmsford, a long-time member in Wisconsin, was present and joined the Westford union. Refreshments were served at the social hour and other refreshments were served during the meeting. Mr. Carr, of Long-Sought pond temperance wigwam, refreshed with violin, accompanied by Miss Edith Wright on the piano. Mrs. Charles D. Colburn refreshed with song. Mrs. Frisbee attended the temperance medal contest in the evening in Graniteville, who with Miss Young and Mrs. Clara Wright Anderson, served as judges.
Graniteville. Commencing Monday, January 3, the machine shop of the C. G. Sargent Sons corporation will run on a fifty-five hour per week schedule, instead of fifty-eight hours with no reduction in pay. This really means an increase in wages with less hours and is much appreciated by the employees. The act was entirely voluntary on the part of the company, which is now enjoying good business.
Notices have been posted in the Abbot Worsted Company’s mills here stating that there would be an advance in wages commencing Monday, January 3. A schedule of prices will be posted later, informing the employees just what the advance will be.
Miss Delia Dudevoir, of Manchester, N.H., has been a recent guest of Mr. and Mrs. C. E. Dudevoir.
The sessions in the Sargent school were resumed here on Monday after the customary Christmas vacation.
James Daley, who has been ill with an attack of pneumonia at the home of his son John in Forge Village, is slowly improving in health, with strong hopes for his complete recovery.
Mr. and Mrs. Charles McLenna, of Norton, have been recent guest of Mrs. Lillian McLenna.
Miss Helen Furbush has been ill at her home during the past few days.
W. Carrol Furbush left on Wednesday to join his ship, the U.S.S. Connecticut, in Boston, where they will at once start for southern waters.
Mrs. Jennie Grant, with her daughter Mary, of New Brunswick, and Mrs. Hester Grant and daughter Vera, of Beverly, have been renewing old acquaintances here this week.
Many of our young men have recently accepted positions with the Fitchburg Machine Company, Fitchburg and appear to be pleased with their new surroundings.
The members of St. Catherine’s Holy Name society will meet in the church on Sunday after the first mass.
Forge Village. Gertrude Comey is attending Burdett Commercial college, Boston.
Frederick Davis has been confined to his home this week by illness.
Mr. and Mrs. Tindall and son Harold are now in their new home in Hudson, where Mr. Tindall has accepted a position as overseer of spinning. Mr. Tindall was overseer of spinning in the mills of Abbot & Co.
The Ladies’ Sewing circle held their regular meeting in Recreation hall on Thursday afternoon.
The Young People’s Social club of St. Andrew’s Mission held a most interesting meeting in Recreation hall on Thursday evening.
Mrs. Carrie Morton of Bridgeport, Conn., is the guest of relatives here.
Miss Priscilla Bennett was entertained over the holidays at the home of her sister, Mrs. August Meyers, of Dorchester.
Among the many pleasant gatherings held on New Year’s night was that held at the home of Mr. and Mrs. William Baker in honor of their nephew, William Davis, of Amsterdam, N.Y., who is spending his holidays at the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Davis. The evening was spent in music and a delightful program being given. The orchestra which furnished the music was composed of the following: Mrs. John E. Burnett, Miss Gladys Baker, mandolins; William Davis, violin; Miss Lillian Baker, piano; John Baker, drums. The piano duet was played by Misses Marion Blodgett and Lillian Baker and songs were rendered by John and William Baker and John and James McMurray. Dainty refreshments were served during the evening by Mrs. Baker, assisted by Mrs. John Edwards.
A merry gathering was held on New Year’s night at the home of Mrs. M. A. Lowther and twenty-one friends of former years were very enjoyably entertained.
Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Mountain of Westford road entertained Miss Bertha Mountain of Lowell on New Year’s day.
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph McDonald were the guests of relatives in Tyngsboro on Sunday.
John Hobson of New Bedford has returned to that place after a most enjoyable visit at the home of his parents over the holidays.
Hanley & Co.’s store was broken into on last Saturday night about midnight, but with no results. The occupants of the tenant over the store were awakened by the noise of breaking glass and on investigation found that the intruder had become frightened and escaped.
A sleigh ride party, which proved most enjoyable, was held on last Saturday evening by some of the village young folks from Westford and Lowell. The party, which numbered twenty young people, who had as their guests two, was driven by John Cornell in his large sleigh and left here at six p.m. for Pepperell, where they attended the theatre. After the performance the merry party enjoyed supper and arrived home at midnight. Misses Josephine Socha, Eva Mountain and Mary McDonald had charge of the affair and were responsible for its success.