Turner's Public Spirit, July 1, 1922
A look back in time to a century ago
By Bob Oliphant
“Center. The many friends of W. R. Taylor, who was accidentally struck by a baseball bat while witnessing a game at Graniteville last week Thursday, will be pleased to learn that he is much improved.
“Miss May Day is one of a party attending the National Library association meetings in Detroit. En route they will stop at Niagara Falls.
“‘Dick,’ a horse belonging to Mrs. Sidney B. Wright, died recently, being over twenty years of age. Mrs. Wright had owned him for the past sixteen years and he was a familiar sight about town.
“While Miss Eva Lord, public health nurse, was making a call at a house on Main street last week Wednesday afternoon, two young men came sauntering along, opened the door of her sedan and helped themselves to her pocketbook containing a small sum of money, keys and papers, and then made a hasty retreat. Chief Whiting was notified and … scoured the town in search of the two individuals as described by Miss Lord, but were unable to locate them…. The surrounding police were also notified, but up to date no trace of the culprits has been found.
“The local telephone exchange was hard hit by the storm last Sunday morning. The manager, Mrs. Isles, reported twenty-five lines as being out of order.
“A meeting of the Alumni association of Westford academy was held in the town hall following the graduating exercises. The following officers were chosen for the ensuing year: Charles L. Hildreth, pres.; Herbert V. Hildreth, v.p.; Josephine M. Connell, sec. and treas.; Arthur G. Hildreth, A. Mabel Drew, Ruth Sargent, Ruth Tuttle, John A. Kimball, ex. com.
“Hildreth Family Reunion. Nearly fifty members of the Hildreth family held the annual reunion of the association on last Saturday in Westford, at which place the early ancestors of practically all the Hildreth families now residing in New England, at one time lived.
“Richard Hildreth, the first of the name in this country, arriving from England in 1630, and going first to Cambridge, soon afterward moved to Chelmsford. Many of Richard’s descendants established their homes in the westerly part of the town of Chelmsford, which was set apart as the town of Westford in the year 1729.
“Many Hildreth families are still living in town, some of them on the same properties which have never been held outside the Hildreth name….
“The visitors on leaving all expressed themselves as being much pleased with the beauty of Westford, and with the outing, in which they had participated.
“About Town. Donald Fiske Cameron graduated from Harvard on June 22. He returns next year for a course in business administration, which is one of the splendid courses there.
“Reports come in that the recent rains have done much damage to the strawberry crop and ruined many gardens….
“Fletcher-Ripley Wedding. The First Parish church was the scene of one of the most beautiful and impressive weddings of recent years when on Wednesday afternoon, Austin Dana Fletcher, son of Joseph Willard Fletcher, and Miss Ethel Minerva Ripley, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles S. Ripley, were united in holy wedlock in the presence of a company of relatives and friends that filled the church…. Miss Eleanor S. Colburn, presided at the organ….
“At the opening strains of the ‘Bridal chorus’ from ‘Lohengrin,’ the wedding procession entered the church. The groom, accompanied by his brother, Walter W. Fletcher, as best man, and Rev. Frank B. Crandall, minister of the church, entered from the chancel and took their places. The bride’s procession was led by the ushers, Clifford F. Johnson and Bertram W. Sutherland. They were followed by the bridesmaids, Misses Marion and Mildred Fletcher, sisters of the groom. Miss Ruth M. Sargent, maid of honor followed…. They were followed by the little flower girl, Miss Jeanette Saben, and the ring bearer, Master Ralph W. Blair, in white. The bride … entered on her father’s arm….
“Rev. Crandall read the marriage service from a book bound in white leather and containing the traditional wedding liturgy. This book, used only at their wedding and inscribed with their names, was presented to the young couple at the conclusion of the ceremony….
“Following the taking of the marriage vows, the ceremony of the nuptial candle, borrowed from the usage of the Russian Catholic church, was used….
“The organist played Mendelssohn’s ‘Wedding march’ as the recessional.
“While the guests were proceeding to the Fletcher home for the reception and were viewing the many beautiful presents, … the wedding party motored to Lowell to have photographs made.
“On their return the wedding party received the guests and refreshments were served by the Page Company of Lowell….
“After a wedding journey, the young couple will make their home at the residence of the groom’s father until a house, recently presented by him to the groom, can be made ready for occupancy. The best wishes of a host of friends accompany Mr. and Mrs. Fletcher on their life’s journey.”
Westford Librarian May Day shown in a 1931 photo.
Courtesy Roger & Marilyn Day.