Turner's Public Spirit, July 8, 1922
A look back in time to a century ago
Transcribed By Bob Oliphant (2022)
Center. Mrs. Ralph Bridgford entertained the Ladies’ Aid of the Congregational church at a piazza party at her home on Providence road, Thursday, June 29. There were twenty-five present and the affair was much enjoyed by those who attended. Refreshments were served by the hostess consisting of fancy cookies, various kinds of cake and fruit punch.
Mr. and Mrs. Chester Burnham are receiving congratulations upon the birth of a daughter, Inez Virginia, at the Lowell General hospital, June 28.
Miss Lillian Sutherland is at home for the summer, her school in Tewksbury having closed.
Miss Maude Robinson is spending two weeks of her vacation in North Adams.
A valuable bull, belonging to Calvin Howard, Flagg road, was killed, being struck by lightning on Wednesday of last week. The house of Albert Hildreth was also struck by lightning.
Alfred Sutherland spent the weekend in town.
Edward Keyes, of the north part of the town, has been on a business trip to Quincy.
Miss Clara Fisher, of Lowell, who is at the home of her sister, Mrs. Buckshorn, with a badly sprained ankle, is improving.
John P. Wright and family, of Cambridge, were in town over the weekend and the Fourth.
Graniteville proved to be the wide-awake section of the town this year in that they planned a real Fourth of July celebration, consisting of sports, parade, band concert, etc. These celebrations ought to be encouraged in that they do away with so much of the “small boy stuff” so prevalent among even the grown-ups, where there is nothing else to take up their attention.
The regular evening service of the Congregational church was held on the common last Sunday evening and was largely attended.
Mr. and Mrs. George Fawson and children, of Waltham, are spending a week with Mrs. Fawson’s mother, Mrs. A. J. [Joel Alvin] Blaisdell, in the south part of the town.
Mr. and Mrs. Austin D. Fletcher, who were married last week Wednesday afternoon, are on an auto trip to New York, going by way of the Mohawk Trail [now U.S. Rte. 2].
Mr. and Mrs. H. V. Hildreth and grandson Richard are on a trip to Munson, Me.
Pupils from the different sections of the town took part in the recent recital given by the Precious sisters, the Misses Caroline, Pamelia and Mildred, on Thursday evening, June 29, at St. Andrew’s Mission, Forge Village. The hall was filled with friends and relatives of the youthful pupils. Those taking part were Mary Milot, Harold Connell, Ruth Johnson, Sophie Lapniewski, Gladys Johnson, Edwin Athorn, Helen Lapniewski, Edna Edwards, George Orr, Albert Eaton, Elizabeth Hildreth, Fred Baker, the Misses Precious, Doris Whigham, Florence Blodgett, Betty Prescott, Ruth Bennett, [and] Marjorie Baker. The recital was enjoyed by all present and showed the thorough training of their teachers. At the close of the program refreshments were served.
Miss Lilly Moran, who has a studio in Lowell, recently gave a recital for her piano pupils. The program was entirely from memory, and much credit is due Miss Moran, who will be remembered as a former attendant at Westford academy. Miss Helma Hanson, of Graniteville, gave readings during the evening which were greatly enjoyed.
Much interest should be shown by the pupils of the academy the coming year in the following: The alumni association have voted to give two prizes, the first of ten dollars, and the second of five dollars, to any member of the academy who shall excel in a public speaking contest to be given in the town hall at such time as the principal may arrange.
Miss Karen G. Grant, of Rockport, is the guest of her cousin, Anna M. Whiting.
The following were guests of Mr. and Mrs. Alonzo Sutherland on the holiday: Mr. and Mrs. Bertram Cass and family, Mrs. George Cameron, Mr. and Mrs. Clark and Mrs. Tewksbury, all of Somerville, and Mr. and Mrs. David Olsson, of West Chelmsford.
Mrs. Hooper, of Claremont, N.H., is the guest of her niece, Mrs. Helena Bartlett.
Miss Ruth Fisher, of Providence, R.I., has been the guest of her sister, Mrs. Buckshorn.
Miss Clarissa Coburn, of Groton, has been a recent guest of the Sebastian Watson and Arthur Day families.
A surprise birthday party was tendered Mrs. Phonsie Isles, manager of the local telephone exchange, on last Thursday afternoon by several of the ladies of the neighborhood. The affair was held at the home of Mrs. George F. White on Main street and was greatly enjoyed by all present.
Miss Marjorie Seavey recently entertained a number of her high school pupils from Swampscott. They came by auto and lunch was enjoyed at the Whitney playground.
Miss Ruth McCoy spent last week in Watertown with Mr. and Mrs. Abbott L. Robbins, who returned home with her for the weekend and holiday.
Mr. and Mrs. Fred McCoy spent the holiday in Jaffrey, N.H.
Miss Eleanor Stearns Colburn, who received her diploma at the Conservatory of Music in June, is going to Lincoln, N.H., in the fall to become director of music in the schools. In addition Miss Colburn will teach “Americanization” to the Russian women, and plans to give piano lessons, as well as become organist in one of the churches. Her many friends congratulate her and wish her much success.
The police were again called to Oak Knoll farm after midnight last week Friday. The place having been broken into twice since the owner’s absence from town, a neighbor, seeing what he supposed to be a light, called the police, but upon investigation it proved to be merely a reflection. The mysterious part of these breaks is that as far as is known nothing has been taken.
Graniteville is to be congratulated upon its Fourth of July celebration. The committee worked hard and the affair was a success. Suitable prizes were awarded for the best features of the parade; also, to the winners in the various sports. It is to be hoped that this will be a yearly event.
Legion Notes. The float entered in the Littleton and Graniteville parades by the local post attracted much attention. The truck was decorated with the Legion colors, blue and gold; at the front was a miniature fireplace in front of which sat Betsy Ross working on an American flag, while beside her in a cradle was a baby. These characters were represented by Dr. Edna Packard and little daughter Caroline. In the center of the truck stood Corp. Joseph Perkins, wearing three gold stripes for overseas service, and holding the beautiful silk colors, belonging to Westford post. At the rear of the truck was a pup tent in front of which sat 1st class Sergt. Clarence Hildreth, formerly of the aviation service, wearing a helmet. The two latter represented the boys of 1917, who protected and defended the flag for which we owe so much to Betsy Ross. On the rear end was a placard bearing the dates 1777-1917. The truck was driven by Comrade Harry Paterson.
The decorating was done by a committee for the Legion, assisted by a committee from the Ladies’ Auxiliary, and was as follows: Com. Dr. Harry Coburn, Harry Paterson, Harold Hildreth, Norman Young, Dr. Fabyan Packard, Nancy Paterson, Mrs. Clarence Hildreth and Dr. Edna Packard.
The truck was loaned through the courtesy of the Abbot Worsted Co.
At Littleton the float secured first prize, a blue ribbon, while in Graniteville they were awarded the second prize of five dollars.
The second annual carnival to be given by Westford post on July 21 and 22, weather permitting, promises to be one of the biggest and best outdoor events ever held in this section. The affair, which is to be held at Abbot’s field, Forge Village, opens at five o’clock on Friday afternoon July 21, and closes at Midnight. On Saturday it will be an all-day affair, opening at ten o’clock in the morning and closing at midnight. A $50 cash prize will be given [to] the winner of the ball game, which is to be played by Chelmsford Center and Littleton. The soccer game will be between the Abbot Worsted Company and the Lawrence All-Star teams. The competitive squad drill for the cup will be by neighboring posts. Other athletic events include 100-yard and 220-yard dashes, and a quarter of a mile race for men. There will be races for boys and girls and prizes will be given for all events. Other attractions will be the great mid-way, dancing and a band concert. On Friday no admission will be charged, but on Saturday, the day on which the big athletic events and prize drill will take place, an admission fee will be charged. See advertisement in another column. Don’t forget the dates. Something for the whole family to enjoy.
Congregational Church Notes. The cottage prayer meeting this week was held in Parkerville at the home of Mrs. Williams. Those from Westford Center who planned to attend met as usual at the church at 7:30.
The open-air service last Sunday evening was a marked success. These meetings are to continue through the month of July, each week, at seven o’clock. The presence of friends who came a considerable distance in their automobiles is especially appreciated. “The brotherhood of man” will be the subject of the address on Sunday evening.
The Sunday morning services and the Sunday school meeting continues regularly through the month of July.
A Sunday school picnic is planned for July 12.
About Town. The Morning Glory farm had much corn tasseled out on June 23, and the Old Oaken Bucket farm on June 30, and thus we are ineligible for membership as leader in the Ananias Sweet Corn club as it looks now.
During the thunder and lightning shower on last week Wednesday afternoon a large ash tree at the entrance of the H. E. Davis residence on Robbins’ hill, South Chelmsford, was struck and sent to stove wood faster and cheaper than gasoline engine could do it.
At a meeting of the school committee on last week Wednesday evening the following routes were assigned for transportation of school children to Westford Center: Brookside, Edward Clement; Parkerville, William E. Wright; North End, George H. Burke; Nashobah [sic], Albert A. Hildreth; Forge Village, John B. Gray. Only one auto barge will run to Brookside this fall, and that for the transportation of high school scholars. The new schoolhouse will, as per contract, be ready to open in season for the autumn term.
At the Old Oaken Bucket farm there are three McIntosh Red apple trees closeby neighbors. All three bore a heavy crop of blossoms and for small trees promised to pay our taxes. The epidemic of “non-setting” overtook them and we were willing to take nothing as our share of profits, but a recent examination shows a prospect of a bushel on one tree. The other two trees show less than an apple and three-quarters on an average for both trees. Now right here we wish to ask a question. “What is the underlying cause that cripples two trees so that they promise nothing except that they will fulfill their promise, while the third tree, under the same conditions and same variety of apples promise a bushel of apples?” Speak right up professors and brethren generally.
The first Baptist church of Lowell were campers and enjoyment makers at the Y.M.C.A. camp at Lake Nabnassett last Saturday. Although the afternoon weather threatened sprinkling it did not prevent them from immersion and diversion. They had a good time under bad weather conditions.
We regret that neither health conditions nor automobile conditions would allow us to hear Hon. Robert M. Washburn on Sunday evening at the Forum in Shirley Center. But we can say of him after some experience and much observation, that when it comes to “playing to the galleries” he had no equal with just wise sarcasm enough in his humor. How he would unfold under the solemnities of Sunday evening and a solemn subject we don’t know. We wished to find out if he had any solemn side.
And now come forward the Merrimack mills of Lowell and announce a cut in wages. The mills closed last week Friday until July 10, when the new scale of wages will be announced and all the Sam Gompers in England and elsewhere shout it down. Let them holler, that is what they are paid for.
An outing was held last Sunday by the International bible students at the home of Carl A. Lundburg at Brookside. A. D. Eshlonan, of Brooklyn, N.Y., spoke at three and 6:30 o’clock. A basket lunch was served at five o’clock.
- R. Taylor has two acres of handsome buckwheat. It is certainly a handsome sight. Wheel harrowed into the ground as a mulch from last year’s sowing it survived the winter, including the ice storm; came up this spring and survived the frost storms, and now right here we wish to ask the professors, “How many time will buckwheat reproduce itself without reseeding?”
The prospects for apples improve every day. Baldwins, Williams and Astrachans average a light full crop. Gravensteins and McIntoshes and their cousins will average close to half a crop. With bankrupt Europe for the surplus outlet we shall be surprised if we don’t hear more about the farmers’ thirty-five cent dollar.
James A. Walkden has sold his wheelwright shop and contents to the H. E. Fletcher Granite Company on Oak hill, and it is being razed by the law of gravitation to the ground floor of affairs preparatory to removal to the aforesaid hill. Thus an old landmark of Chamberlin’s Corner is passing away to be a new landmark in the new and progressive activities of Oak hill.
Last Sunday we had a pleasant and chatty call from Gilbert F. and Marion L. Wright, old-time schoolmates at the old Stony Brook school. They sampled the water from the old oaken bucket so in harmony with the Volstead act they said it had lost none of its old-time flavor and coolness since it was the water supply system for years for the old Stony Brook school.
Last Saturday night twenty-one pieces of artillery passed through here and encamped on Sandy plain. Each piece was drawn by four horses. The last in the procession was the kitchen, and as they passed through West Chelmsford the cook was getting the supper ready.
George Howard, of Bound Brook, N.J., arrived last week Friday at the Taylor homestead and stayed until Tuesday night.
Dr. John E. Toye, who has been visiting in West Chelmsford at the home of his parents, returned Wednesday to his home in Arlington, N.J.
Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Fraser Leith and two sons, Hugh F., jr. [sic], and Donald, sailed this week Friday from the port of Montreal to spend the summer in the British Isles.
Mr. and Mrs. Carlos D. Cushing have gone to their summer home in Framingham.
Mr. and Mrs. F. A. Snow, of West Chelmsford, entertained a party of seventeen on the Fourth.
Henry E. Fletcher has had a very artistic fireplace and mantel built in his camp on Nabnassett. The material is granite from the Fletcher quarry, which makes a very attractive and unique fireplace.
Gerald and Miss Luanna Decatur, from New Rochelle, N.Y., are at the Decatur homestead. Miss Decatur returns Saturday, but Gerald will remain until the first of August.
A large hay crop and a small crop of hay weather.
The spring wheat at the Old Oaken Bucket farm says “this is just splendid outing weather for us.” Correct—you show it in your “swell-head.” But when is the nodding, waving grass going to have an “inning?” That is the disturbing question.
The Merrimack mills of Lowell, having shut down June 20 until July 10, when the new cut in wages will be announced, labor unions, by way of their Samuel Gompers’ leaders, have decided to order a strike. Say, instead of fussing in this long, roundabout way of striking for your rights and trying to butt the law of supply and demand out of existence, why don’t you pack up your trunk and go south to Alabama and work for the same Merrimack mills there for less wages and more hours and no strikes? They are enlarging a million dollars’ worth to receive you or somebody and threaten to move the whole show south. Go ahead, you Gompers’ folks, and be there when the show comes in and head the procession tagged “More hours and less wages.”
We have pea vines at the Old Oaken Bucket farm that measure 4 ½ feet tall. While we were looking up a name in the dictionary for so much perpendicular someone saw that they were the “telephone” peas. Very appropriate if named after the telephone poles; they would hold wires higher than the trailing ruins on the Stony Brook road.
We are glad for the law of safety first to see the brush being cut on South Stony Brook road between its intersection of said road and the Lowell road. One of the most dangerous curves in town is on this section of the road, near the residence of Miss Haley. With the blinding brush and shortness of curve it is impossible to see a safe distance ahead. We don’t intend to appear in the role of being needlessly fussy in regard to the roads, neither do we think we are when we suggest, Mr. Selectmen, that you cut that oak shade tree and cut the curve, using the material on the closeby frog pond holes in the middle of the road closeby [sic]. There may be other places in town equally unsafe; if so, we are not going into selfish fussing of “me first” business. We have spoken our piece and now feel better.
Miss Anna Frankenfield, daughter of Mrs. Frankenfield, of Phillipsburg, N.J., and Herman Lawton, of Westford, were married last Saturday afternoon at the parsonage of the Grace Lutheran church, Phillipsburg, by Rev. Herbert Weaver. After the ceremony Mr. and Mrs. Lawton left on a trip to Harrisburg, Pa. On their return they will live at 385 South Main street, Phillipsburg, N.J. Mr. Lawton will be remembered in town as living at the Lawton homestead on the Dunstable road, near the junction of the Tenney road, and overlooking the clear waters of the celebrated Long-Sought-for lake. The home is still owned by the Lawtons.
Chief Justice William Howard Taft was feasted and feted in London at the celebration of the Fourth of July. A large turtle weighing 450 pounds was imported from India as the mainstay of the love feast. This turtle, in size, beats the turtle inhabitants of Knopp’s pond, Groton.
There were about 1600 walk-outs at the Billerica car shops as the result of the car shop strike. The wages after the cut ranged from forty-seven cents to seventy-five cents per hour. Just how much the no-pay envelope comes to per hour we haven’t fractions in our head fine enough to figure it out. The strikers are fast being struck out by an abundance of labor who have lived a long while on the wages of unpreventable idleness and are eagerly anxious to take the places and wages of those who are willing to become voluntary idlers.
No, we did not have the usual first early potatoes for Fourth of July dinner at the Old Oaken Bucket farm. It is many years since we skipped. We were going to join the Ananias club with first potatoes for dinner, but we pawed in and then pawed out and the largest of our pawing was no larger than a cranberry, and the smallest invisible to the naked eye, and we concluded that we wouldn’t impose on the Ananias club by asking to join on any such small potatoes.
Graniteville. Rev. Arthur E. Hiley, of Lowell, will preach the sermon at the 10:30 o’clock morning service at the Methodist church on Sunday. His subject will be “The pre-eminent speaker.” Mr. Hiley will also sing a solo entitled “Have you forgotten God?” Rev. William E. Anderson, the regular pastor, with his family, is now enjoying a well earned vacation with relatives in New York and will later visit his boyhood home in [Walkersville, West] Virginia. Mr. Anderson is expected to return and resume his duties on July 16.
The regular meeting of Court Graniteville, F. of A., was held on last Thursday evening with a good attendance.
The people here are still talking of the great Fourth of July celebration that was held here, and particularly of the fine street parade. Much credit for the success of the parade is due to the chief marshal, Rosamin Degagne, who had full charge, and he certainly did a fine job of it.
Celebration of the Fourth. In spite of the wet weather the big Fourth of July celebration was held on schedule time at eight o’clock in the morning. The street parade was the main attraction. The parade was headed by Harry Whiting, chief of police, followed by the Abbot Worsted band, James P. Larkin leader. The band made a great hit with their fine music and new uniforms.
The parade committee, consisting of P. Henry Harrington, Dr. Fabyan Packard and J. A. Healy, had a hard time deciding the winners, and aside from the successful ones the following received honorable mention: For special features, Abbot Worsted band and members of Cameron Circle; individual costumes, Misses Bertha Reeves, Maud Whitley, Doris York; comic costumes, Della Maslabas, Mary Profita, Mr. Degagne and partner, Irene Reeves, Irene Carpenter, Oscar Benson.
Prizes for the parade were as follows: Best feature, Highlands division, turkey truck and toy wagons; second, Westford Legion float, “Betsy Ross with flag,” Mrs. Fabyan Packard, Sergt. Joseph A. Perkins; best individual, Miss Regina McLenna as “Columbia,” second, Miss Beatrice Milot; comic costume, Mrs. H. Brule, “Old colonial,” second, Miss Hattie Boyd as “Uncle Sam.”
100-yard dash, John O’Connor 1st, Peter Farquhar 2nd, George Gover 3rd; one mile race, Phil Healy 1st, J. O’Connor 2nd, Peter Farquahar 3rd; 75-yard dash for girls, May Woods 1st, Laura Guilhard 2nd; 75-yard dash for little girls, Jennie Blott 1st, Rita Pendlebury 2nd; big boys’ race, Richard Wall 1st, Walter Marynoski 2nd; half-mile race, Philip Healy 1st, J. O’Connor 2nd, Richard Wall 3rd; one mile bicycle race, Clyde Doucett 1st, Earl Stuart 2nd, Edward Harrington 3rd; three-legged race for girls, May Woods and Jennie Blott 1st, Philemon Gagnon and Dora St. Marie 2nd; three-legged race for men, Albert and Oliver Reeve 1st, Eugene Guilhard and Walter Blanchard 2nd; sack race, Lester Reeves 1st, J. Boyd 2nd; wheelbarrow race, G. Gower and John McMahon 1st, J. Boyd and Arthur Carpenter 2nd, small boys’ race, Jacob Ellison 1st, Joseph Dube 2nd; hop step and jump, George Brullard 1st, Albert Reeves 2nd, Dr. H. R. Coburn 3rd; shoe race, Lester Reeves 1st, broad jump, J. Ellsworth York 1st, Walter Blanchard 2nd, Joseph Murphy 3rd.
The whole affair was a great success and was in charge of the following committee: A. R. Wall, chairman of general committee; John W. Shackelton, sec.; Carroll M. Sawyer, treas.; R. J. McCarthy, chairman of sporting com.; Edmund Provost, clerk of the course; Fred M. Defoe, starter; R. J. Hernen, J. W. Shackelton, J. Ellsworth York, Judges. W. L. Wall assisted Chief Whiting in keeping the course clear. All the sports were run off on Broadway and all were unanimous in saying that it was the best celebration held here in many years.
Graniteville is looking forward with keen interest to the biggest ball game of the year when the Abbot Worsted club and the Salem town team will meet at the Abbot playground in Graniteville in a twilight game on Tuesday evening, July 11, at 6:15. The Salem town team is composed of “Chick” Davies, pitcher, formerly of the Philadelphia American league team; Gautreau, of Holy Cross; “Jocko” Conlon, former captain of Harvard college; Nash, formerly of the New York Nationals; O’Connor, of Holy Cross, and other big stars. The Abbots will have their fastest lineup with big Al Davidson on the mound. It looks like a royal pitchers’ battle. Don’t fail to take in this big game at Graniteville on next Tuesday evening at 6:15.
From the Collection of the Westford Museums
48 Star United States Flag, donated by Henry A. LeDuc Family