The Westford Wardsman, June 10, 1916
Center. The Edward Simpsons, occupying the Luce homestead, have had a telephone installed this past week—74-4.
The storm on Monday afternoon caused considerable damage to the telephone and electric lighting service. About eighteen lines at central were temporarily disabled, but quick and efficient work by the repair men had things in working order by night. Men also came out from Lowell and righted the electric wiring.
While J. Austin Healy was at work at the town hall one day recently with his assessor’s work, his horse, which was fastened outside, became restive and loosened the halter with which he was fastened. In some way the horse got the hook of the halter caught in his flesh and when found was bleeding badly. Dr. C. A. Blaney, who happened to be quickly available, turned veterinary surgeon for the time being and did some quick first aid work. The horse which is a handsome, spirited creature, which his master values much, is recovering nicely.
The annual graduating exercises of Westford academy take place Wednesday morning, June 21, at ten o’clock. There are six young people in the graduating class, five young gentlemen and one young lady—John Provost, who is the valedictorian; Leo O’Connell, who gives the class prophecy; Francis Sullivan, the class will; Artemas Griffin, the class history; Frederic Healey, presenting the class gift, which will be accepted by Miss Beatrice Hosmer of the class of 1917; Miss Ethele Burland will give the salutatory. The alumni dinner will take place after the graduation and in the evening there will be the graduation dance.
The Reading Circle, under the auspices of the literature and library extension committee of the Tadmuck club, is having a pleasant and worthwhile summer diversion. The first meeting was held at the home of Mrs. William C. Roudenbush, chairman of the committee, and the second one, on Friday afternoon of last week, was held with Mrs. H. V. Hildreth. Dickens is the chosen author and “Nicholas Nickleby” is being read. This was preceded at the last meeting with an able review of the book, “Women and work,” by Olive Shriner, given by Mrs. L. H. Buckshorn. The ladies are also sewing on work during the afternoon for the soldiers in France. Good work is being done by the program committee of the club and the programs will be in the hands of the printer in good season to be in readiness for the fall opening of the club. Mrs. Herbert E. Fletcher, of the conservation committee, has enlisted the members in the work of giving all their newspapers, old magazines and all waste paper this summer to this committee. Collections will be made in July and again later in the season.
The house being built for Mr. Gamb, of Lowell, on the Boston road, is being called[?] on in good shape and will be an attractive house on that street. Fred P. Vinal, the Dracut carpenter, has the work in charge. Mr. Gamb has also made numerous improvements on the Spinner house recently purchased by him.
Mrs. Lauretta Tyler is over being ill at her home.
H V. Hildreth has a new two-passenger automobile joining[?] his other one of the same make, as Studebaker.
Mrs. Emily W. Paige, of Providence, R.I., is visiting her niece Mrs. L. W. Wheeler.
Mrs. Mary Baillie Bartlett, who was the leader for the children’s night at the Grange last week Thursday evening, proved herself the same capable and versatile entertainer that she has been at her two previous appearances before Westford audiences. Her interpretation of some of the joys and sorrows of child life were given with sympathetic insight and were enjoyed by both the children and grown-ups.
A coat of oil for the streets is promised and the sand to be applied afterwards has been distributed by the side of the streets. In the meantime the frequent rains are taking good care of the dust nuisance.
The Westford Boy Scouts won a silver cup trophy in the event, “Paul Revere’s ride,” at Lowell last Saturday. The cup has been on exhibition in Wright & Fletcher’s window. The organization is flourishing and several new applications for membership have been received. The boys make a fine appearance in their new uniforms and feel very proud of Saturday’s success.
At the annual meeting of Westford A.A. the following officers were elected for the season: Edward Fisher, pres.; H. L. Wright, v.p.; J. Herbert Fletcher, treas.; William R. Taylor, sec.; Oscar R. Spalding, Edward T. Hanley, Edward Hamlin, W. J. Merritt, A. W. Hartford, directors; A. W. Hartford, manager. It was voted to plan for a July 4th celebration and the Boy Scouts and Westford Grange will be invited to cooperate and make the meet a success. This is the ninth successive season of the A.A. and some good sport and a good succession of games may be expected.
The Edward Fishers are moving this week to their camp at Forge pond for the season. Mrs. Gertrude Caver Skidmore comes to Westford this week to open her cottage for the season.
The Edward M. Abbot hose company held their monthly meeting and tryout on Tuesday evening.
About Town. Westford is taking an especial interest in the republican convention since one of its citizens is there as a delegate from this district, Hon. Herbert E. Fletcher. He went on the special train of ten cars for the Massachusetts delegates. Mrs. Herbert Fletcher and Mrs. Butler Ames, of Lowell, are also in Chicago and are the privileged holders of tickets entitling them to seats in the colosseum where they will witness the great political contest.
Mrs. Lester Hamblett, of Fitchburg, has been visiting her friends, Miss Emily Fletcher and Mrs. George Snow, of West Chelmsford.
Miss Hazel Fletcher graduated from Dana hall at Wellesley on Wednesday. She will enter Vassar college this fall.
Hon. Herbert E. Fletcher, who is president of the Lowell district of Boy Scouts, reviewed the work of the scouts with Mayor O’Donnell in Lowell last Saturday. It was a very interesting occasion and many guests were present. Mrs. Osgood, Mrs. Labonteley and Mrs. Roudenbush were present from here and were enthusiastic over the exhibition. Congratulations to our boy scouts on winning a fine silver cup in the Paul Revere contest.
Miss Gladys Josephine Fletcher, eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. Willard Fletcher, was married last Saturday in Nashua, N.H., to Herbert Milton Searles, of Milford, N.H. Rev. Manley B. Townsend, of the Unitarian church in Nashua, was the officiating clergyman. The bride was very much liked by all who knew her and she will be much missed. The groom is a well-known engineer on the Fitchburg division of the Boston and Maine railroad. They will reside at 74 Main street, Greenfield. The good wishes of their friends are extended to them.
The 100th session of the Middlesex-North conference of Unitarian and other Christian churches will be held with the Unitarian church in Littleton on Thursday, June 15. At this church the conference was organized fifty years ago, and part of the program will be an historical address by Joseph A. Harwood, of Littleton.
Mrs. Sarah E. Woodward, a former resident of Westford and sister of the late Samuel Hutchins, of this town, stated in her will which was filed in the probate court that $3000 should go to the South Chelmsford Baptist church. The remainder of deposits in the banks is to be held in trust for her brother, Miah W. Hutchins. Upon his death the money goes to the Baptist Home Missionary society and the Baptist Foreign Missionary society. The residue of her estate was left to her husband, Oliver Woodward, and this in turn upon his death goes to the two societies above mentioned.
Joseph T. Richardson is seriously ill with hardening of the arteries at his home on the Lowell road.
Charles H. Miner, of Shirley and Billerica, and the grand jury, was in town on Wednesday, calling on friends that he made when a resident here several years ago.
At the meeting of West Chelmsford Grange on Thursday evening, June 15, the lecturer’s program reads “lunatic[?] or something just as good” in charge of Joe Wall.
By the arrangement of the new senatorial districts, Westford has been promoted from the seventh to the eighth district. We shall now be a satellite of Lowell. Senator Kimball of Littleton made a well-planned effort to keep us as part of the original “shoe string” district, but Lowell wanted us.
Daniel H. Sheehan is home from sawing several million[?] feet of lumber for Bent & Co., of Sudbury. He has been appointed agent for the Missouri Oil Company with headquarters in Lowell.
Children’s Day. The W.C.TU. held its annual mothers’ and children’s day Wednesday afternoon in the vestry of the Congregational church. The vestry was full of little children and their mothers and guests. It was a decidedly pleasant occasion for everybody present. Mrs. Janet Wright, the president presided and gave a word of welcome. Mrs. Wallace had the devotional service and then followed a most interesting program under the direction of Mrs. Edith Wright. Many of the children from the Frost school were present and made their contribution to the program of the afternoon. There was music on the piano and sweet singing interspersed with bright[?] pieces spoken in a most engaging way by the boys and girls. Several of the girls from the academy gave some good readings and the audience showed its appreciation of the creditable work done by the children. Ice cream and cake was served and then the little folks had an enjoyable time playing games. The exercises were in charge of Mrs. Edith Wright, Mrs. Charles Hildreth and Miss Young, while Mrs. Walker, Mrs. S. L. Taylor and Miss Rogers had charge of the refreshments.
Forge Village. Mrs. Martha S. Harty [nee Twiss] spent a few days last week as the guest of Mrs. Harriet E. Randall. Mrs. Harty has made her home in Concord, N.H., since the death of her husband, the late W. H. P. Harty, of this village.
The members of the Young People’s Social club held the last meeting of the season at Recreation hall last Thursday evening. In the absence of the secretary, the president, Miss Edith M. Foster, read the accounts of the club and also spoke on the work accomplished for the hospitals in France. Mrs. W. S. Sturgis, of Groton, read some interesting letters from Miss Norman Derr, who has been made a lieutenant in France on account of her valuable services. Singing by the younger members was very much enjoyed. Through the thoughtfulness of Miss Foster ice cream and cake were served. It was voted by the club to work for the hospitals of the Allies during the summer, the work to be done at home.
The streets of the village are to be oiled within the next few days, after which a light covering of sand will be spread over the oil, making quite an improvement on the roads.
Mrs. P. J. Kelley, of Chicago, who has been visiting relatives here for the past few weeks, has returned home. A farewell party was held in her honor at the home of Mr. and Mrs. James Kelley on last Saturday evening. James May, Mr. and Mrs. William Kelley, Philip Lord and Miss Mary Kelley; also, George Mitchell, of Lowell, all assisted in the musical program which was given during the evening.
Cameron school closed on Friday for the summer vacation.
It was decided at a recent meeting of the Forge Village Soccer Football club to send an application to the Andover United Football club to join the five-a-side football competition which is to be run by the Andover club on June 17. If the local team is accepted practice will begin right away and the players hope to make good.
The large red hawthorne tree on the property of Edward T. Hanley [Central St., now W. Prescott St.] is in full bloom and the beautiful sight is being enjoyed by all. The tree is the only one of its kind in this vicinity.
Lowell Self Help lodge, I.O.O.F., M.U., held its annual memorial service on Sunday morning at St. Andrew’s mission. The organization marched in a body, dressed in full regalia, to the church and presented a fine appearance. Rev. W. M. Ford conducted the services at ten o’clock and preached a forceful sermon on “Friendship, love and truth.” The vested choir sang appropriate selections. The altar was prettily decorated with cut flowers, while a large memorial wreath of evergreen, with the emblem of the Odd Fellows, occupied a conspicuous place. At the conclusion of the services a delegation proceeded to Fairview cemetery and placed flowers on the graves of deceased members.
Graniteville. The members of the Ladies’ Aid society of the M.E. church met with Mrs. W. H. Beebe on Thursday afternoon.
Mr. and Mrs. Minnie F. Gray, of Wilton, N.H., with Mr. and Mrs. Frank M. Gray and daughter Thelma of Carlisle, have been recent guests of Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Carmichael.
Mr. and Mrs. James M. Sargent, who have been in Arizona for the past few months, have recently returned to this village.
Fiftieth Anniversary. Mr. and Mrs. Wesley O. Hawkes celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of their marriage on Saturday, June 3. It was not the intention of Mr. and Mrs. Hawkes to have any formal celebration, but their children thought differently. On last Saturday they were invited to take dinner with their daughter, Mrs. A. W. Hartford, in Westford, and after accepting the invitation an automobile was placed at their disposal and the trip made to the hill. On their arrival they were met by Mr. and Mrs. Hartford and their daughter, Miss Hazel, and what was their surprise on entering the house to be met by relatives, including Mr. and Mrs. Frank P. Hawkes, daughter Dora and son Wesley of Melrose; Mr. and Mrs. Charles Stebbins and son, Charles, Jr., of South Deerfield, and Mr. and Mrs. Walter A. Phelps of Greenfield. After exchanging greetings all around the entire party sat down to an excellent dinner served by Mrs. Hartford assisted by Miss Hazel, with Mr. Hartford master of ceremonies.
Aside from the pleasing floral decorations the center of the attraction was the large wedding cake heavily frosted, and with fifty miniature candles, and the dates, 1866-1916, and June 3 in the center. This was presented by the host and hostess, and there was also another cake presented by Mr. and Mrs. Walter A. Phelps.
After dinner a pleasing program of music and song was given that was thoroughly enjoyed by all.
Mr. and Mrs. Hawkes received many gifts of gold from the children, grandchildren and friends, while other gifts consisted of 50 carnations from Mr. and Mrs. S. H. Fletcher and family; bouquet, Mr. and Mrs. John P. Wright; glass basket filled with lilies-of-the-valley, Mr. and Mrs. J. Warren Bright; cut glass cruet set, Mrs. Elizabeth Lynch of Boston. Aside from the gifts of gold and other presents Mr. and Mrs. Hawkes received numerous letters of congratulations during the day. Last, but by no means least among the presents, was a gift of gold from the Westford Veteran association, of which Mr. Hawkes is a member, with an original poem written and composed by Miss May Balch, daughter of Wayland Balch of Westford. This act of courtesy extended by the G.A.R. veterans was deeply appreciated by Mr. and Mrs. Hawkes.
The celebration was somewhat extended to Sunday, when all the guests who were present at Mr. and Mrs. Hartford’s on Saturday took dinner with Mr. and Mrs. Hawkes here on Sunday.
Mr. and Mrs. Hawkes have a wide circle of friends who extend to them at this time their warmest congratulations on their golden wedding anniversary and hope that they will live to enjoy the pleasure of this life for many years to come, and both may join in the great celebration of a diamond wedding anniversary.