Turner's Public Spirit, June 16, 2023
A look back in time to a century ago
By Bob Oliphant
Center. Rev. A. T. Boisen, lately of Anson, Me., will preach at the Congregational church on Sunday. He is a man of ability as a writer and has been especially skilled along the line of social service survey.
The Board of Trade will hold an important business meeting at the town hall on Friday evening, June 15, at eight o’clock. [A little late with the notice in the June 16 newspaper, don’t you think?]
Anna Whiting the two-year-old-daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harry E. Whiting, met with a painful accident on Tuesday, the fingers of the left hand being badly crushed and two of them broken.
In the district court in Ayer Judge Atwood disposed of the liquor cases from this town in the following manner last Saturday: Steve Kilowskusk $100 fine and three months; Florian Woitowicz $75; Zachary Denisevich $75, Wasil Sedach $100 ($50 on each of two counts), Paul Labbe not guilty. On Monday, after a lengthy session on account of the number of witnesses introduced by the defendant, Adam Lapniewski was fined $200 and Stanislowa Lapniewski was fined $75. All of these cases appealed.
Children’s day was observed by the W.C.T.U. on Wednesday afternoon in the Congregational church vestry. A fine program was presented by the children, in charge of Mrs. C. A. Blaney, and consisted of speaking, singing and piano selections. At the close of the program the president of the local organization, Mrs. Janet Wright, spoke a few words of greeting to the children after which ice cream cones and candy were served. The ladies of the organization who were present met informally; a letter was read by Mrs. Wright stating that owing to the fact that Westford had 50% of members present at the recent convention one subscription to the Union paper would be sent, and it was voted to have the same sent to Mrs. Blaney, the vice president. Informal remarks were made by Mrs. Frank Norris and Mrs. Quincy Day, which was very interesting to the members.
The Junior league of the Congregational church enjoyed an outing at Long pond on Wednesday afternoon.
John G. Fletcher of M.I.T. is at his home in town.
Neighbors’ night will be observed by the Grange on Thursday night of next week. Acton and Chelmsford will neighbor with the local organization and furnished the entertainment of the evening. A supper will be served in charge of Miss Lucinda Prescott and Mrs. William Millis. Those who have not been solicited from are each asked to donate a pie.
Through a misprint last week’s edition stated that Mrs. Fred Mitchell was in town for the summer and it should have read Mrs. Fred Hildreth.
School Notes. The eighth grade of the William E. Frost school held their graduation exercises at the town hall on Tuesday evening. A play, “Miss Molly,” was well presented, and there was singing by the graduates. The diplomas were presented by Supt. Herman Knight. The class presented Principal Charles Carter, their teacher, with a five-dollar-gold-piece, to which presentation Mr. Carter responded with a few well chosen remarks. The graduates were Charlotte Wilson, Alice Heywood, Edna Whitney, Lily Dane, Elizabeth Wells, Wilfred Morin, Jardine Davis, Theodore Foster and Everett Millis. Mrs. Whitney, mother of Edna Whitney, presented each of the girl graduates with a dozen pinks and the boys and teacher each with a box of chocolates.
On Wednesday the graduating class, through the courtesy of Mr. Carter and Mrs. Alice Wells, enjoyed an auto trip to Revere Beach. Mrs. Wells’ car was driven by Norman White.
Charles Carter, who has been principal of the William E. Frost school for the past two years, has accepted a position as principal of the John Post Reynolds school in Bristol, R.I. In addition to his principalship he will also have charge of the evening classes in Americanization. Mr. Carter has the good wishes of a host of friends in his new position, and both Mr. and Mrs. Carter will be missed from the community and in the schools. Mr. and Mrs. Carter left on Friday for New York city, where Mr. [sic, Mrs.?] Carter will undergo an operation on her eyes.
Weddings. Miss Ruth Sargent became the bride of Clifford Johnson at her home on Tuesday afternoon at 3:30. The ceremony was performed by Rev. Frank B. Crandall, of Ayer.
The house was prettily decorated in white, and the couple stood beneath a large white wedding bell. The bride was prettily gowned in white crepe de chine and the couple were unattended. Only the immediate families of the bride and groom were in attendance, among them being three grandmothers of the couple.
Refreshments were served, after which the bride and groom departed on a wedding trip which will be spent in Warner, N.H. The young people have the best wishes of their many friends in their wedded life. Mr. Johnson is the popular master of Westford Grange.
Miss Mildred Fletcher and Frederick Robinson were united in marriage at the home of the bride’s father, J. Willard Fletcher, on Monday afternoon at three o’clock. Rev. Frank B. Crandall of Ayer performed the ceremony. The bride who was given in marriage by her father, was daintily gowned in white canton crepe with veil and carried roses, while the bridesmaid, her twin sister, Miss Marion Fletcher, wore blue organdie.
The wedding march was played by another sister of the bride, Mrs. Gladys Fletcher Searles. The ceremony was attended by the families of the bride and groom and at the close refreshments were served, after which the happy couple departed on a short wedding trip and upon their return will make their home with Mrs. Robinson’s father, J. Willard Fletcher.
The young couple were the recipients of many beautiful and useful presents and have the best wishes of the community for a happy future.
About Town. Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Wesley O. Hawkes in living so wisely as to be able to observe the fifty-seventh anniversary of their marriage [June 3, 1866, in Buckland, Mass.]. In this age of upstarts and upsets volumes of wisdom are woven into this fifty-seventh anniversary and pointing the way to live happily together. Mr. Hawkes has served fourscore years of time in this world in various capacities—representative to the legislature, selectman for twelve years, commissioner of charities, and still holds the office of station agent at Graniteville forty years, veteran of the civil war and past commander of the Westford Veteran association and present commander of George S. Boutwell post, G.A.R., of Ayer, and an all-round, wise and helpful citizen. Mrs. Hawkes is four-score years and two. If the world isn’t any better for their having lived in it these years, then the case of idealism vs. animalism is hopeless and we may as well find for the defendant, for there is not salt enough to season and serve the old world.
Mr. and Mrs. Frederick A. Snow attended the wedding of Miss [Dorothy B.] Cutler, of West Andover, to Rev. Stanley High, recently acting minister of the Pawtucketville church, Lowell, last week Friday. Mr. and Mrs. High left for California, where Mr. High has been engaged to write a series of articles for the Christian Science Monitor.
Mr. and Mrs. Carols Dyer Cushing, who have been visiting at the home of their daughter, Mrs. William R. Taylor, have gone to their summer home in Framingham.
The ladies’ degree staff of the Grange extends loving wishes to its three brides, Mrs. Edna Sargent Moore, Mrs. Mildred Fletcher Robinson and Mrs. Ruth Sargent Johnson.
The annual outing of the Men’s club of the First Congregational church, Lowell, took place on last week Thursday afternoon and evening at Lake Nabnassett, at the Lowell Y.M.C.A. camp. The feature of the afternoon’s fun was a fourteen-inning ball game, captained by Rev. Percy E. Thomas and President Otis W. Butler. Target shooting, quoit pitching and boating were other attractions of the afternoon. After a long list of sports run off under the direction of C. E. Towne, physical director of the Y.M.C.A. camp, supper was served in the vestry of the church at West Chelmsford under the direction of Mrs. Bickford and other ladies of the church. After thirty minutes of community singing under the direction of Harry F. Betts, each man present was called upon to perform some stunt, which made no end of fun. After three cheers and thanks to ladies of the church and all other responsible parties the home trip was industriously occupied by planning a similar trip next year.
Clayton Sheedy, Georgetown’s whirlwind first baseman, who has been hitting and fielding like a major leaguer this spring, will play with the Abbot Worsted Company nine this summer. He played his first game with the Abbots last Saturday. Sheedy, whose home is in Groton, has been sought by Baltimore of the International league, but without success. In as much as he intends to play with Georgetown again next year, he does not wish to prejudice his collegiate standing by entering professional ranks. His acquisition by the Abbots will give him an opportunity to keep in trim without sacrificing his right to play with the college team next year. Much of Georgetown’s success this year was due to his sterling work at the bat and in the field.
The Abbot Worsted Company are building a modern piazza onto the old Deacon Ephraim A. Harwood house at Brookside. This house was owned and occupied for many years by Deacon Harwood and is the third oldest house at Brookside, and is over 160 years old, but like some people looks very much younger. It is the first house on the left after leaving the Lowell road for Brookside.
Strawberries are beginning to ripen on the other fellow’s farm, but we are not going to tell who we happen to know. They were very sweet. We cannot expect to win out in all lines. The Old Oaken Bucket is content at having peas for dinner last Saturday and sweet corn eighteen inches tall.
At a meeting of the trustees of Westford academy Hon. John Jacob Rogers, our efficient congressman from this district, was recently unanimously elected a trustee and unanimously accepted. Hurrah to goodness; this is the best yet.
The Grange has invited Acton and Chelmsford Granges to neighbor with them on Thursday evening, June 21, and they have accepted the invitation and will furnish all of the special entertainment and will eat their share of the supper which Westford Grange will furnish.
All Souls church, Lowell, will hold its annual freshwater outing at Lake Nabnassett on Saturday, June 23. As there are several former residents of this town who attend this church it might not be considered infringing on other people’s special privileges to slip one over them and run over and see them, but not run over them.
Our ancient and honorable academy will hold its annual graduation exercises in the town hall on Wednesday, June 20. Let us get over our bashfulness or whatever else hinders and load up with enthusiasm and attend this event. We owe it to the efficient teachers and the encouragement of the scholars to let the weeds and witch grass have a day off to catch up with us while we catch up with the spirit and inspiration that is associated with public education in general, and Westford academy in particular, which was founded 131 years ago.
Smoky Tuesday was probably caused by the extensive forest fires in Aroostook, Me., which are sweeping nearly all before it. Say, Mr. Governor, as you felt so bad and sad over the death of your pet dog “Garry,” that didn’t interest anyone but you, yet you ordered the flag at half-mast at the state house in Augusta “to create a more humane sentiment towards our dumb animals,” would it not be wise to order the flags at half-mast all over the state at the death of the forests by fire to create a deeper sentiment for “safety first” against these fires, and also create more enthusiasm for forestry as a pressing necessity? The forests belong to all the people in their effect as much as the sun or air. The dog belongs to—well no matter who he does belong to if he does not have hydrophobia.
The Morning Glory and Old Oaken Bucket farms have potatoes budded to blow planted the latter part of April; so there, now, you scare-cold-weather folks who were going to have them all set in the ground and ploughed out. By nature a potato demands early planting and that is what it is calling for in the cellar when it sprouts so early, and there is no such calamity as a potato rotting because of too early planting and too cold ground, except excess moisture on low meadow soil, or the seed is tinctured with invisible dry rot.
Sunday service at Unitarian church at four o’clock. Preacher, Rev. Frank B. Crandall, the minister; subject, “Human judgements.”
Fiftieth Anniversary. Mrs. Carlos D. Cushing [nee Ella M. Richardson] and her classmate, Mrs. C. A. Newhall, of North Andover, spent the weekend in Auburndale [in Newton], this being the fiftieth anniversary of their graduation from Lasell seminary [now Lasell University, founded in 1851 as the Auburndale Female Seminary]. These two are the only living members of the class of ’73 and were honored guests at commencement.
Mr. Cushing, whose father, Dr. Charles W. Cushing, was principal of Lasell from 1864-74, accompanied by his daughter, Mrs. William R. Taylor [nee Elizabeth Richardson Cushing], and Mrs. Frederic A. Snow [nee Esther Perry Taylor, sister of William R. Taylor] of West Chelmsford, attended commencement exercises on Tuesday, June 12.
Rev. Ernest G. Guthrie, of Boston, gave the address to the graduating class of sixty-three members, of which President Harding is an honorary member.
At the alumnae meeting held in the chapel at two o’clock, Miss Lillian Packard read an interesting paper written by her sister, Mrs. Draper, who was unable to be present. In her happy way she compared styles and customs of Lasell fifty years ago with the Lasell of today, then referring to the “pot of gold at the end of the rainbow” she presented Mrs. Cushing with fifty dollars in gold, an expression of love and appreciation for her ten years of faithful service as treasurer of the Alumnae association. Three years ago Mrs. Cushing was chosen national life treasurer of Lasell Alumnae association, and through her untiring efforts forty life-memberships have been paid into the treasury.
The first graduate of Lasell, Mrs. Rose Hayward Brown, of the class of ’54, receives flowers each year on commencement day from the Alumnae association, as she is an invalid and unable to attend. Mrs. Mary Shaw Rogers ’56, and Mrs. Caroline Hills Leeds ’61, were the oldest members present, and Prof. Hills, for fifty years teacher of pianoforte at Lasell, pleased all with his beautiful selection.
Forge Village. Francis Hosmer, the 12-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. William Hosmer, met his death by drowning in Forge pond Sunday about noon. Francis and his little cousin, Phillette Bennett, were playing near the Hosmer home. Finally they strayed to the shore of the pond, where they discovered a boat said to be owned by a Mr. Smith, who lives nearby. Both children, according to the story of the little girl, got into the boat and were soon adrift upon the pond. The Bennett girl stated that her companion jumped into the water and disappeared, whereupon she cried for help. John Sullivan, a resident of the village, heard her cries and brought her safely to shore in the boat. Several resident of the neighborhood then responded, among them the father of the drowned boy. Almost an hour was exhausted in a search before the body was recovered, the father of the youngster finally bringing his dead son’s body to the surface. Besides his parents he leaves five sisters and a brother.
Shirley
Center. Miss Marion Barteaux of Westford has been visiting her sister, Mrs. F. J. Beauleau.
Ayer
News Items. The roof of St. Andrew’s church is being recovered with slate colored asphalt shingles. Hugh Ferguson, of Westford, started the work on Wednesday morning.
Wesley O. Hawkes, commander of the G.A.R. post, and Mrs. Hawkes observed the fifty-seventh anniversary of their marriage at their home in Graniteville on June 3.
Rev. Frank B. Crandall officiated at the wedding of Frederick C. Robinson and Miss Mildred Fletcher in Westford on Monday afternoon.
Rev. Frank B. Crandall performed the ceremony at the wedding of Clifford F. Johnson and Miss Ruth M. Sargent in Westford on Tuesday afternoon.
Wilfred Cornellier, son of Mr. and Mrs. William Cornellier, Shirley street, was the victim of an automobile accident on Thursday afternoon. The young man was employed on the state road in Westford. He had started home, standing on the running-board of an automobile driven by Douglas C. Smith, when Mr. Smith suddenly remembered a tool that had been left behind. Young Cornellier jumped off to return for it and was struck by a Peerless touring car belonging to Nashua parties, which was coming from behind him. He was taken to the Lowell General hospital but lived only a short time. He was nineteen years old and had attended the local schools until a few years ago. Funeral arrangements had not been completed at time of going to press.
District Court. On last Saturday morning Steve Kilowskusk, of Westford, charged with a sale of liquor and also with keeping and exposing liquor for sale, was found guilty on both complaints. He was fined $100 and sentenced to three months in the house of correction on the first complaint, the other being placed on file.
Dimniki Denisevich, of Westford, charged with the same two offences, was found guilty of a sale and was fined $75. On the charge of keeping and exposing liquor for sale he was found not guilty.
Zachary Denisevich, of Westford, was found guilty of a sale of liquor and was fined $75. On the charge of keeping and exposing liquor for sale he was found guilty and the case was placed on file.
Wasil Sedach, of Westford, was found guilty of a sale of liquor and fined $50. On a charge of keeping and exposing liquor for sale he was found guilty and the case was place on file.
Florian Woitowicz, of Westford, was found guilty of a sale of liquor and fined $75. He was found guilty of keeping and exposing liquor for sale and the case was placed on file.
In all of these five cases appeals were taken from the sentence of the court. In all of these cases Atty. John D. Carney appeared for the government and Atty. John M. Maloney for the defense. …
Stanislowa Lapinewski [Lapniewski], of Westford, was found guilty of a sale of liquor and was fined $75. On a charge of keeping and exposing liquor for sale she was found not guilty.
Adam Lapinewski [husband of Stanislowa], of Westford, charged with a sale of liquor and with keeping and exposing liquor for sale, was found guilty and fined $200. In both of these cases there was an appeal from the sentence of the court. Atty. John D. Carney appeared for the government and Atty. John M. Maloney for the defense.
Real Estate Transfers. The following real estate transfers have been recorded from this vicinity: …
Westford—Mary Crossland to Emma F. Whittier, land on Groton road; Oscar R. Spalding to Nathan T. Wheeler, land on Pine Ridge road. …
Townsend
Center. Misses Eva Stearns, Annie B. Dudley and Agnes M. Farrar, teachers at Holden, Forge Village and Jaffrey, N.H., are spending their vacations at their respective homes in town.