Turner's Public Spirit, June 17, 1922
A look back in time to a century ago
By Bob Oliphant
“Center. Mr. and Mrs. Charles Stevens Ripley have issued invitations to the coming marriage of their daughter, Ethel Minerva, to Austin Dana Fletcher on Wednesday afternoon, June 28, at three o’clock at the Unitarian church followed by a reception at the Fletcher home, Westford depot.
“The house occupied by Mr. Griffin, known as Oak Knoll farm, [73] Hildreth road, was broken into some time during the middle of last week. It is not known definitely whether anything was taken or not, as the owner, Mr. Griffin, is at present in West Virginia. The nature of the break points to minors as being the offenders.
“Some of the owners of automobiles who are not obeying the laws regarding the lights on cars are finding their cars tagged.
“The selectmen have granted thirteen Sunday licenses for the sale of ice cream, confectionery, cigars etc., in various sections of the town.
“Eric Anderson is assisting at the store of J. Herbert Fletcher for the summer.
“School Notes. The eighth grade graduation of the Sargent school of Graniteville and Cameron school of Forge Village was held in Abbot hall, Forge Village, last week Friday evening….
“The graduates were Regina MacLenna, John Trask and Alice Remis, Sargent school, and Annie Hunt, Jane Blott, Maria Kavanaugh, Agnes Kavanaugh, Mary Palermo, Frederick Baker, Martin St. Clair and Russell Dudevoir, Cameron school.
“The William E. Frost school held its graduation on Tuesday evening in the town hall… The graduates were Jean Bell, Roger Hildreth, Leon Wilson, Kenneth Green, Virginia Green, Philip Nelson, George Kimball, Norman Day, Blanche St. Onge and Ruth Swenson….
“Begins Teaching Duties. At the close of the present school year Miss Mattie Crocker retired after thirty-seven consecutive years of teaching, the past fourteen years having been spent in Westford, coming first to the Parkerville section, and later being transferred to the William E. Frost school at the Center. Miss Crocker has been an efficient, conscientious teacher and has made a host of friends among the parents, teachers and pupils…. As a token of remembrance and esteem the children, teachers and superintendent presented her with ten dollars in gold on last week Friday. The community wishes Miss Crocker many years to come of health and prosperity.
“Clipping. The Massachusetts Extension Service news … contains in this month’s issue an article entitled ‘The midway has had its day,’ by Allister H. MacDougall, director, three County Fair, Northampton.
“‘Mr. MacDougall has been a county agent and is now a director of one of the important fairs in the state, a fair which is developing safer attractions for boys and girls than the typical vulgar midway. A boys’ and girls’ day last year brought in the largest gate receipts for any first day in the fair’s history, and left the midway deserted. This fall a home day will compete with the midway….’
“Academy Notes. Westford academy played Pepperell high on Tuesday afternoon, the latter winning by the score of 13 to 11.
“The exercises of the graduating class of the academy will be held in the town hall on Wednesday morning, June 21, at ten o’clock. In the evening the class will hold the graduation dance. There are nineteen graduates in the class of 1922.
“About Town. At the annual town meeting the finance committee and the overseers of the poor were appointed a committee to investigate in regard to building a barn at the town home in place of the one destroyed by fire a year or more ago, and report at some future special meeting…. But the above barn project is set for the warrant and it is expected to hatch sometime the last of ‘Oh what is so rare as a day in June.’
“For wind give us Monday afternoon again as an encore, please. Also, as an effective method of thinning apples, please don’t repeat, because the Baldwins are about the only apple that is still clinging to the rigging….
“The Old Oaken Bucket farm has spring wheat budded to head. Can anyone beat that? Oh, I suppose that someone will take the witness stand and testify that they have just finished threshing theirs. And so it goes; we can’t get there by any movement early or late.
“Fire. The long-time familiar building, the scene of varied social and business activity so long known as Marshall’s hall, went up in smoke and down in ashes early last week Friday morning in West Chelmsford….
“Marshall’s hall was built many years ago by the late Joseph Marshall and located directly on the boundary line of Westford and Chelmsford, … the entire front of the hall being in Westford and the rear in Chelmsford….”
Austin Dana Fletcher (1899-1992) in his store at 7 Lincoln St. circa 1940s. Westford Historical Society photo.
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