The Westford Wardsman, June 30, 1917
Center. Miss Irene Munson, of the John Hancock Insurance Company, is spending her vacation with Mr. and Mrs. A. W. Hartford.
The reading circle conducted under the auspices of the Tadmuck club will meet with Mrs. L. H. Buckshorn on Thursday evening July 5.
Wesley R. Wells is visiting his brother, Dr. O. V. Wells, for a week. He has just received the degree of Ph.D. at Harvard, where he has been studying in the graduate school since his graduation from college four years ago. The past year he has been the instructor in philosophy in Harvard, and is to be an instructor next year in Washington university, St. Louis.
Rev. and Mrs. H. A. Lincoln attended the council in the afternoon and the ordination and installation services in the evening of Rev. Arthur W. Stone at the Union church, Concord Junction, on Friday of last week.
Miss Emma Stevens, of Mountain View, Cal., who is visiting friends in the east, is the guest this next week of the Misses Atwood.
In the account of the graduation exercise last week it was inadvertently omitted what the class gift was. The gift presented to the school by the graduating class was two fine volumes of the Standard dictionary, one for upstairs and one for downstairs for the use of the academy.
Dr. Warren H. Sherman has received his appointment and is to give a course of twelve talks and demonstrations in first aid work under the auspices of the local Red Cross society. The first of these took place this Friday afternoon in library hall. There is already a good list enrolled for this instruction, but any others who would like to join are welcome to avail themselves of the privilege.
Mrs. Jennie Fifield, of Nashua, is visiting at the home of Mrs. Hugh Ferguson.
The Red Cross society will move its quarters from Library hall to the lower town hall and will be ready for work at the latter place next Tuesday afternoon. The selectmen have cooperated in every way to make the lower town hall available for this work, and since the scope of the work has grown and better ventilation during the summer is needed, it will be better to work in the lower town hall, for unlike most activities there is to be no vacation period for this work. The terrible war goes on and the bit that this activity can contribute is needed. The call for a second sewing machine in this column for the work was promptly and generously responded to by Mrs. J. Herbert Fletcher, who offered her sewing machine for the summer.
The Westford A.A., who have arranged such a good schedule for July Fourth in recent years, have made no special arrangements for this year. The members thought it their duty and a wiser choice to contribute the money put into a celebration to the Red Cross which they did. The Westford Oaklands, a team of younger players, have arranged for a double-header, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, at Whitney playground, to be played with neighboring towns.
The dust nuisance, which has not been as trying in the earlier part of this season, owing to frequent rains, will be further abated by the annual oiling, which the selectmen promise at an early date, probably next week.
The shade trees in the village received their annual spraying last week and the proper poison tablets of warning have been attached.
The Donald M. Camerons come this year to occupy their summer home, the Cameron homestead [39 Main St], for the season.
The engagement is announced to their many friends of Charles A. Blodgett and Miss Lottie L. Dunn, the later of East Pembroke, Me., and who has taught at the Frost school the past year.
About twenty members of Westford Grange were in attendance at the entertainment, strawberry festival and wedding ceremony at Groton Grange on Tuesday evening.
Mrs. T. C. Nickerson and her daughter, Mrs. C. F. Rogers, of Newton, have been guests for several days at the Congregational parsonage this week.
Communion service will be observed at the Congregational church on Sunday morning.
Wesley Hawkes, Jr., of the First Corps Cadets of Boston, is soon to be located at the big camp in Ayer. Several from this town have visited the site of this big camp in Ayer during the week and viewed the preparatory arrangements with the greatest interest.
Miss Halbower will give a talk on canning, Wednesday, July 11. This was necessarily postponed to this date, and will surely take place at this time unless the very unexpected intervenes. In the morning the subject will be “The elimination of waste,” and in the afternoon a canning demonstration will be given. While this is under the auspices of the Tadmuck club, it is in no way confined to the membership, but is open to every woman and girl, or man, either, in town. Miss Halbower is a very practical instructor and much can be learned, especially for this year.
Miss Freida V. Stiles and Benjamin Prescott were united in marriage on Wednesday afternoon. The ceremony was performed by Rev. H. A. Lincoln and took place at the parsonage. After a wedding trip Mr. and Mrs. Prescott will make their home for the present with the bride’s parents, and Mrs. Prescott will continue as the valued assistant at the local telephone exchange. The sincere good wishes of many friends for happiness and prosperity go out to these young people.
The home guard, which is being organized, holds its meeting Friday evening. Ninety names have been secured by Charles Robinson. Capt. Sherman H. Fletcher will preside at the meeting and Hon. Edward Fisher will be the speaker.
About $5200 is the sum contributed from Westford for Red Cross work and a more detailed account will be given, in next week’s account.
The Middlesex County G.A.R. association and W.R.C., which held such a successful gathering here last year, came again this year by invitation of Mrs. Charles W. Parker, of Westford and Boston, and repeated the success this year with an attendance of from 250 to 300. The gathering was favored with perfect June weather. They came in autos and auto trucks, and large delegations were present from Cambridge, Malden and Watertown. The veterans assembled at the Cavalry association building and were escorted to the town hall with Com. Henry Clark in charge. Greeting and welcome to the town were felicitously extended by Capt. Sherman H. Fletcher preceding the order of exercises. A basket luncheon was served at noon supplemented by the sale of hot coffee by members of the local Red Cross in charge of Mrs. Josie A. Prescott. In the afternoon a visitation to the beautiful Parker farm in the west part of the town was made. A luncheon of Parker farm milk and doughnuts was served by Mr. and Mrs. Parker, and the party took their departure after a very pleasant and successful day.
The Oaklands, a promising team of all Westford boys, have a good ball team organized and it is hoped the townspeople will give them hearty encouragement and support in every way. All games will be played at the fine diamond at Whitney playground. The personnel of the team is as follows: Griffin, p.; Day, p.; Flagg, c.; Robey, 1b.; Hildreth, 2b.; Sutherland, ss.; G. Perkins, 3b.; Amesbury, lf.; C. Griffin, cf.; F. Perkins, rf. A game will be played with the North Chelmsford Juniors on Saturday, July 4, a.m., Martin Service of Lowell, p.m., Forge Village; July 7, Graniteville; July 14, Littleton; July 21, open; July 28, North Chelmsford at North Chelmsford.
Nearly eight dollars were added to the Red Cross treasury by the sale of coffee at Tuesday’s gathering at the town hall.
Mrs. Streeter is visiting her daughter, Mrs. J. Henry Colburn.
The children’s day exercises, which were postponed one week on account of the severe rainstorm a week ago Sunday, took place last Sunday and while the weather was not of the pleasantest, it was an improvement on the previous week. Mrs. H. A. Lincoln and Miss May E. Day were in charge of the speaking and exercises and much credit goes to them for the interest and attractiveness of the service. Miss May Atwood, Miss Mary P. Bunce and Mrs. J. L. Kimball did the decorating, and the result was most pleasing. A quantity of peonies, iris, Deutzia and ladies’ slipper, with ferns, were used in the decorative scheme. The beautiful rite of baptism was performed for three children, Kenneth William and Elizabeth, children of Mr. and Mrs. William E. Wright, and baby Elizabeth Bosworth, child of Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Bosworth.
About Town. Work has already commenced to double track the Stony Brook railroad on the south side of the present track. The sharp curves below West Chelmsford are being straightened, land for the same being bought or seized.
For health and evenness of stand and freedom from witch grass and weeds, the cornfield of Frank C. Drew would take all premiums.
The Old Oaken Bucket farm folks had peas for dinner last Saturday. Five minutes later Edmund B. Whitney had peas. The contest has been so sharp and close that every fraction of a minute had to be counted.
John B. Abbott, agent of the Middlesex County Farm Bureau, will hold a field meeting at the Walker farm, next to the town hall [sic], this Saturday afternoon at one o’clock. He will be prepared to test soils for acidity; to test soils for deficiency of lime, and how and how much to apply. Any wishing to have soil tested should bring about a quart. This field meeting is in the interest of more economical dairying. The young people who are interested in canning are asked to be present. It is expected that a demonstration will be present to present the emergency of canning and the advantage of doing it.
John A. Taylor is at the Old Oaken Bucket farm for the summer, having left the June snow-balling of North Dakota.
Word has been received of the death of Miss Fannie A. Taylor, of Sioux Falls, S.D. She was a sister of Albert D. Taylor, so well and favorably known in town, and niece of Albert E. Davis, a former principal of Westford academy. She was born in Carlisle, the daughter of Nathaniel and Amanda (Scott) Taylor. She leaves a sister, Maude, of Sioux Falls; two brothers, Edward S., of Springfield, and Albert D., of Cleveland; a nephew, Edward E. Taylor, Jr., of Springfield, and several cousins in Carlisle. The cause of death was cerebral hemorrhage. Burial was at Sioux Falls. She was thirty-eight years old.
There is considerable between betwixt planting in some corners of the Stony Brook valley. Early planted potatoes have every other row planted to early Canada corn, and it is just up ready for the crows, but being tarred and feathered it is left to its lonesome. Beans between the strawberries and sweet corn between the beans, sweet corn between the peas and popcorn between the carrots and other combinations can be seen. We must contrive to do more double cropping and make the soil come nearer paying its board so that the tiller of the soil can get his board without so much scare that he won’t. Don’t forget to sow buckwheat.
The roll call was given at the last Grange meeting and every member responded with music, vocal, song and piano, readings and stories or ten-cents’ worth of U.S. money. In the variety was a debate by the Hay Seeds and Foot Balls: Resolved, “That [there] is more and better physical development in the hayfield than in football.” S. L Taylor was invited to open for the Hay Seeds. He cut loose with hornets, bumble-bees, snakes, mosquitoes, thunder and lightning to illustrate the variety of fancy steps of having. W. R. Taylor followed, kicking football sky high and earth low until everybody dodged for safety. Mr. Hanscomb, for Hay Seeds, was humorous to exhilaration. Rev. Mr. Anderson, muscular and witty, kicked football and the Hay Seeds clear down and fast to the time limit.
Forge Village. A concert and dance for the benefit of the Red Cross society was held in Abbot hall on Thursday evening, June 21. A very interesting program was listened to with much attention and each number received merited applause. Dancing was enjoyed until a late hour, being furnished by Lillian and Gladys Baker, mandolin, and Miss Marion Blodgett, piano. Refreshments of ice cream and cake were in charge of Mrs. John Edwards, Mrs. William Baker, Mrs. John Baker and Mrs. Fred Davis. Those responsible for the success of the affair are Miss Eva F. Pyne, Marion L. Blodgett and Thomas Kelley. A large sum was realized and will be turned over to the Red Cross committee.
Mr. and Mrs. Edwin A. Denham, with their three children, motored from Pinehurst. N.C., to the home of Mr. Denham’s mother, Mrs. Caroline Denham, Central street. They arrived here on last week Friday and rested for a short time before continuing on their journey to their summer home in Portland, Me. The party rested in New York city for a week, where they visited at Mr. Denham’s brother.
Mrs. Martha Harty, of Concord, and her step-son, William P. Harty, of the U.S. navy were visitors here last week Friday. Mr. Harty was unable to be found at the time of his father’s death in February, 1916, he having concluded his term in the navy. The young man then left for the west, where he traveled extensively. When Uncle Sam declared war against Germany Mr. Harty returned to New York and again entered the navy. A letter announcing his father’s death several months ago was then handed to him. He immediately got in touch with his mother, who in the meantime had sold her property and had gone to live with relatives in Concord. Mr. Harty was formerly on the submarine boat Snapper. He is now on a torpedo boat.
Mrs. Samuel Blodgett, of the Ridges, is entertaining her sister, Mrs. Frank Wiggin, of Providence, R.I., and Mr. Blodgett’s aunt, Mrs. Lecia Woodward, of Ashby.
Mrs. Harriet E. Randall had as her guests last Sunday, Mr. and Mrs. John Bennett and son Corney, of Worcester; Mrs. Mary I. Drake, of Shrewsbury, and Mrs. Walter Brooks, of Bryantville [in Pembroke, Mass.].
Mrs. P. J. O’Hara and two children, Kathleen and Jennie, of New York city, have returned home after a visit of two weeks at the home of Mrs. Jane Dare. Miss Annie Dare returned with them for a vacation of several weeks.
Rev. Thomas L. Fisher, of Leominster, formerly of this parish, assisted the present vicar, Rev. Williston M. Ford, at St. Andrew’s mission last Sunday. Mr. Fisher preached on the Red Cross society, and his congregation listened with deep interest to the words of the clergyman. A collection was afterwards taken up for the society. Services will be held on Sunday morning at nine o’clock, instead of at 4:30 in the afternoon. Holy communion will be celebrated. The mission chapel will be closed throughout the remainder of July. Mr. Ford is to start on his vacation shortly.
Miss Eva F. Pyne collected $51.50 in the house to house canvass for the Red Cross society and $115 was collected in the mills of the Abbot Worsted Company, and nearly $70 will be handed over to the society as the proceeds from the concert held last Friday. This will bring the amount to nearly $250.
All those working for the Red Cross society who have run out of materials will be able to obtain wool for the knitting at the home of Mrs. Fred Davis.
Miss Eva F. Pyne is visiting relatives in Manchester, N.H., this week.
A son [Frederick Lowther Hargreaves] was born recently [June 21, 1917,] to Mr. and Mrs. Percy Hargreaves, of Somerville. Mrs. Hargreaves was formerly Miss Rachel H. Cherry, of this village.
Miss Ida L. Prescott and Mrs. L. K. Barber, of Milford, spent Wednesday with Miss Grace Lawrence.
Miss Emma J. Stevens, now of Mountain View, Cal., formerly of Westford Center and a resident also of this village, made a brief visit with Miss Grace Lawrence this week.
The Sunday school children of St. Andrew’s mission held their picnic at Forge pond and the mission house last Saturday afternoon. They were joined by the members of the Sunday school from St. Andrew’s church, Ayer. Boating and swimming were enjoyed by many. Miss Helen Lord took charge of the little ones. Mrs. Williston M. Ford, wife of the vicar, assisted by Miss Sarah Precious, arranged games on the lawn. Miss Elizabeth Plummer and Miss Theresa V. Lowther had charge of the ice cream and coffee. A basket luncheon was enjoyed at five o’clock. Mr. Ford then took a number of the children for a ride in his automobile. A most enjoyable afternoon was spent.
Miss Stella B. Carkin, of Lowell, spent the weekend at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Augustus Carkin.
The Misses Julia Delaney and Annie Walsh are to spend this weekend and over the Fourth touring through New Hampshire
The Social club of St. Andrew’s mission have voted to give half of the proceeds of their recent concert to the Red Cross fund. The other half will be used to purchase new hymn books for the choir. The club also voted to spend the money in the treasury to purchase a silk flag for the church.
Ayer
District Court. Samuel Newman, of Chelsea, was arraigned on a charge of larceny last Saturday morning. The complainant was Harry Gerin, of Westford. The case was very complicated until the evidence was about half in, when Judge Atwood and the three lawyers engaged in solving the case began to see through the haze, which up to that time had obscured the proceedings. Gerin, who is a junk man, claims to have been separated from a quantity of iron castings in Westford, June 16, when an auto truck which he was driving broke down. During his absence in procuring help to clear the wreck someone carried off the goods. There was considerable talk about the plaintiff and defendant being in partnership, in which case the defendant would have a right to take the property under the law. This, however, was not established. There was, however, in the opinion of the court, a community of interest akin to that interest attached to a partnership. In view of the circumstances the court failed to find the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and ordered his discharge.
Military Camp Work Progressing. There has been a marked change at the Ayer cantonment during the past week. Building material of all kinds has been coming in steadily and buildings have been going up with the utmost speed. Large numbers of men have been arriving daily for work in preparation for the opening of the camp. Ley Bros., the contractors, have erected an office building 306 feet long and 36 feet wide. The speed with which the work is done can be realized when it is stated that but three days were required to do the work. The office is equipped with desks, filing cabinets and other necessary furniture.
Several lines of poles are laid across the cantonment bearing telephone, telegraph, power and lighting wires. The contractors have a private branch telephone exchange with five trunk lines and sixty stations scattered over a territory of several square miles.
A railroad belt line of seven miles is being laid. This line will encircle the main cantonment and enable the company to bring material to the spot where it is required. The men will work every day, including Sundays and holidays. It is proposed to put on extra men nights who will work by the aid of electric lights in order that the work may be completed by the date set in the contract, which is September first.
There was a good deal of difficulty experienced during the first week of construction by lack of food supplies for the men. This condition has been helped considerably during the past few days by the installing of large tents by the commissary department, which has undertaken the huge task of supplying meals for the workers. It is expected that 1500 men will be employed before the end of the week. As fast as the buildings are erected they will be used by the men for living quarters.
The large automobile trucks are constantly on the move, carrying all kinds of necessary supplies. These have been shipped by express and have accumulated on the railroad station platforms much faster than they can be carried away. The big trucks, marked U.S.A., have little difficult in ploughing through the soft, sandy log roads from the main road to the camp.
Workmen have been busily engaged in cutting the brush along the railroad where the spur tracks are under construction. A temporary track has been hurriedly laid on top of the ground which will be used to bring material for its permanent construction.
The freight classification yard, by far the largest single terminal yard in New England, will be used to distribute the freight for the use of the camp from the usual heavy traffic of the railroad.
Additional land has been secured in Lancaster which will make it possible for the national guard of New England, numbering 27,000 men, to camp there while awaiting the camp’s construction. The fine weather makes it possible for the men to live in comfort in tents, enough of tents being ready for that number of men.
Everything in the camp and about town is bustle and excitement, and the town is beginning to have the appearance of a city. The greatest need of all, as pointed out in this paper last week, is that of sleeping quarters for the men employed at the camp. The supply of rooms for rent is wholly inadequate to meet the grave situation. The hotels and lodging houses and other places, which cater to this class of trade, are crowded to overflowing. Every available amount of space is used in these places to satisfy the tremendous demand.
It is expected that militia men doing guard duty will be relieved of that work in the near future, and their places taken by the police, private watchmen and the new state guard. The only exceptions are the state armory at Springfield and the Watertown arsenal, which are considered too important places to dispense with the military guard.
Camp Notes. The Western Union Telegraph Company has opened an office in the Barry block on Main street for the handling of the vast amount of work incident to the location of the camp.
It cost the government $11,000 for freight charges for transporting the thirty-three automobile trucks from Nogales, Ariz., to Ayer.
The men who came with the trucks express themselves as much pleased at coming here. One of the greatest advantages here is the excellent water, which they claim cannot be excelled. Another reason for gratitude is the good camping quarters which are much better than the far west country where the land is practically bare, without trees or grass. One of the chauffeurs said that he hadn’t seen more than fifty blades of grass or a bush in five years, until he started north.
The man who is hiring the help for the Ley Construction Company has an “office” on the sidewalk between the Barry block and the railroad station. He jokingly says that his “office” moves wherever he does.
A hospital building is to be built on the camp site to care for sick and disabled employees according to a current rumor. Such buildings are generally erected when such big jobs are under way.
It will be necessary to build no less than eight miles of new track to meet the needs of the mobilization and training camp here. A single track line will encircle the entire camp, enabling the delivery of material and supplies at any point. It will require 1800 carloads of lumber alone to construct the camp, and a regular freight yard force, with switching crews and clerks, will be stationed permanently at the camp.
The large steam shovels arrived on Wednesday. They were unloaded from the flat cars at the West Main street crossing and towed to the camp, where they will be used for excavating purposes.
The men at the camp say it is the hottest place they were ever at. There is practically no shade of any kind in the great area. The nights, however, are uncomfortably cool in the light tents where the men sleep.
Benny White, of Lowell, broke a toe on the left foot while at work on Tuesday. A stone which he and a fellow laborer were handling fell and struck White on the toe.
One who had not visited the camp since the work began would hardly know the place now, everything is so changed. The teams of Contractor Ley are used in widening the former narrow log roads so as to make them better adapted for teaming.
An eight-inch main pipe, connecting with the West Main street line, is being laid this week to the camp site for the purpose of procuring a proper water supply. At present the water has to be carried in pails for long distances, and although several are constantly employed in this work they cannot bring the water fast enough to supply the large force of men. The employees at the camp say that the Ayer water is the best ever.
A trench digger is excavating for the water pipe. This huge machine has been working on the Shirley road, west of the West Main street crossing, during the week and has attracted much attention. The machine digs a trench six feet deep and over two feet wide in a fraction of the time that it would take even a large force of men to do the same work.
Several of the foremen on the huge job of camp construction ride about the large area on horseback during working hours, giving orders to the men. There is so much ground to be covered that horses were found necessary to assist in patrolling the territory properly.
The Baldwin Company, who have restaurants in various parts of the country, has a big job on hand in serving and preparing food for the army of workmen. When meal time comes the workmen take trays and form in a line. As they pass those serving the food each is provided with his share, which is taken to the most convenient spot and eaten. The board costs one dollar per day. The sleeping quarters are provided free.
The speedy way in which the work is being done is a surprise to all. The system all through is perfect.
The Ley Company is building roads for its own use in the main camp. The work is done with great speed.
An unsuccessful attempt to get water near Robbins’ pond was made the first of the week. A very hard clay soil was found several feet below the surface. After going below the hard soil for several feet the attempt was given up.
Scenes about the streets of the town are like those heard of in the boom towns in the west. Men engaged in every conceivable business, from the military work to speculators, are constantly active. Depot square is the principal camping ground.
A large map shaped like a pear has been made of the territory embraced by the camp. Locations are laid out for the various buildings, including Y.M.C.A. quarters, stables and other quarters required when the camp will be ready for use, including a large hospital, aeroplane grounds and room for light and heavy artillery.
Employers of labor find it hard to retain help owing to the big wages paid. Boston union wages prevail in all the skilled trades, and common laborers are paid at the rate of forty cents per hour, or $3.20 for a day of eight hours. The men working ten hours per day make four dollars for that time. One man came in from Hudson, N.H., Tuesday, looking for a job.
The city of Lowell is hard hit as city laborers have left there for the better wages here. As a result the city has not sufficient help to do the work laid out for the summer.
A large number of men came from Boston on Tuesday morning. Three large auto trucks were necessary to convey them to the scene of operations.
There was a parade of the thirty-three government auto trucks from the Mitchelville camp through West Main street on Tuesday afternoon. The long line made an interesting sight. The object of the trip was to “limber up” the machines, which are liable to run hard if left unused too long.
A company from the first regiment of engineers, Massachusetts National Guard, is expected to go into camp by the end of this week. The date for mustering them into the federal service will be made known later. Officers of the regiment have been on the ground the past week, inspecting the cantonment site.