Turner's Public Spirit, March 11, 1922
A look back in time to a century ago
By Bob Oliphant
“Center. A one-day extension school is to be held at the town hall on Thursday, March 16, beginning at 10:30. Basket lunch at noon, followed by question box and lectures. The men’s section will be in charge of C. B. Fillson, county agent, with two poultry lectures by Prof. William C. Monahan of the State college, and ‘Farm management’ discussed by Mr. Fillson. The women’s section will be in charge of Miss Elizabeth Hendry, home demonstration agent of the County Bureau. A cordial invitation is extended to the people of our neighboring towns to join with us on the above date….
“Morning worship at the Congregational church on Sunday at 10:45. Miss Eva Clarke, an excellent speaker, will give the address in the absence of the pastor. Miss Clarke, whose spiritual and impassioned messages are remembered from New Year Sunday, will speak morning and evening. Young People’s league meeting at 6:30. Evening worship at 7:30.
“George W. Nesmith died Monday at his home, aged 83 years, 11 month, 24 days. He leaves a daughter, Mrs. Eva Kemp of Quincy, a son, Harry L. Nesmith, with whom he made his home, and a brother William H. Nesmith, of California. Funeral services were held at his home on Wednesday afternoon at one o’clock.
“Rev. John H. Blair, pastor of the Congregational church; also, a student at Gordon College of Theology and Missions, Boston, is having a vacation from his duties, spending this week at his home in Philadelphia, and a week from Sunday it is expected that he will spend the day in Waterville, N.Y., where he was formerly pastor. During Mr. Blair’s absence two Gordon students have been secured.
“Frank C. Wright is very ill at his home with influenza.
“Miss Mabel Prescott, telephone operator at the local exchange, is very ill with the influenza.
“The Young People’s league staged a drama at the town hall on last Wednesday evening entitled ‘Down by the sea.’ … Those in the cast were Herbert Shea, Lawrence Ingalls, Fred Robinson, Clifford Johnson, Raymond Shea, Nathaniel Philips, Alice Swenson, Ethel Ingalls, Gladys Ingalls…. The Tadmuck orchestra furnished music during the entertainment.
“At the last meeting of the Westford post, A.L., which was held in the upper hall of the Cavalry building [20 Boston Road] last Monday evening, and also the Auxiliary, which meets the same night in the lower hall, the sessions were followed by a joint meeting….
“A chimney fire at the residence of John C. Abbot occurred shortly after seven o’clock on last week Friday evening. The fire truck responded to a telephone alarm, but hand chemicals were used effectively and no damage resulted.
“About Town. Hon. Herbert E. Fletcher, who recently made a trip to his state quarry in Maine, part of the trip being accompanied with the grippe, has returned home apparently in good health and his usual business enterprise and push.
“Death. On Tuesday morning there entered into her heavenly rest one of the noblest of women, Alta Schellenger Taylor, wife of Samuel Law Taylor.
“Mrs. Taylor was born in Stockholm, St. Lawrence county, N.Y., July 26, 1853, the daughter of Esther Perry and Reuben Riggs Schellenger. Her mother’s family were related to the Commodore Perry family, and her father’s family was among the earliest settlers who came over from Holland to New York. Some of her ancestors served as officers in the American revolution.
“On September 28, 1874, she was married to Samuel Law Taylor, of Westford, and came as a bride to the Taylor homestead, where she resided ever since.
“For nearly half a century she has identified herself with the best interests of the town and was beloved by everyone. She was a charter member of Westford Grange and of the Tadmuck club; a loyal member of the Union Congregational church, of the Ladies’ Aid society and of the W.C.T.U….
“Charles H. Whitney died at the home of his sister in Athol last week Thursday, aged seventy-two years. He was a native of Northfield and was a schoolmate and classmate of Dwight L. Moody [1837-1899], and many interesting anecdotes he has related of their schooldays. [The American evangelist Dwight Lyman Moody was born in Northfield twelve years before Charles Whitney; it is unlikely they were actually classmates in Northfield.] For many years he conducted a successful trucking business in Lowell. This he sold and bought a farm in Westford on the Lowell road, near Bannister’s Corner [junction of Lowell and Providence Roads]. Here he made a specialty of milk, poultry, pigs and small fruits….”
Alta (Schellenger) Taylor died in Westford March 7, 1922. Photo taken c. 1896 when she was on the School Committee. Courtesy Photo / “Souvenir of the Dedication of the J. V. Fletcher Library” (1896), p. 65.