The Westford Wardsman, March 3, 1917
Center. Miss Winnifred Burnham, of Essex, and a former popular teacher at the Frost school, has been the guest several days this week of Mrs. Harold W. Hildreth. Miss Burnham was entertained during her stay by a number of former friends. At the Congregational church Sunday morning, she was present in the choir and sang a pleasing solo, and was also present at the Tadmuck club on Tuesday afternoon. Owing to the illness of her mother Miss Burnham is not teaching this year, but is at home on leave of absence.
L. Everett Marden, who formerly lived in the Westford depot neighborhood, was recently married in his home town, Campton, N.H., to Miss Elizabeth Munroe Pickering.
Miss Mary G. Stevens, of Lowell, was an over Sunday guest of Miss Loker and Miss Bunce.
Mr. and Mrs. James L. Kimball are spending the remainder of the winter in Boston.
Rev. David Wallace, who recently was called to Lunenburg to officiate at the funeral of a former parishioner, made a brief visit in Westford on his way back to Assonet.
Frank E. Miller has purchased a new five-passenger Metz touring car.
Miss Lillian Sutherland has been having a week’s vacation at home from her teaching in Wilmington.
The selectmen have invested the appropriation stated at the recent town meeting for a new piano for the town hall and this week have had installed a handsome Chickering grand concert piano. This takes the place of the worn out square piano that has done duty for so many years. The new instrument is pronounced of fine tone and power by good judges and will be a great addition to the various entertainments at the hall.
The first robins and bluebirds have been reported and people are reminded that spring is close at hand. Some of the wild birds have been much in evidence this season, partridges and pheasants coming much more in the open than usual, the reason probably being that with so much snow this winter the creatures have had to work harder to find food.
L. W. Wheeler has purchased a new five-passenger Maxwell automobile.
Susan P. Colburn, who has been ill for a long time at the home of her sister, Mrs. C. Willis Hildreth, died on Tuesday at the age of 75 years and 29 days. She was formerly a resident of Roxbury. The funeral, which was private, was held at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Hildreth on Thursday afternoon at 2:30 o’clock.
Tadmuck Club. Once again has the Tadmuck club demonstrated its ability to sustain an interesting and capable home-talent afternoon. At the meeting on Tuesday afternoon at the Congregational church the program was in charge of the art committee, Miss Mary G. Balch, chairman. Miss Balch gave a most interesting lecture on “Color harmony,” treating the subject with a thorough knowledge and giving its ethical and practical phases in a way that was interesting to all. Miss Balch used various charts and views to illustrate her subject. At the close of the lecture she was given a hearty vote of thanks.
The club trio balanced the program with pleasing selections, “Winken, blinken and nod” and a “Lullaby.” Mrs. C. A. Blaney, Mrs. W. R. Taylor and Mrs. John Feeney, Jr., accompanied by Miss Julia Fletcher, made up the trio and accompanist.
Miss Howard, the president, prefaced the business meeting by reading the beautiful poem, “The happiness flower.” She also gave a report of the art conference held last week in Littleton. Miss Emily F. Fletcher reported the recent garden conference held in Horticultural hall, Boston. The name of Miss Ethele [sic] Burland was proposed for membership.
The executive committee presented a plan for conducting the annual guest night as follows: Each member to use their own membership ticket, which is not transferable, and to be given one guest ticket, additional tickets to be procured on payment of fifty cents each. After brief discussion the plan was voted upon and unanimously adopted.
The next meeting of the club, on March 13, promised to be most attractive. Mrs. Charles K. Bolton, of Shirley and Brookline, will lecture on “Village life of New England one hundred years ago,” and Miss Marion E. McKnight will sing a group of old-fashioned songs.
War Relief Work. A chance visitor at the J. V. Fletcher library on Thursday of last week would have seen more than twenty ladies very busy with various forms of war relief work gathered about the large circular table in the conversation room. The greater number were at work on ambulance or comfort pillows, a few were knitting socks, mufflers or trench caps, and one was folding and wrapping surgical dressings.
The ladies were pleasantly entertained by the reading of “Mademoiselle Miss,” a most interesting little volume. It is a compilation of selections from the letters of an American young lady who has the position of head nurse in one of the numerous hospitals dotted over western and southern France. [“Mademoiselle Miss,” subtitled “Letters from an American Girl Serving with the Rank of lieutenant in a French Army Hospital near the Marne,” was written anonymously by “the daughter of an ex-Medical Director of the United States Navy” and published in Boston in 1916. It is available on-line at http://www.vlib.us/medical/MMiss.htm.]
It is intended to continue these meetings at the library on Thursday afternoons from 2:30 to 4:30. Those engaged in relief work are invited to bring it to the meetings; others who are interested and wish to help are also cordially invited. Materials will be supplied by the committee in charge.
About Town. Owing to rain and darkness and bad traveling, the attendance on Monday evening in the vestry of the Unitarian church to hear about “Bees,” as set off by Miss Dorothy Wright, of Lowell, was not what would have been had the weather been more pleasant. The lecture was illuminating and offset the bashfulness of the moon. Miss Wright is a graduate of Amherst, with special reference to bee culture, and has got her specialization, study and observation harnessed to sixty bee hives at her home in Lowell. Arthur E. Day was chief in turning the crank of the lantern and he has the thanks of all the sight-seeing people present. Rev. L. H. Buckshorn acted as interlocutor in introducing and voiced all voices in hoping when the summer comes that Miss Wright will be present again.
Miss Viola Whitehead, of Lowell, was soloist singer at the Unitarian church last Sunday. It was to the appreciation of the audience.
“Peg o’ my heart” at the vestry of the Unitarian church last week Friday evening, by Mrs. Nina Spalding, of Lowell, was a stirring and inspiring impersonation of this play. Mrs. Spalding has the gift, both natural and cultivated, to open blind eyes and brighten up unused faculties to see and comprehend her portrayals of life in a new role. Not only was there general satisfaction, but special desire was shown to have her with us again.
Mr. and Mrs. William J. Parfitt, living on Oak hill, were the recipients of a little girl baby on Monday, February 26. Mrs. Parfitt will be remembered as Addie Tallant, who lived for several years on the Stony Brook road. Mr. Parfitt is farmer and general useful man for Hon. Herbert E. Fletcher.
The next meeting of the Woman’s Alliance of the Unitarian church will be held next week Thursday. Subject, “What shall Unitarians teach children?” This thought will be presented by Mrs. Harold W. Hildreth.
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Barnes, of Lowell, have a little daughter, born Friday, February 23. Mrs. Barnes will be remembered as Miss Marguerite Banister, of Banister’s Corner, Westford.
At a meeting of the incorporated milk producers of Lowell and suburban towns, held at Lowell Tuesday evening, it was voted to establish the price of milk for six months at the minimum price of fifty cents per can. This price will begin April 1.
Ralph Bridgeford, Providence road, is ill with typhoid fever. This is the forerunner after being ill with the grippe.
Ralph Crosby, of Arlington, has been visiting at the home of his aunt, Mrs. F. W. Banister.
Farmers Institute. There was an appreciative gathering at the farmers’ institute in Dracut on Wednesday. Every town usually represented was there in numbers to add encouragement to the day. Howard W. Foster, controller of institutes, presided, and introduced C. E. Allen, of Arlington, and lawyer of Boston, who spoke on “Essentials to poultry for profit.”
Keep poultry on best land sand; soil will affect the color of the meat, which it will tend to change from yellow to white. The flesh color of the fowls is affected by soil conditions. For yard room have it large, or if small, change it often. Feed dry mash; it is less work and probably less eggs. Open front for houses, but not too open; every other space should be window glass to allow light when it is down with the curtains to shut out south rains. Have the house arranged to avoid drafts. Visit the poultry at night to discover aliments that are easier discovered on the roost than on the ground, but look out for the other fellow who visits poultry in the night for the purpose of taking account of stock. In the rating of the hen against the incubator for the purpose of hatching, the hen is best.
Exceptions to essentials are always coming up. Poultry have been known to respond profitably in the mud and wet better than others under the best sanitary conditions and feeding, and the latest expert advice in avoiding draft is “give poultry all the draft you can bring to bear.”
Dinner was set forth at noon and a variety entertainment was set forth at the rear time of the dinner. The Titania ladies’ orchestra of Lowell applied music. Miss Helen M. Osgood, of Lowell, delighted with humorous readings, and the speeches were made by Rev. F. W. Tingley, of Dracut Hillside church; Rev. E C. Bartlett, of Dracut; C. E. Allen, lawyer and poultryman; George W. Trull, of Tewksbury, member of the Dairy Bureau; S. L. Taylor, Westford.
The afternoon was given over to C. E. Aiken, of Vermont, on “Small garden fruits.” It was just the advice ordered for the small plot of land man for home use and not advised for the overgrown commercial spirit. The next institute will be held in Tyngsboro on Thursday, March 15. Subject, “Market gardening,” by J. S. Thompson of Newton.
Jolly Party. There was a lively and jolly time last Saturday evening at the home of Mrs. Delia L. Boynton, Chamberlain’s Corner, the occasion being the celebrations of birthdays. The birthday of Miss May Boynton, the daughter, came on Friday, and the birthday of Mrs. Boynton came on Saturday. Games were played and a social time conducted, and as a side issue one verse of “The old oaken bucket” was sung by a fellow [probably Samuel L. Taylor] all by his lonesome. Those who had appetites enjoyed ice cream, cake and cocoa.
Mrs. Boynton was born in Auburn, N.H., eighty-six years ago, and got her book education in that town, but received her experience education largely from managing a large farm since the death of her husband [George P. Boynton] several years ago [1893]. She has been a resident of Westford more than forty years, and on this farm, where she is still in many respects in the prime of life. For many years the family lived in Manchester, N.H., and afterwards in Carlisle, from which place they came to Westford.
Mrs. Boynton has three children, Arthur of Lowell, Edson G. of Medfield, and May, who lives with her mother on the home place.
A shower of birthday cards was one of the main features of the evening. Thirty people is not a large gathering, but they had the goods with them to last until “we won’t go home until morning,” and they lasted and no one fasted from laughter or victuals.
Graniteville. The usual Lenten devotions were held in St. Catherine’s church Tuesday evening and were largely attended. The services consisted of the recital of the rosary by Rev. Henry I. Scott, followed by a very interesting sermon by Rev. James Doran, of Hudson. The service ended with the benediction of the blessed sacrament. The regular choir was in attendance.
The Ladies’ Aid society of the M.E. church held a very successful sale and entertainment in the church vestry last Tuesday and Wednesday, afternoon and evening. The entertainment on Wednesday evening consisted of readings by Mrs. Alice Livingston Gage, of Lowell assisted by local talent. The sale was voted a great success and quite a neat sum was realized in this event.
The Social club of Graniteville held a meeting last Saturday evening in the Methodist vestry followed by an entertaining program and social games.
Under the efficient leadership of Miss Lottie York, nearly all the junior children of the Methodist parish are actively enrolled in the Junior league.
Fred Smith led the Epworth league meeting last Sunday evening in an able and inspiring discussion of “The power of Christ to keep us.”
“Submarine christianity” and “Submarine sin” were the subjects of the pastor’s sermons Sunday morning and evening at the Methodist church.
William J. Healy, who has been on the sick list for the past few days, is slowly improving.
There was no session held in the Sargent school on Monday afternoon, as the teachers were in attendance at a teachers’ meeting in Westford.
Birthday Gathering. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Wall was the scene of a very pleasant gathering on last Sunday afternoon, the occasion being the joint celebration of the birthday anniversaries of Joseph Wall, Miss Etta Wall and Frank Riney. Members of the immediate family were present with Miss Catherine Conley as special guest. The time was pleasantly spent in social intercourse, and was really in the nature of a genuine family reunion.
During the afternoon Miss Rachel Wall was heard in vocal solos and piano selections that were entirely pleasing, while Miss Etta May Sheahan scored a hit with her readings and imitations. Several of the old songs were sung by the entire company, the chorus work being good considering the lack of practice. A bountiful dinner with all the fixings was served by Mrs. Wall, assisted by Mrs. Julia Wall and Miss Rachel Wall.
A pleasing incident in connection with the affair was the presentation of gifts to those in whose honor the day was celebrated. Joe Wall received a gold watch chain, Frank Riney received a box of nice cigars, and Miss Etta Wall was the recipient of a set of bureau scarfs of Mexican drawn work. The gifts were presented by A. R. Wall in behalf of those present, and although the affair was in the nature of a surprise all responded in a fitting manner.
The whole affair was thoroughly enjoyable, and after again wishing the guests of honor all the happy returns of the day, with many more birthdays to follow, the entire company joined in singing “Auld Lang Syne,” and the pleasant birthday party came to a close.
Forge Village. Mrs. Elizabeth Splain died at her home on Union street last Saturday after a short illness. All that loving hands could do and medical assistance to save her proved of no avail. Her life speaks for itself—a woman of silent charity and deeply religious, her resignation to God’s holy will was evident. Her presence will be sadly missed in her home circle and in the village. She was devoted to her children and her one pleasure was to be with them. She was a kind neighbor and always ready to assist the needy. The funeral took place at St. Catherine’s church on Monday morning, Rev. Henry L. Scott officiating. The interment was in St. Catherine’s cemetery.
She leaves to mourn her loss three children—Miss Abbie F. Splain, Mrs. Elmer E. Nutting of this village, and Mrs. Frank A. Rose and four grandchildren of Belmont; also, a sister, Mrs. James Simpson, of Boston.