Turner's Public Spirit, May 17, 1924

A look back in time to a century ago

By Bob Oliphant

Center.  Westford academy and the Ayer high school played a game of baseball at the Whitney playground on Wednesday afternoon, the Ayer team winning by the score of 9 to 8.

Recent guests of Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Knight were Mrs. John Hale and Mrs. Harold Sargent, of Brownsville, Vt., and Seth Blanchard of White River Junction, Vt.

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Elliott, of Lowell, have arrived at their summer home.

Miss Eleanor Fletcher is able to be out again after her recent illness.

1. J. Whitney and housekeeper, Mrs. Helena Bartlett, arrived home from Florida on last week Friday.

Mrs. Alice Wells and Miss Eva M. Lord attended the New England health institute and New England conference of Red Cross workers in Boston Friday of last week.

Philip Prescott of Lawrence academy, Groton, spent the weekend at his home in town.

Among the pleasant remembrances on mothers’ day was a telegram received by Mrs. A. H. Sutherland from her son Bertram, who is in San Jose, Calif.

A daughter [Lucy Eleanor Dudevoir] was born to Mr. and Mrs. Charles Dudevoir, Forge Village, Tuesday [May 13, 1924].  The former is well known in this part of the town, having been employed as chauffeur by Julian Cameron for a number of years.

Mrs. Clement, of Maine, is the guest of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Gumb.

The Auxiliary conducted a successful food sale in the town hall on last week Friday.  The posters advertising the affair were the work of Miss Nancy Paterson, and the soliciting was in charge of Mrs. Addie Keizer, Mrs. Joseph Walker, Miss E. M. Lord and Mrs. Alice Wells.

The Ladies’ Aid of the Congregational church held an all-day session at the vestry on Thursday with Mrs. William Roudenbush as hostess.

The supper and comedy, “Neighbors,” by Nova Gale, given in the church last week Friday evening proved a great success in every way.  A second table was necessary in order to accommodate the large number who attended the supper, and the play was thoroughly enjoyed, all the parts being well taken.  Those in the cast were Mrs. Perley Wright, Mrs. William Roudenbush, Miss Edith A. Wright, Mrs. Fred Meyer, Mrs. Harry Ingalls, Miss Lillian Sutherland, Mrs. A. H. Sutherland and Mrs. Perry Shupe.  Mrs. George F. White was chairman of the supper committee, with an able corps of assistants, and Mrs. William Roudenbush was chairman of the entertainment committee.  Before the play the Misses Viola and Marion Day gave a pleasing piano duet.

A report of two games was received too late for last week’s issue, as follows: Cameron school, Forge Village 4, William E. Frost school 22; Littleton 8, Westford 7.  The loss of the above game was reported as being due to poor work in the field and at the bat.

Rev. and Mrs. William E. Anderson left West Virginia on Tuesday for Westford.  Mr. Anderson intended starting on Monday, but owing to a recent auto accident was obliged to change his plans, his car having been badly damaged when struck by another auto.  Mr. Anderson sustained minor injuries and his dog, which was with him, was driven through the windshield.

Miss Evelyn Holman of Chelsea, is the guest of Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Whitney.

Oratorio Society Concert.  The Oratorio society gave their first concert on Monday evening, the attendance being large and the affair proving to be a great success.  The program was as follows: “Soldiers’ chorus,” chorus; “Rondo,” Miss Ridley; “The village blacksmith,” soprano and bass solos and chorus, Edith P. Blaney, Warren K. Hanscom, anvils played by Frederick Baker; “Andantino” and “Spinnlied,” Miss Ridley; “Gipsy life,” solos and chorus, Elva T. Judd, Ellis E. Cram, E. Lillian Sutherland, George D. Wilson; “Sur le lac,” Miss Ridley; “Nightingale,” Mrs. Blaney and chorus; “Hungarian rhapsodie” [sic] Miss Ridley; “And the glory of the Lord,” from the “Messiah,” chorus.

Miss Ridley, violoncellist, proved herself to be a real artist and her numbers were well received.  The solos were well rendered, and the work of the chorus showed the thoroughness of the conductor, Horace N. Killam, of Haverhill, who has been rehearsing the society for their first annual concert, and much of the success of the affair was due to Mr. Killam’s efficient training.

Misses Daisy and Carolyn E. Precious were the accompanists, the former as pianist and the latter as organist.

Active members of the society are Edith P. Blaney, Edna Clements, Viola M. Day, Mary A. Felch, Marion Fletcher, Edna M. Hamlin, Ethel E. Ingalls, Alice E. Johnson, Elva T. Judd, Maud D. Killam, Blanche Lawrence, Marion E. Lord, Lillian E. Meyer, Charlotte Perry, Mildred W. Precious, Gertrude M. Shupe, Florence G. Williams, Bertha L. Whitney, Clara A. Whitney, Edith A. Wright, sopranos; Marion G. Day, Martha M. Disbrow, Hilmer S. Hanson, Bertha Hildreth, Gladys M. Ingalls, Fred Johnson, E. Lillian Sutherland, Elizabeth Wells, Elva T. Wright, Janet Wright, contraltos; Ellis E. Cram, Edward D. Disbrow, W. Raymond Shea, tenors; Fisher Buckshorn, Warren K. Hanscom, Charles L. Hildreth, Lawrence A. Ingalls, Carl Lydiard, William C. Roudenbush, Arthur G. Walker, George D. Wilson, basses; associate members, Miss Leola Bradley, Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Cameron, Miss Gertrude Fletcher, Miss Julia Fletcher, Frederick Hanscom, Mrs. H. V. Hildreth, Percy L. Rowe, Miss Alice Wells, Clarence S. Whitney; executive committee, Warren E. Hanscom, pres.; Gertrude M. Shupe, sec. and treas.; Lillian E. Meyer, Daisy Precious, pianist, Arthur G. Walker, Horace N. Killam, conductor.

The society cordially invites all lovers of music to become either active or associate members.  For information concerning next season’s plans please address the secretary.

A Relic of the Civil War.  A bronze tablet has been placed on the flagstaff at the common by the Improvement association, commemorating the action of our citizens at the breaking out of the civil war in 1861.

The tablet reads as follows: “On April 22, 1861, at a meeting of the citizens of Westford, Sherman D. Fletcher, Marcellus H. Fletcher and George T. Day were chosen a committee to procure a flagstaff for the common.  Abijah Fletcher gave a pine tree grown on his farm from which Cyrus Hamlin made this flagstaff and it was erected May 18, 1861.  The land for this common was bought from Joseph Underwood, March 14, 1748, for five pounds English money.  This tablet was placed by the Westford Improvement association, 1923.”

The sum of $179.98 was raised by subscription for the purpose of erecting a flagstaff and purchasing a flag.  The flag was purchased of Col. William Beals, of Boston, for $60.  On the cross tree of the pole was the motto, “Liberty and union.”  John W. P. Abbot was chairman of the board of selectmen.  The following is his account of the celebration.

“May 18, 1861, Saturday afternoon.  All things being ready, the flagstaff was raised by Samuel Fletcher, of Graniteville, aided by many citizens of the village and other parts of the town.  At two o’clock the stars and stripes were run up amid the cheers and hurrahs of a large collection of men, women and children from all parts of the town, who had assembled to witness the patriotic scene.  The chairman of the committee then called for a song, and ‘The flag of our union’ was sung with a will.  An appropriate and patriotic address was given by the chairman, and then the assembly went into the hall, under the First Parish church.  The chairman again called the meeting to order and prayer was offered by Rev. Edwin R. Hodgman.  Speeches were made by Revs. Leonard Luce, George M. Rice and Edwin R. Hodgman; also, by Col. George F. Sawtelle, of Lowell, and Luther Prescott, Esq., of Forge Village, and after singing another patriotic song the assembly returned to the common and gathering around the flagstaff, with the flag flying aloft, pledged themselves anew to stand by their country and government through weal of woe in the struggle just commenced, and then separated, after giving twelve hearty and rousing cheers for the whole union.”

Following is the address given by Sherman D. Fletcher, chairman of the committee:

“It is a source of gratification to the committee that they were able to procure a tree of suitable size and proportions for the main flagstaff—the growth of our own soil.

“This noble tree doubtless waved its youthful branches during the American revolution, when our fathers went forth to battle to establish that liberty and independence which we have long happily enjoyed, but now is threatened to be overthrown by a wicked and most unholy rebellion.  Since the day of independence was inaugurated, this towering tree reaching far heavenward has invited the eagle in its lofty flight to lodge on its topmost branches—that noble bird, the symbol of American valor.  How appropriate, then, is this staff to bear aloft the stars and stripes of the union!

“The first flag of the United States was adopted by congress June 14^th, 1777, and was in form as follows: The flag of the thirteen United States was composed of thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; the union thirteen stars, white in blue field, representing a new constellation.  By act of congress, June 13, 1794, it was ordered that from the first day of May, 1795, the flag of the United States be fifteen stripes, alternate red and white; the union, fifteen stars, white in blue field.  April 4, 1818, congress enacted that from and after July 4 of that year, the flag of the United States be horizontal stripes alternate red and white the union be twenty stars, white in blue field.  That on the admission of every new state into the union, one star be added to the union of the flag, and that such addition shall take effect on the fourth day of July then next succeeding such admission.  Such is a brief history of the adoption of the flag of our union, which now waves from the top of this liberty pole; and thus may it wave throughout our land to the latest posterity.

“Fellow citizens, sons and daughters of the revolutionary stock, will you quietly permit the stars and stripes emblem of our nationality, which have so long waved o’er us in prosperity, to be now trampled in the dust to give place to the palmetto rattle-snake, or flag of other strange device?  I know your answer will be in the voice of Bunker Hill.  Then let it now and hereafter, as we behold that noble flag, whose folds have so long been a safe passport and protection to American citizens at home and abroad, on every sea and in every clime, inspire us to renewed love and devotion to the union and the constitutional government of our country.

“Behold our motto, ‘Liberty and union.’  Let us here and now resolve in the words of the patriot, whose mortal remains can scarcely repose quietly in the valley of the Hermitage amid the scenes that are now passing—‘The union, it must and shall be preserved.’”[1]

Among those present at the celebration was Company C, 16^th Reg. Mass. Vols., Capt. L. G. King, in which twenty men from Westford had just enlisted.  They took part in the exercises.  This company was being recruited at Groton.  Capt. King was killed at Gettysburg, and many of the men who took part were killed, wounded or died from disease during the war.

Hodgman’s History of Westford, in commenting on the celebration, says: “This was the inauguration of the conflict here, and this the covenant of the people to be loyal and true.  How well that pledge was kept the subsequent action of this town will demonstrate.  It is safe to say that the record is an honorable one, and that no citizen will ever blush with shame when he reads the account of patient endurance and heroic sacrifice even under death.  It was a service illumined by the light of intelligent conviction, warmed by the fire of a true patriotism, and made immortal by the surrender of life at the call of duty.”

We can also add the saying of Calvin Coolidge, which is applicable here—“Look well then to the hearthstone.  Therein all hopes for America lies.”

It is doubtful if there is another flagstaff in the state as old as this and as well preserved.

S.H.F. [Capt. Sherman Heywood Fletcher, son of Sherman Dewey Fletcher]

Church Notes.  First church (Unitarian) Sunday service at 4 p.m.  Music by chorus choir under the direction of Miss Eleanor Colburn, soprano.  Preacher Rev. Frank B. Crandall, the minister.  Subject, “With, therefor like.”  Church school at 3.

The North Middlesex Federation of Y.P.R.U. chapters will meet at Westford on Saturday, forenoon and afternoon, as guests of the Westford chapter.  Morton Seavey will conduct the devotional service.

The annual memorial service of the Methodist, Congregational and Unitarian churches of the township will be held at the First church Sunday morning at 10:15, May 25.  The G.A.R. veterans with members of allied societies and the members of Westford post, A.L., are invited to attend in a body.  Rev. F. B. Crandall [Unitarian Church] will conduct the service, assisted by Rev. Edward Disbrow [Congregational Church] and Rev. A. L. O’Brien [Methodist Church].

On Sunday the preacher will deal with the practical question of companionship, raising the question as to whether association signifies likeness of character.

Graniteville.  A daughter [Barbara Evelyn Fletcher] was born to Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Fletcher in Springfield on Saturday, May 10.  Mr. Fletcher was a former resident here, being the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Harry N. Fletcher.

A mission for the English speaking people of St. Catherine’s church will open on Sunday, May 18, and will continue for one week.  A mission for the French speaking people of the parish will follow a week later.

1. Henry Harrington, the local contractor, is doing the excavating for the addition to the Sargent school here.

A whist party in aid of Cameron circle, C. of F. of A., was held at the home of Mrs. Sophia Hanson on last Wednesday evening.  The affair was largely attended and proved very enjoyable.

The Abbot Worsted baseball club will play the following clubs next week: Everett at Everett Monday, May 19; Lynn Cornets at Graniteville, Tuesday May 29; Thursday, May 22 a postponed game with Reading at Reading is expected to be played.  On Saturday the Abbots will play Silesia of North Chelmsford at Graniteville and on Sunday, May 25, the Abbots will play Woonsocket at Woonsocket, R.I.  Although the season is rather early the Abbots are still tied with the Everett team for first honors in the Greater Boston Twilight League and will try hard to keep it.

Ayer High defeated Westford academy at baseball at Westford on Wednesday afternoon by the score of 9 to 8.

About Town.  We have been summoned “To arms, to arms,” by the Lowell Fish and Game association to which we belong.  This “to arms” call is a movement to back up and duplicate the Dupont Powder Company in its efforts to exterminate the crow.  To the crow the association adds for extermination owls, hawks, red squirrels, wildcats, ferrets and weasels.  They sent out a blank to be filled out with opinions, which I will never sign.

At the attempted sale of the old Joseph Walker homestead last week Thursday afternoon, the terms being “the purchaser must assume the mortgage of $4100,” there were no bids offered, as I have been informed by several parties who had leisure to attend the auction.

William C. Adams, state game warden, in an address before the Lowell Fish and Game association last week, predicted the eventual necessity of establishing a closed season on fishing in this state.  I was sorry not to be able to be present and ask if it were not the same crow that has exterminated so much of our song bird life that is threatening to exterminate our fisheries; hence a necessity of this closed season.  He emphasized the need of wild life sanctuaries in this state where birds and game may be guarded and may increase, to be distributed where needed.  He described in detail the restocking work of the state.  Recently the state has distributed 1,500,000 trout in 4000 miles of stream.  The state spent $28,000 in building the Lawrence fishery and later built the fishway at Pawtucket Falls, Lowell.  Many kinds of fish are seen passing but no salmon, for which the fishways were especially built.  I’ll bet the crows have been catching them.

1. Butterfield, of Lancaster, who came to attend the funeral of his old friend, Julian Whitney, is remaining in town a little while, visiting relatives and friends. At present he is visiting at the Norman Phillips home on the Lowell road, near Westford station. Mr. Butterfield will be remembered by some of us older boys as a former resident of this town, living with his mother on Francis [sic, Frances] hill at the Trueworthy Keyes place.

Mrs. Graves, who bought the small cottage on the Lowell road, where the Mervin Steele family lived for several years, is greatly improving it by adding a piazza and other improvements.  P. Henry Harrington, the well-known contractor of Graniteville and Forge Village, is supervising the work.

We caught a glimpse a few days ago of the first black snake of the season.  We guessed its length about four feet.

We are inclined to shout out about the condition of the Groton road, from where the resurfaced road quits near the Wright schoolhouse to the Groton line.  The roadbed is too narrow in some places for autos to pass in safety.  We recently had occasion to test out this condition by meeting a truck load of logs on a curve driven by Everett Miller.  There were rocks to the right of us and also to the left of us.  Miller, who is one of the best-natured and accommodating men I ever met on the road, after applying the emergency brakes at the same time we did, backed a heavy load of logs up grade while we tooted a warning for all autos fore and aft to prevent monopolizing the impossible of passing, and after Miller had done the reverse grade act, we gave him an encore and passed on the left with just room enough to squeeze in a pumpkin seed flatwise between our wheels and a rock.  This must not be construed as personal fault-finding but in the interest of public safety.

A New Pavement. Here is something useful for the public in this age of demanding better roads, and is from our public-spirited and native townsman, Herbert E. Fletcher, Oak hill, who has large granite quarries in Westford and in Milford, N.H., and slate quarries in Monson, Me.  This development is known as the plutonic paving and is to be tried out by the state and city of Lowell in paving Princeton street boulevard.

Hon. Edward Fisher, president of the Lowell Chamber of Commerce, cooperated with Mr. Fletcher in having the state ask for bids on this particular type of paving.  Plutonic pavement is a granite block pavement even though it is somewhat different from granite block pavement with which the people of Lowell are so familiar.  The blocks, all of which are rectangular, vary in size, but they are brought up to the top level by being set in concert.  Underneath the blocks will be four inches of dry cement; after the blocks are set they will be rolled in order to secure a smooth surface and then the binder of cement will be poured in.  Mr. Fletcher maintains that while his type of road is cheaper to install it will give the full nine inches of granite and cement, which will wear fully three times as long as would ordinary cement which is about the life of regular granite block paving.  He hopes that the installation of the road in the Princeton boulevard will be so successful that the state will use it in other places.

Ayer

News Items.  Mrs. Horatio C. Chase, Mrs. Daniel W. Fletcher, Mrs. Charles E. Sherwin and Rev. and Mrs. Frank B. Crandall motored to Westford Thursday and attended the neighborhood meeting of the Westford Branch Alliance.

The high school nine defeated Westford academy in Westford on Wednesday afternoon by the score of 9 to 8.

Real Estate Transfers.  The following real estate transfers have been recorded from this vicinity recently:

Westford, Claude L. Allen to Arthur E. Storer, land on Long road; Joseph L. Couture to Adelard J. Brule et ux., land on River street.

District Court.  On Thursday morning Fred Willett, of Westford, charged with drunkenness in that town, was before the court and was found not guilty.

Littleton

News Items.  Mr. and Mrs. L. A. Hager attended the choral society concert in Westford Monday evening.

 

[1] At the annual Democratic Jefferson Day dinner held in Washington, D.C., on April 13, 1830, in response to several pronullification speeches and toasts, President Andrew Jackson used these words in a toast to declare his opposition to nullification and proclaim his belief in a supreme, perpetual Union. These words appear on the pedestal of Clark Mill’s equestrian statue of President Jackson in Washington, D.C. The quote was, of course, used widely in the North during the Civil War.