Turner's Public Spirit, May 23, 1925

A look back in time to a century ago

By Bob Oliphant

Center. The academy baseball team defeated the second team of the Lawrence academy, Groton, Monday, by the score of 6 to 1. Roger Hildreth is manager of the academy team.

The pupils of the schools are securing subscriptions for the Ladies’ Home Journal and Saturday Evening Post the money to be used to defray expenses of the athletic association.

The field day program to be given by the schools of the town at the Whitney playground this Saturday afternoon at 1:30 promises to be an affair of interest to parents and friends of the pupils. The program will be as follows: Grand march; salute to the flag; “America,” first and fourth verses; band concert, Abbot Worsted Company band; pageant, Cameron school; calisthenics, all schools; May pole dance, Frost school; exercise, Nabnasset school; exercise, Parkerville school; folk dancing, Sargent school; Schlaug ball, all schools; baseball, Sargent vs. Frost; winning team vs. Cameron school; relay races, all schools; ensemble, “Star Spangled Banner,” first verse. Hearty thanks is extended to all who have helped to make this field day a success.

The Legion Auxiliary will conduct a food sale in the lower town hall on Friday afternoon, June 5.

The fire department answered calls to a chimney fire at the home of Mr. Babcock, Parkerville, last week Friday evening, and a brush fire in the north part of the town on Sunday.

The Missionary society of the Congregational church met at the home of the Misses Atwood [4 Graniteville Road] on Wednesday afternoon.

The ladies of the Legion Auxiliary are requested to meet at the Congregational church on Sunday morning at 8:30 to attend the union memorial services in a body.

The funeral of the late George Walker was held from his home on Thursday of last week. The services, which were private, were conducted by Rev. Edward Disbrow of the Congregational church. The bearers were relatives of the deceased. Interment was in Fairview cemetery, where the committal prayers were read by Mr. Disbrow.

Master Parker Gillespie, of Lowell, who entertained in such a pleasing manner on Friday evening of last week at the Congregational supper and entertainment, was to broadcast from one of the Boston radio stations on May 22.

Supper and Entertainment. The supper and entertainment given in the Congregational vestry on last week Friday evening proved a great success. The large number present enjoyed an excellent supper and a fine entertainment. Miss Edith Wright was in charge of the entertainment, and the manner in which the program was presented spoke for the painstaking efforts on the part of Miss Wright. Master Parker Gillespie, of Lowell, gave some of the Scotch songs in Highland costume made famous by Harry Lauder; also, some sailor songs in costume. Although only five years of age Master Gillespie displays unusual talent as an entertainer. Miss Jean Gillespie was his accompanist. Master William Prescott, as the director of the “Toy Town Symphony orchestra,” and in his solo, “A scout of Uncle Sam,” proved himself a young artist of great ability. In fact, all the children did exceptionally well in their parts.

The program was as follows: Piano duet, Marion and Viola Day; song, “We’re little tots,” Rita Edwards, Doris Peterson, William Prescott, Betty Young, Priscilla Greig, Roger Bosworth, Ivan and Gordon Whitney, Everett Miller; recitation, written by Elizabeth Cushing Taylor, Ivan Whitney, Charlotte Foster, Gordon Whitney, Doris Peterson, Charles Lydiard, Priscilla Greig, Everett Miller; poems, written by Elizabeth Cushing Taylor, Ivan Whitney, Doris Peterson, Charles Lydiard, Priscilla Greig, Everett Miller, Betty Young, Roger Bosworth; solo, “A scout of Uncle Sam,” William Prescott; recitation, “Farmer Boggs,” Inez Blaney; selection, Toy Symphony, orchestra; recitation, “Golden keys,” Astrid Weckman; solo, “Roaming in the gloaming,” Parker Gillespie; recitation, “The ball,” Charlotte Foster; song, Japanese lullaby, Vivian Hildreth, Elizabeth Bosworth, Phyllis Wright, Lillian O’Brien; recitation, “My car,” Harold Wright; selection, orchestra; dialogue, “For others,” Olive and Ruth Hanscom; solo, “Grandma’s advice,” Rita Edwards; recitation, “The crow’s children,” Ruth Mateer; solo, “We parted on the shore,” Parker Gillespie; recitation, “A little boy,” Everett Miller; song, “Better be good,” Vivian Hildreth, Elizabeth Bosworth, Olive Hanscom, Priscilla Greig, Rita Edwards, Phyllis Wright, Lillian O’Brien; selection, orchestra.

The following ladies were in charge of the supper: Mrs. Arthur Wilson, Miss Florence Wilson and Mrs. Mervin Steele, assisted by Mrs. Henry Wilder, Mrs. George A. Kimball, Mrs. Joseph Walker, Mrs. Harry Nesmith and Mrs. Warren Hanscom.

The entertainment was in charge of Miss Edith Wright, assisted by Mrs. Flora Edwards, Mrs. Warren K. Hanscom and Mrs. Benjamin Prescott. About $50 will be realized as the proceeds of the affair.

About Town. There was quite a white visible frost in the Stony Brook valley on Tuesday morning to those who rise by daylight saving time; but to those who come and go, sleep and wake up by the Old Farmers’ Almanac timetable there was no white frost Tuesday morning. That is one of the disadvantages of daylight saving time—you are more likely to have frosty mornings.

On Tuesday the Old Oaken Bucket farm received a first-prize county ribbon for seed corn at the Middlesex station seed corn show, which reads: “Sears-Roebuck Agricultural Foundation, county sweepstakes, National Seed Corn Show, March 2-7, 1925, Chicago.” This corn tested out 100% germination and free from disease. It was planted early on sod ground with only a handful of fertilizer in the hill.

Associate County Agent J. W. Dayton expects to be in town Tuesday, May 26. Farmers who have any matters which they wish to discuss with him at their farm on that date will be visited if they communicate with their local director, Clifford Johnson.

In the town hall on Monday evening, May 25, the Extension Service will present Joseph Depew and Helen Rowland in [the 1922 film] “Timothy’s Quest,” a 7-reel motion picture of exceptional merit.

Fire. The small town of Dunstable came in for a $15,000 fire last Sunday evening, when the large set of farm buildings on the old Roby farm were totally destroyed by fire. The fire started in the large barn, which was completely engulfed in flames when discovered. The Dunstable fire department made a quick response, besides volunteers, but it was evident that they could not cope with so large a fire and a call for help was sent to Nashua. A combination truck under Capt. William E. Whitney responded in an emergency run, but the barn was beyond saving when the company arrived, and the firemen attempted to prevent the spread of the fire to the shed which connected the house and barn. Such was the on-rushing fierceness of the fire that the firemen were unable to prevent the house taking fire. Realizing this, all efforts were directed in saving the furnishings of the house; in this the firemen and others were successful in accomplishing.

This set of farm buildings were on the road from Dunstable to Nashua, about a mile north of the center of the town, and in one of the most sightly localities in Dunstable. The house was a handsome old-fashioned New England house with old-fashioned large framed timbers, hewed out in the days when there were no prospects that we would ever come to the days of agitating forestry. For more than three hours the buildings burned fiercely and did not collapse until the big, massive timbers burned through. Although the fire started before nine o’clock it was well into midnight before the buildings were levelled to the ground. Located on so high an elevation it made a spectacular blaze for miles around.

This substantial set of buildings and farm was always known as the Roby farm, because of its long line of transmission from that family. This was the early home of Capt. Christopher Roby and well and pleasantly remembered as the first captain of the Spalding Light Cavalry. We think it could properly be said that these farm buildings were the largest and most substantial in the town of Dunstable and their passing is sad—like the passing of long-time, old familiar friends. At the time of the fire they were owned by Byron H. Brow, formerly of Westford but in Florida at the time of the fire, and the buildings were unoccupied.

Death. George G. Stetson, one of the oldest residents of North Chelmsford, died suddenly at his home on Middlesex street last week Friday morning. He was in his eighty-first year and was well known locally, where he had resided for seventy-five years. He was a civil war veteran, serving through the entire war. During the last year of the war he was taken prisoner and was incarcerated in Andersonville prison camp until the end of hostilities. We are especially interested in Mr. Stetson as a gallant soldier of the civil war. He enlisted in Company B, 11th Massachusetts Regiment with William Ross Taylor, half-brother of your correspondent [Samuel Law Taylor]. They were in the fighting Joe Hooker brigade and faced plenty of the hell side of war. Previous to his retirement six years ago he was employed as a mechanic by the Silesia mills. He will be remembered by many as a former member of the Spalding Light Cavalry, in which he showed his civil war military training.

The funeral took place last Sunday afternoon from his home in North Chelmsford, the services being conducted by Rev. Percy E. Thomas of the First Congregational church of Lowell and was attended by many relatives and friends. Interment was in the family lot in Riverside cemetery, North Chelmsford. Thus is laid to rest the fast approaching last of the brave soldiers of the old fighting 11th Massachusetts regiment.

Graniteville. A big field day in which all the school children in the town will take part will be held on the Whitney playground in Westford Saturday afternoon, May 23. The Abbot Worsted Co. band will furnish music and a very interesting and pleasant time is anticipated. It is expected that this affair will be very largely attended.

The Abbot Worsted Co. baseball club and the Nashua team will meet for the first time this season at Abbot park Sunday afternoon at three o’clock. Boyce will pitch for the Abbots and Ray, formerly of the Gardner team, will be on the firing line for Nashua.

Wedding. A very pretty wedding took place here Monday afternoon, May 18, when Miss Emma Wood, daughter of Mrs. Mary Wood, of this village, and Frederick Ambrose of Yonkers, N.Y., were united in marriage in St. Catherine’s rectory at five o’clock by Rev. A. S. Malone.[1] The bride was attended by her sister, Miss May Wood, and Edward Foster was best man. The bride was attired in a costume of powder blue crepe with hat of the same prevailing shade and carried a bouquet of bridal roses. The bridesmaid’s costume was of yellow crepe with hat to match and she carried yellow carnations. Immediately after the ceremony the bridal party returned to the bride’s home where a luncheon was served to members of the immediate family and intimate friends. After the luncheon a reception was held that was largely attended, many being present from out of town. The bridal couple were the recipients of many beautiful wedding gifts and will start in on their new life with the best wishes of a wide circle of friends. In the early evening Mr. and Mrs. Ambrose left on a honeymoon trip that will be spent in New York and Atlantic City, and on their return they will reside in Ayer where they will be at home to their friends after July 1.

Ayer

District Court. On last Saturday morning a complaint against Henry O’Brien of Westford was continued until May 25 at the request of his attorney, D. J. Murphy, of Lowell.

Arthur LaMey [probably Lamie], of Westford, charged with drunkenness in that town, was found guilty and fined $15.

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

Westford, Frank W. Dorr to Agda M. Danielson, land on Forge pond; Theophile Laurin to Anna M. Barris, land on Long road; Viola E. Olney to Katherine Bogdonoff, land on Nabnassett pond; Julia T. Sheehan et al to Walter Lassonde.

[1] Per the Massachusetts Certificate of Marriage dated Westford, May 18, 1925, Frederic Cook Ambrose, 35, a soldier of Boston, born in Southborough, Mass, married Emma Mary Wood, 29, of Westford, born in Clinton, Mass., on May 18, 1925 at St. Catherine’s Church, Westford. He was the son of Frederic M. Ambrose and Mary Cook, and she was the daughter of Frank G. Wood and Mary F. Keely. The wedding was performed by Rev. A. S. Malone, Clergyman.