The Westford Wardsman, May 26, 1917
Center. Samuel H. Balch is the newly-appointed man for carrying the mail between Westford depot and the Center, succeeding Mrs. Frank C. Bannister, who recently resigned after a service of eight years. Walter Fletcher and Frank Johnson have been the substitutes during the interim between Mrs. Bannister’s resignation and the new appointment.
The already overtaxed fire-fighters were called to a bad woodland fire on Monday afternoon in the vicinity of Forest [sic] road, which burned over considerable territory. The heavy rain later in the week has been very welcome as a preventive of woodland fires.
Mrs. Gertrude C. Skidmore, of Somerville, was in town the first of the week.
The reading circle of the Tadmuck club met last week Friday afternoon at the home of Mrs. Goldsmith H. Conant at Parkerville. There was a good attendance present to read the third in the series of contemporary drama. The [1896] play, “Michael and his lost angel,” by [the English dramatist] Henry Arthur Jones [1851-1929], was the study of the afternoon.
A group of Westford Grangers were in attendance at Acton Grange Tuesday evening to witness the conferring of the third degree on a class of candidates by the ladies’ degree staff and the fourth degree by the regular officers, followed by a harvest supper.
Mrs. George H. Holt, of Chelmsford, who was taken ill and seriously threatened with pneumonia while visiting Mrs. J. Herbert Fletcher, is improving each day although not able to return to her home.
The newly-purchased Victrola, with some well chosen records, has been installed at the academy and is much appreciated by the pupils.
A delegation representing Westford Cavalry association was in attendance at the funeral of Webster C. Robbins, Acton, last Sunday, the deceased being a member of this association and having many friends in this town.
Miss Marjory Seavey returns this week for the summer vacation from her studies at Boston university. Mrs. Moran, who has been acting as housekeeper at the Seavey household during the winter, returns to her own home.
On Friday evening, June 1, there will be a meeting at the town hall of the Westford Boy Scouts and Camp Fire Girls of Boxborough, to which the public is invited by payment of a nominal fee. A good attendance of interested friends is hoped for this demonstration and explanation of the plans and purposes of these two organizations.
Mrs. Louis H. Buckshorn and Mrs. H. V. Hildreth have been in attendance at “anniversary week” meetings in Boston this week, sessions full of interest to all loyal Unitarians.
An up-to-date new switch board is being installed this week at the central telephone office [58 Main St.] to supplement the one already in use. At the time this first one was installed it was considered quite adequate for its use at that time and for considerable expansion. This was when the telephone was installed in occasional house-holds and not as now a part of the equipment in almost every well established household. The addition of this new switchboard is expected to be sufficient for the maintenance of the established standard of good service at this office.
There will be no services Sunday morning at the churches at the Center, the union memorial service being held this year with the Methodist church in Graniteville. After the service any who carry lunches, intending to make the round of the cemeteries in the afternoon will be furnished with hot coffee and tables. The courtesy of the loan of automobiles for the veterans, sons and daughters of veterans, and singers for the afternoon visitation to the cemeteries would be thoroughly appreciated by the Westford Veteran association.
There will be the usual evening services at the Congregational church on Sunday evening.
The Red Cross benefit whist party Wednesday afternoon at the town hall has been the social event of the week. Mrs. William R. Carver was the hostess of the day and those who so ably assisted her in the carrying out of all details to make the afternoon successful were Mrs. V. C. Bruce Wetmore, Mrs. John Feeney and Mrs. H. V. Hildreth. There were about thirty tables taken, auction bridge being played at some, and plain whist at others. Delicious refreshments of fruit punch and sandwiches were served in the ante-room. The score cards were in Red Cross design. Guests were present from Littleton, Chelmsford, Lowell and Concord, as well as the representative attendance from Westford. No prizes were offered for every penny went to swell the fund for the Red Cross work. Fully forty dollars will be realized from the event and an afternoon of social enjoyment by all present rounded out the afternoon’s success.
Alexander A. Cameron, son of Mr. and Mrs. Julian A. Cameron, who enlisted in the wireless corps, is now stationed at the wireless station at Rockland, Me.
Mrs. J. Herbert Fletcher, who entertained two tables of whist at the Red Cross benefit whist Wednesday afternoon, preceded the party with a delightful ladies’ luncheon at her home. The out-of-town guests present were Mrs. Edward Fisher, Mrs. Frederic A. Snow and Mrs. Elliot F. Humiston. Mrs. Herbert E. Fletcher also entertained her group of guests at luncheon at her home preceding the afternoon’s party.
About Town. A few additional and interesting facts in regard to the late Samuel Naylor, which were not available last week, will more fully complete the sketch given last week. He was born in Kendall, England, on February 11, 1848, and came to America when three months old with his parents, Joseph and Hannah Naylor, being one of seven children, of whom four are living. On May 19, 1867, he married Miss Amanda Melvina Decater. The ceremony was performed by Rev. W. W. Parker, of Groton, who will be remembered by the older residents of Groton as well as by your correspondent as a gentleman of exceptional culture and geniality.
For the benefit of the “scared ones” and the “hold-backs” in the spring against early planting of corn, the department of agriculture sends out some advice based on proven facts. Seed corn of strong germination can be planted several weeks earlier than ordinary seed. Ordinary seed will rot where proper seed will not. Valuable points in connection with seed of strong germination are its ability to stand planting earlier to utilize more full the growing season to mature earlier and to produce a larger and a better matured crop. With seed corn of strong germination the ten days more of growing weather so much needed in autumn can be secured by planning several weeks earlier than usual. With seed of strong germination no fear need be felt because of cold soils or frosts. A good root growth will take place and the growth above ground will be so slow and hardy that it will withstand cold weather and frosts better than later planted corn. It is the fall frosts that should be feared rather than the spring frosts.
Hon. Herbert E. Fletcher has been ill with bronchial difficulties at his home on Oak hill. Dr. Wells has been in attendance and everything is clearing up.
The recent spring census of the farms of New York state to get an estimate of the proposed planting brought out a demand for 27,000 bushels of spring wheat for sowing. This means 27,000 acres, not much of course, as western farmers plan to sow, but quite a revival for a state near enough to be the western boundary of Massachusetts. In town, the Read-Drew farm are planning on planting two bushels of shelled corn for husking; this means about eight acres. Upon Milestone hill Blodgett Bros. are planning a large acreage of husking corn beside the silo corn. They have recently finished setting an acreage of apple trees.
At the vestry of the Unitarian church last Saturday evening a complimentary supper was given to the choir and Sunday school. An excellent supper of ice cream and the cream of much else was served. This was followed by a piano duet, Misses Mildred and Marion Fletcher; song “Our flag waving oe’r us,” Alice, Ruth, Freda Johnson and Mildred and Marion Fletcher; piano solo, Miss Freda Johnson; duet, “Sweet and low,” Misses Ruth and Freda Johnson; [the play] “The three wishes,” Miss Mabel Drew, Mrs. Harold W. Hildreth, Morton Seavey, Gordon Seavey, Fisher Buckshorn. This short play was finely acted, as well as the whole program. “Good night,” so appropriate for closing, was rendered by the Misses Ruth, Alice and Freda Johnson and Mildred and Marion Fletcher.
Rev. L. L. Greene, of Chelmsford, conducted the service at the Unitarian church last Sunday and gave a stirring sermon on “Our faith.”
Supt. Henry Smith, of Graniteville, reports having potatoes up. Ditto at the Old Oaken Bucket farm [70 Lowell Rd.].
The Old Oaken Bucket farm folks are planning on an acreage of white beans along side of the Stony Brook railroad. The rows are liable to be half a mile long like this. There being no division fence between said Old Oaken Bucket farm and land of George C. Moore, the said rows of beans will start at the Stony Brook road and are liable to continue to the dam at Brookside—a half a mile stretch. A little overlapping must have a little overlooking in a food emergency.
The recent death of Mrs. Estella (Glynn) Ranke at Astarin, L.I., recalls her helpfulness in the Fortnightly club in North Westford when assisting her aunt, Mrs. E. J. Gamil, in East Groton. These visits were frequent and all members of the Fortnightly club recall the helpfulness of her individuality.
William Pollock has sold his farm on the Cold Spring road to Lowell parties and they have already started the plough and all it stands for.
The Old Oaken Bucket farm folks had a delightful visit last Saturday from Mr. and Mrs. Myron P. Swallow, of Groton.
Grange. The last meeting of the Grange was observed as “veterans’ night,” and open to the public. The civil war veterans were guests and occupied reserved seats. An audience of 250 persons represented all parts of the town. The entertainment was in charge of Mrs. Alfred W. Hartford and Mrs. Frank C. Miller, both daughters of veterans. William Carpentier and Everett Miller, two young youthful boys, in the role of soloists, responded several times to an appreciative audience. Selections by the Mandolin club, from Graniteville; songs, Graniteville quartet, Henry Smith, Oscar Nelson, Robert McCarthy, Clarence Burne; Westford quartet, Messrs. Banister, Burland, Day and Cummings; reading, Mrs. Perley E. Wright; solo, Robert McCarthy; piano duet, Mrs. Sebastian Waston [sic] and Miss Julia H. Fletcher; duet, Messrs. Cummings and Burland; solo, Mrs. C. P. Blaney; tableau, Miss Dunn, Gordon Seavey, Elizabeth Wells; national airs played by Miss Fletcher and Mrs. Watson, with the audience in a closing grand round-up in “The Star Spangled Banner,” made a very enjoyable program. Every item was so well received that the receiving was compelled to have an extension of time.
Graniteville. Joseph Heroux died at the Worcester state hospital on Monday, May 14, aged 52yrs. 1 mo. and 19 days. He leaves a wife and two daughters, Albertina and Alice, also three sons, Alfred, Horace and Henry Heroux. The funeral took place from his late home here on Friday morning of last week and was largely attended. Relatives and friends were present from Lowell, Boston and Danvers. At nine o’clock a funeral mass was celebrated in St. Catherine’s church by Rev. Henry L. Scott. The regular choir was in attendance and sang the Gregorian chant. There were many beautiful floral tributes. Burial was in St. Catherine cemetery.
Joseph Carpentier, jr., has recently joined the colors and is stationed at Fort Slocum, N.Y.
The members of Cameron circle, C.F. of A., held a well attended meeting in their rooms on Tuesday night with Miss Marion Lord, chief companion, in the chair. At the close of the meeting a social hour was enjoyed, during which lunch was served.
The usual May devotions were held in St. Catherine’s church on Tuesday evening and were largely attended. The services were conducted by the pastor, Rev. C. P. Heaney.
Much planting is going on here at the present time.
Peter Healy has recently returned from Chicago and is now employed with the C. S. Sargent Sons Corp.
Memorial Sunday. On Memorial Sunday, May 27, there will be union services held in the M.E. church here, in which the pastors of the different churches in the town have been invited as well as the general public. The sermon will be delivered by the pastor, Rev. A. S. Fite. The members of George S. Boutwell post, G.A.R., with the Sons and Daughters of Veterans and the W. R. C. of Ayer, will also be present. After the services luncheon will be served the Westford veterans and invited guests. At one p.m. the entire party will leave by auto for the different cemeteries in the town to decorate the graves of deceased soldiers and sailors. The special G.A.R. service will be held at all the cemeteries and there will be community singing by the different church choirs, male quartets and others. The whole affair promised to be given on a much larger scale than formerly and the committee in charge respectfully requests all auto owners to kindly give the use of their cars for next Sunday afternoon to convey the veterans and singers. Kindly notify W. O. Hawkes. Have the autos ready to leave from the M.E. church at one p.m. next Sunday. [George Sewall Boutwell (1818-1905) was born in Brookline and as a young man worked as a schoolteacher and shopkeeper in Groton before studying law and entering politics. He served in the Massachusetts State Legislature and then two terms as Governor. He was the first U.S. Commissioner of Revenue. He served in the U.S. House, was Treasury Secretary under President Grant, and then served as a U.S. Senator from Massachusetts. He died and is buried in Groton. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_S._Boutwell for a more complete biography.]
Littleton
Camp Life in Plattsburg. Letters from [Albert] Benjamin Conant [A.B. Harvard 1913] give somewhat of an insight into life at Plattsburg [officers training camp]. With study, conference and drill, time does not hang heavy on the hands of Uncle Sam’s officers in training. They have about two hours of study and conference for every hour of drill. The physical part of the work cannot be very hard or continued since time is so limited that the boys cannot hope to become well drilled troops but, at best, good instructors. Newspaper reports about luxuries at Plattsburg are overdrawn. The life is hard and personal comforts are few. Mr. Conant says, however, that he has heard no complaining or grumbling. Everyone there is in dead earnest to do his duty as he sees it. He likes the men, the work, the life, and all. The boys live in bunks in big buildings holding 160 men. They eat in big open air mess rooms, and bath in open air showers. Their quarters are new, but look like long stables. The food has fallen off in quality and quantity, but as an investigation is on foot there are hopes. In one of his letters Mr. Conant says, “I am a corporal tomorrow, a sergeant, Monday, guide Tuesday, and a private again Wednesday.” Letters are much appreciated as they are the only tie to old friends and old interests.
Ayer
News Items. Chief Beatty has made preparations to meet the conditions that may arise when the camp is ready for use. Thirty-five special officers have been appointed to assist in the work of suppressing disorder. Added to this force are the chief, Officer Mills, and the four constables. Four or five regular uniformed patrolmen may also be added. There will also be military police appointed, who will assist the local force.
Camp Notes. Capt. Charles O. Bonner and Major Irving J. Hunt, of General Edwards’ staff, were in town again Wednesday, settling the matter of leases with the land owners where the camp is to be located. There are so many owners that it will require considerable time yet to get all the leases signed. Over 2000 acres had been leased at the close of their work here Wednesday evening. The business was transacted in the office of the clerk of the district court.
The Fitchburg Y.M.C.A., at a meeting Monday night, raised $10,000 for a building and equipment for the use of the new recruits.
It is reported that the Western Union Telegraph Company and the New York and New England Telegraph and Telephone Company will have two main offices on the camp grounds, and that the telephone operators will be increased to fifty or more than the present number to handle the vast volume of business.
Reporters and camera men from Boston and other cities are constantly coming and going to the camp getting news and photographs for their papers. One reporter of a Boston daily paper was sent here to get a “funny” story about the town for a few hours. He said that he expected to find that the people here were “rubes” with outlandish ways. It wasn’t long before he found out his mistake.
Brigadier General Edwards was in town this week on business. Later, he went to the Groton School, where the school company drilled in his honor. Many teamsters are wanted at the camp. The enlistment in this branch so far has been small. Two auto truck companies of fifty-eight men each have been mustered into service at the South armory, Boston, and it is expected that they will soon be sent here for work.
Seven new hospital companies are to be raised under the direction of J. Frank Hall, of Lowell. The hospital companies will have about 150 men and the ambulance companies 85.
The camp will be over ten miles long and 2000 buildings are to be erected, including quarters for the men and stables for 10,000 horses. It is expected that work will begin June first. The time for the troops’ arrival is rather indefinite. It is said that there will be from 10,000 to 25,000 men here about the middle of July, providing that the camp is all ready to receive that number. The magnitude of the camp amazes everybody who comes to town. It probably covers more ground than any other in the country.
The cottage and dance pavilion on the hill in Mitchellville [on the border of Ayer and Shirley], owned by L. W. Phelps, will, it is said, be used for officers’ headquarters. The view from this point is excellent and points can be seen twenty miles away without the aid of glasses.
One of the greatest questions to be solved is the transportation problem. The handling of the great number of troops and thousands of visitors who will come to visit them will put a tremendous task on the electric and steam roads. The roads are getting busy to meet the problem and new tracks are expected to be laid soon.
Col. Beaumont B. Buck was again in town this week Friday on business connected with the camp.
It is probable that the Boston and other papers will have a regular staff of writers stationed here permanently to cover the military news.
A Letter. The following letter was sent to the Boston Traveler by Henry C. Sherwin, condemning the article that appeared in the Boston paper belittling Ayer.
To the Editor of the Boston Traveler:
I take it for granted that your “Reuben Greene,” who called the “assembly” at Ayer in the war extra edition last night, had no deliberate intention to malign this town or its people—but newspapers are read far and wide, and many reading the article would not at least, be favorably impressed—with possibilities if not probabilities of resulting injury. Naturally we are jealous, a condition which is universal, and would seriously regard a willful perversion of the truth. To be sure we are small in area and small in population, but aside from our steam and electric facilities, and I will also except our flag factory, now doubling many times its normal output of “Old Glory,” we invite comparison with towns of our size in New England, or even in the United States, not of course, including specialties.
We have several “wayside puddles,” and the “slate colored” water, mentioned in the article is distributed by the largest ice company in Boston when frozen. And that is not all about our water. We have a water wagon. It has maintained the right-of-way here for a long time. And then again as a prerequisite we presented our water power (another puddle) with both steam and electric auxiliaries all ready, and when the piping is put in to deliver to horse ad foot a full ration.
Referring to the writer’s “stoop shouldered shop keepers,” it is both silly and untimely.
This is a market town, and we have many stores of all kinds, and more than one “drug store.”
And our fire prevention (another puddle), one instant exposure and one square hit might induce a revised edition of our whilom newspaper visitor and wisely determine him not to be again interviewed by the night watchman.
I have been a constant resident of this town since 1869, always taking an active part in town affairs, and I think in justice to ourselves and all concerned that this letter should be promptly published.
H. C. Sherwin.
Ayer Site Chosen for Camp. While the location of the military camp here was a foregone conclusion for the past few weeks, the matter was officially settled last week when the war department notified Brigadier General Clarence R. Edwards, head of the newly created Northeastern division, with headquarters in Boston, that the government had accepted his recommendations for the location of the camp in Ayer. At once plans were underway to prepare for the coming of the 30,000 to 35,000 men who are expected to come here within the next few weeks.
Col. Isaac W Littell, quartermaster’s department in Washington, will have general charge of the work of the construction of the Cantonments and camps for the regular army, national guard and national army. All surveys and other information secured by the army engineers and other officers investigating the subject will be made known to Col. Littell.
Col. B. F. Cheatham, department quartermaster, has had blue prints prepared of the entire land to be used and various arrangements have been outlined. An army officer will be permanently located in the camp ground and Col. Cheatham will appoint an assistant camp quartermaster. His staff has been enlarged by one officer of the regular army, Major T. F. Dwyer, and seven reserve officers, Major E. E. Davis and Capts. Robert Bonner, Joseph C. Benson, Joseph H. Lane, Ledyard Cogswell, Julian Codman and Franklin J. Burnam.
Dr. McLaughlin, of the State Board of Health, has impressed upon Gov. McCall the urgent necessity of placing sanitary organizations in the field at once. The work would require the full time of one district health officer, one assistant, sanitary engineer, two sanitary inspectors, one food and drug inspector, three public health visiting nurses and staff and expenses of a small contagious hospital.
Dr. McLaughlin said “within a radius of ten miles from Ayer as a center there are 15 towns with populations ranging from 800 to 3000. Manifestly these towns are unable to finance a proper health organization and it would be unfair to expect that of them. Experience in England and France has proved that to avoid disaster the complete sanitary organizations should be in the field long before the recruits begin training.”
Gov. McCall, in discussing the matter of police protection, said that he did not think the ordinary local constabulary or their machinery for enforcing the law existing within the small towns affected would be adequate to cope with the moral evils and sufficient to secure a due enforcement of existing law. He recommended that a supplementary force be organized for carrying out the law.
Recruiting for ten additional truck companies and twenty wagon companies for the quartermaster’s corps is now going on and several are now ready for service, including one each from Worcester and Springfield.
Stand Up for Ayer. Recent events have brought Ayer prominently into the public mind. Our town will soon be one of the best known places in New England, if not in the United States, because the big camp here probably will be occupied before any of the proposed camps in other sections of the country are well under way. Universal military service is a new thing in America and there will be great curiosity to see and hear about the first camp of soldiers selected under the new scheme.
We shall be interviewed, sketched, photographed and written up in newspapers and magazines. And, as many people believe everything they see in print, it is very important that distorted, unfair or untruthful descriptions of our town or its people should not be published. And this is a matter which depends to a large extent upon ourselves. The editors of newspapers and magazines want the truth and their agents are paid to get it. But occasionally a reporter finds it easier to draw upon his imagination than make an honest investigation of the subject he writes about. We should treat our visitors courteously and afford them every opportunity to see things as they are. But we should impress upon them that we have a good deal of self respect and that we resent any attempt to ridicule us either in print or in speech, in public or in private. Let us stand up for Ayer at all times and in all places.
Such of our people as read the article in the Boston Traveler of May 18th on Ayer will appreciate the need of carrying out the views above expressed and will see by the following correspondence between one of our citizens and the able editor of the Traveler one way of doing it.
May 21, 1917.
Mr. Robert Lincoln O’Brien, Editor,
The Boston Traveler,
171 Tremont St., Boston, Mass.
Dear Sir—My personal regard for you and my good feeling toward the Herald and Traveler impel me to call your attention to an article in the Traveler of May 18th on the town of Ayer written by Reuben Greene. Mr. Greene, I assume, is one of your special writers who is employed not so much to exercise his imagination and indulge his sense of humor as to get facts of interest to your readers. I read some weeks ago in an editorial by Uncle Dudley apropos of the reported “heavy firing off Cape Cod” and “U-boat fires torpedo at U.S. Warship” that the newspapers did not intend to publish false reports and were deceived by what they believed to be reliable reports.
The article by Mr. Greene is a deliberate misrepresentation of the characteristics of the town of Ayer which is deeply resented by its people. One would get the impression from reading the article that Ayer is a sleepy, decaying, farming town which has just been aroused from its long slumber by the proposition to establish the new army camp there. Nothing could be further from the truth. While the population is not large and some of the buildings on the railroad land near the station are not particularly imposing, Ayer is a busy railroad town and there are not more than a half dozen places in New England where more railroad men are employed. Its business men are progressive and its people are wide awake. It is almost impossible to find a vacant tenement there. There are not more than half a dozen farms in town and no farmers of the stage type pictured by Greene.
Nor have the people stopped work to discuss the coming of the camp and its probable benefits to the town. While everybody has felt it a patriotic duty to cooperate with the government officials in making the necessary arrangements with property owners, there is no doubt that a great majority of the people would have preferred to have the camp located elsewhere. If you should feel like writing up the town again, kindly keep Mr. Greene at home and send someone who will write about what he sees and hears on the trip. The people will be glad to furnish all the information they have and the result out to be fairer to the town as well as to your paper.
Yours very truly,
John M. Maloney.
Monday afternoon, May 21.
Mr. John M. Maloney,
450 Tremont Bldg., Boston.
Mr. Dear Mr. Maloney—I thank you very much indeed for your letter of the 21st, and I shall bring it at once to the attention of Mr. Emerson, who manages the Traveler, with the statement from me that you are a thoroughly trustworthy and intelligent witness.
I regret deeply any injustice Mr. Greene has done the town of Ayer, and feel that a great mistake was made in writing the article in the manner you speak of.
Very sincerely yours,
Robert L. O’Brien.