Turner's Public Spirit, May 27, 1922
A look back in time to a century ago
By Bob Oliphant
“Center. Mrs. Abiel J. Abbot has returned to Westford after her winter’s sojourn in Boston and opened up the family residence [at 32] Main street.
“Edward M. Abbot, who has been spending the winter at the Yorick club in Lowell has also returned here.
“Master Robert and Miss Barbara Hildreth, children of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur G. Hildreth, celebrated their fourth and second birthdays, respectively, on May 19.
“J. Herbert Fletcher motored to New Hampshire last weekend on a fishing trip. He was joined at Exeter by his son John G. Fletcher, who is a student at Phillip’s-Exeter academy.
“Westford post, A.L., and the Ladies’ Auxiliary held meetings at the Cavalry building on Monday evening. Both were invited to be guests of the Littleton post in the Littleton town hall on June 13, when a supper will be served. The Legion has charge of the dinner at the town hall, Westford, Memorial day.
“The aeroplanes of the season were seen hovering over Westford last Saturday.
“The fire department was called out Tuesday afternoon to a fire near Carlisle station, caused by sparks from a train on the N.Y., N.H. & H. railroad.
“The local police, assisted by officers from Ayer, made two liquor raids over the weekend.
“The store of Adam Lapniewski at Forge Village was broken into early Sunday morning. The thief was interrupted in his work by the appearance of the police, who came on another errand. Upon investigation it was discovered that he had the heavy cash register and contents part way to the door, when obliged to beat a hasty retreat. Chief Whiting is working upon the case.
“School Notes. The William Camp daily dozen exercises are being used on the Victrola at the William E. Frost school as an aid in calisthenics….
“The following nine boys have joined either the gardening, potato, corn or pig clubs which are being conducted by the Middlesex Agricultural bureau: George Kimball, Kenneth Green, Edward Sullivan, Clarence Mann, Merl Wheeler, Hamilton Phillips, Everett Millis, William Anderson and William Carver. Master Carver received a prize of five dollars last year for raising the best pig in this section. Norman Day is to have a two-days’ trip to Amherst for excelling in bread making.
“Academy Notes. The girls’ basketball team went to Raymond, N.H., Saturday to play the girls of the Raymond High, but were badly defeated, the score being 74 to 4…. The girls report a very pleasant time.
“The members of the baseball team have at last secured their new uniforms, which are gray with dark red trimmings. The money for the suits was obtained by selling chocolate and getting subscriptions to the Ladies’ Home Journal.
“Last week the senior and junior boys of the academy took part in track games of five events, namely, running broad jump, high jump, 220 yard dash, 100 yard dash and putting the eight pound shot. The state director of athletics hopes in this way to get all high school boys interested in athletics and this is to be done in high schools throughout the state….
“About Town. On parents’ day at the Frost school we learned that Ruth Nelson, of Brookside, spelled down her grade.
“Joe Wall, our game warden, often has good news for us…. This time the news is that he has received twelve barrels of white perch which he has placed in Long-Sought-for, Forge and Keyes’ ponds.
“It is quite apropos to call the attention of children and older people to the ruthless picking of our wild flowers. Especially around Memorial day our beautiful flowers are torn up by the roots. Let us have a care not to pick too many or to injure the plants; especially should we be careful of our orchids, such as the ladies’ slipper, so it will not be exterminated. We hear of one young lad who went into the woods to get some ladies’ slippers and he wouldn’t pick one until he had seen at least six, for his teacher had carefully explained to his room in school that it wouldn’t be right to pick them unless there were plenty, and that he must be careful to leave the root….
“Mrs. H. E. Fletcher and Miss Emily Fletcher motored to Sharon last Saturday to the bird sanctuary there, which is maintained by the Audubon society. It was a field day for bird lovers and many people came to enjoy it all and listen to talks and watch the birds and roam through the woods. We heard that Mrs. H. E. Fletcher saw and identified herself over forty different varieties of birds.
“Graniteville. The Abbot Worsted band will furnish music for the Memorial day exercises that will be held in Westford next Tuesday. They will also play a concert program in the afternoon from 1:30 to 3:30.”
Edward Moseley Abbot (1882-1958), shown as a Westford Academy Trustee in 1942, wintered in Lowell in 1921-1922. Westford Historical Society photograph.