The Westford Wardsman, May 6, 1916
Center. Miss Mabel Prescott is one of the latest victims of whooping cough.
Mrs. Nellie P. Draper, of Auburndale, who was one of the speakers at the Tadmuck club luncheon Tuesday was the guest during her stay of Mrs. H. V. Hildreth.
Miss Nellie Gill, of Boston, is the guest of her cousin, Mrs. J. Herbert Fletcher.
Mrs. George T. Day’s many friends have been sorry to learn this week of her serious illness. Wednesday morning she underwent a surgical operation performed at her home by Dr. Martin, of Lowell, assisted by her family physician. Reports from the sick room are that the operation was successful and that she is resting as comfortably as can possibly be expected under the circumstances.
Since the recent burglaries the selectmen have had the electric lights kept burning all night. The local police force have been on the alert and the townspeople have made every effort to safeguard their homes and property.
Owing to delays in transportation of freight some parts of the large new pump at the pumping station have not arrived and therefore the pump has not been put in operation yet. The setting up and installing of this big piece of machinery has been considerable of an engineering feat by Supt. A. H. Sutherland and his helpers.
The costume party and dance at the town hall last week Friday evening was a pretty affair and a success, reflecting much credit upon the young ladies who had it in charge and looked after all the details. One of the pleasant features was the turning on for the first time of the new electric lights which have been installed. The dance was well attended, there being about fifty couples from Westford and neighboring villages. A young lady from Concord took the first for the best costume and Miss Ethel Burland the second prize. This feature of the party was not entered into by the guests as well as the committee in charge had hoped for, although it otherwise was a success. Neyman’s orchestra furnished music for the dancing and refreshments were served at intermission. Quite a good sum was cleared for the Grange treasury. Misses Beatrice Sutherland and Grace Robinson were in charge of the affair.
An Easter wedding of interest was that of James L. Kimball and Miss Nettie Ellen Foote, of Boston. This wedding took place last week Wednesday and Mr. Kimball and his bride have taken up their residence at Mr. Kimball’s Westford home on Main street.
An additional dollar has been added to the twenty-eight dollars presented to the J. V. Fletcher library from the proceeds of the extension school held during the season. It is a foregone conclusion that the library trustees will make wise investment of this latest acquisition.
Owing to the cold, wet, spring, planting and gardening on Westford hill is much behind schedule time. Aside from early peas very little planting has been done and much land will not be in condition for another week or two.
Tadmuck Club. The annual Tadmuck club luncheon which took place at the Unitarian vestry on Tuesday was one of the pleasant social events of the spring season. Mrs. Goldsmith H. Conant was the hostess of the day and her original and effective planning made the day pleasant for all, the burden of service not falling too heavily upon any of the members. Each member of the club had been provided with a basket in which they packed a luncheon for one according to an attached menu card. This was supplemented by an ice cream and coffee committee and the progressive feature for the changing of guests at the tables and of service worked out well. The luncheon was served at small tables four guests at each table, and the appointments of linen, silver and china were carefully and prettily arranged. Center pieces of yellow jonquils were at each table. Green and yellow was the color scheme and a profusion of greenery, ferns and handsome yellow forsythia had been used with good effect.
Miss Edith Forster was the toastmistress of the day. The musical features of the program were vocal solos by Mrs. C. A. Blaney, piano duet by Mrs. Watson and Miss Julia Fletcher, vocal duet by Mrs. Charles H. Wright and Mrs. Blaney. Mrs. Nelly P. Draper was introduced and brought the greetings of the Auburndale Review club and of the Auburndale Woman’s club given in her own capable and spontaneous manner. Mrs. Martha Taylor Howard brought the greetings of the Bound Brook, N.J., club and outlined most clearly the splendid work that club has undertaken and accomplished.
Miss Mabel Drew presented a very sincere and graceful appreciation of the retiring president’s service to the club during the past two years, and Mrs. Hildreth responded in her own genuine way. The incoming president, Miss Alice M. Howard, was introduced and spoke briefly, seeking the cooperation and loyalty of the membership in the coming year with winning effectiveness. Every member feels grateful to Miss Howard for taking up the leadership of the club, for she brings to the work both ability and experience.
Reports from the various departments were called for and given. The work of these departments have been given in these columns as they have been accomplished during the season, therefore, repetition is not necessary.
The nominating committee, Mrs. William C. Roudenbush, chairman, presented their report. Upon motion of Miss Loker, the club’s beloved honorary president, one ballot was cast by the secretary and the nominations accepted as follows: Miss Alice M. Howard, pres.; Mrs. Harold W. Hildreth, v.p.; Mrs. Edwin E. Amesbury, rec. sec.; Mrs. William R. Taylor, cor. sec.; Mrs. H. Bert Walker, treas.; departments—Miss Mary G. Balch, art; Miss Mary P. Bunce, Miss Martha Grant, civics; Mrs. Herbert E. Fletcher, Mrs. Hammett Wright, conservation; Miss Edith Forster, Miss Mabel Drew, education; Mrs. Oscar R. Spalding, household economics; Mrs. Louis H. Buckshorn, Mrs. Harry B. Prescott, industrial and social conditions; Mrs. Perley E. Wright, Mrs. John P. Wright, legislation; Mrs. William C. Roudenbush, Mrs. L. W. Wheeler, literature and library extension, Mrs. Frederic A. Snow, Mrs. William R. Taylor, Mrs. Anthony Anderson, music; Mrs. W. H. Sherman, Mrs. O. V. Wells, public health.
About Town. Mrs. Carlos D. Cushing, after spending some time with her daughter, Mrs. W. R. Taylor, has returned to her summer home in Framingham. Mrs. Warren Richardson Cushing and son, Warren, Jr., are expected from Florida this week for a short visit before going to Framingham for the summer.
The Minot’s schoolhouse was sold to the highest bidder at auction last Saturday, Fred O. Stiles, of Littleton, for $410. On the same day the Nabnassett schoolhouse was bid off to George C. Moore of North Chelmsford and Brookside for $190, exclusive of the land, which he had previously purchased of the heirs of Oliver Woodard, who sold to the town on a revertible basis when the town ceased to keep [the] school.
Envelopes for contribution for the American Unitarian association were distributed at the First Parish church last Sunday, and the collection will be taken on Sunday.
Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Naylor, of West Chelmsford, have arrived home from Detroit, where they have been spending the winter with their youngest son, Oscar.
Rev. L. H. Buckshorn and Seth W. Bannister left on Monday for Middleboro, where they have been engaged to set out ten acres of apple orchard.
The body of Mrs. Josephine Laws was brought to town for burial in Fairview cemetery on Monday. She will be remembered as the widow of George Laws, who for many years lived on the farm more recently owned by the late Albert E. Jenne on the Chelmsford road.
The body of Fred Kennison, of Saugus, was brought to town for burial in Fairview cemetery last Saturday. He was an uncle of Lyman A. Wilkins.
In the suit of Blodgett Brothers vs. Corkery the Boston milk contractor for overdue payment, the jury found for the plaintiff and also for Frank C. Miller. The jury found everything for the plaintiff except his overdue money.
Death. On April 29, there passed on to her reward, Mrs. I. H. Stone, of Salem, Ill. Before her marriage she was Georgianna Patten of Westford, and her friends and the friends of the Patten family, which held an honored place in the town during their residence here, will be interested in the account of her life which was a sermon in itself—so much of good had she accomplished.
She was the daughter of Sarah B. Hall and Rufus Patten and was born in 1840 on the Patten place, a short distance from town on the road [now Patten Road] to Forge Village. The family were constant attendants at the Congregational church and devoted to its interests which influence shows later in the work which Mrs. Stone did in the west. There was a strong interest in education in this home. The father had been a student in the academy and thither he sent all of his children. The daughter, Georgianna, entered in 1853, when Samuel Hilliard Folsom, of Dartmouth college, was the preceptor and the assistant was Miss Margaret F. Foley, who later became a distinguished sculptor.
In 1869 she was married in the Congregational church to Isaac Henry Stone of Shrewsbury, by the pastor, Rev. Henry P. Woodworth. They soon went west and settled at Hersher, Ill. It was pioneer prairie life with no church near. With her strong New England training Mrs. Stone felt the need of a religious center for the people. She gradually gathered the people together in Sunday school work which she carefully looked after. She then came east to her home town and told of the need of a church at Hersher. Money was gladly given here and in other towns until she had through her efforts secured enough to build a place of worship. Returning to Illinois she personally superintended the buying of all necessary materials, looked after the building of the church and paid the bills, so the church was really a monument to her indefatigable efforts and her desire to better the welfare of others. Often when the church was without a pastor she conducted the services and even gave the word of sweet sympathy at the last service for those who had passed on. She really did the work of a home missionary and showed great ability as a counsellor, organizer and speaker.
Later, Mr. and Mrs. Stone moved to Chicago and became affiliated with the Green street church. It was a crucial time for this Congregational church which is so well known now. Mrs. Stone’s great interest in church work and her remarkable talents found a field here. She was made a trustee of the church and she did an important work in helping to enlarge this church until now it is one of our important Congregational churches.
After years in Chicago Mr. and Mrs. Stone went to Salem, Ill., where they bought a large and valuable farm, but they made their home in the town itself. Again Mrs. Stone turned her interest to church and education work. She was made a member of the school board and the record of her attendance at the meetings is wonderful, showing her strong sense of responsibility in whatever she undertook. In the nine years during which she served, 225 meetings were held, and she missed only eleven. She was interested in every phase of church work and in every line of good activity and she identified herself with it.
The record of her last week of life on earth shows this. On Sunday she taught her class of forty women, on Monday she read a paper before the Missionary society, on Thursday night she went to the church prayer meeting and was asked to offer prayer. On Friday, as a member of the school board, she went to the school, it being patrons’ day. She visited each room and gave an encouraging talk. On her way home she stopped and spoke with a member of the Chautauqua committee in regard to the Chautauqua meetings which were to be held in Salem in the summer, and she gave her order for several tickets. Early the following morning she passed on with heart disease. Truly it is a record of a life rich in service.
Services were held in the church at Salem on Monday afternoon. It was a last tribute to one who had been a friend to everyone. The husband and the niece, Prof. Grace Patten Conant of James Milliken university, Decatur, Ill., made the sad trip east for the final service. On Wednesday afternoon a service was held at the home of A. F. Conant, Littleton, Rev. J. C. Alvord of the Congregational church officiating. The committal service was at Westlawn cemetery in this town in the Patten tomb, where many of her relatives are buried. The bearers were Albert F., Nelson F., Benjamin and Goldsmith Conant.
Mrs. Stone is survived by a husband, I. H. Stone; a sister, Mrs. A. F. Conant, of Littleton; and a brother, William O. Patten, of Worcester. A sister, Miss Mary O. Patten, died a few years ago. Goldsmith H. Conant, of this town, is her nephew.
Forge Village. The engagement is announced of George H. Sanborn, Jr., of this village, to Miss Sarah M. Boyd, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Boyd, of West Graniteville. Mr. Sanborn is the son of our well-known station agent, and is well and favorably known here. The young couple are to be married early in June.
The infant son of Mr. and Mrs. James Whigham, who was baptized Wallace I., at St. Andrew’s mission only a week ago, died at the home of his parents early Sunday morning from pneumonia. The baby was only six weeks old and leaves besides his parents, two sisters and a brother. The funeral was held at the home on Tuesday afternoon at two o’clock, Rev. W. M. Ford, pastor of St. Andrew’s church, officiating. Burial was in Fairview cemetery. The floral tributes were many and beautiful, the little casket being completely covered with flowers from relatives and friends.
Mrs. M. A. DeRoehn of Worcester spent Sunday at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. William Weaver. Mr. and Mrs. Weaver also entertained Mr. Girard of Worcester.
The Young People’s Social club met Thursday evening. Mrs. Warren Sturgis of Groton visited the young folks. The club is to present a comedy in the near future.
Master Richard Coley of Worcester is visiting his grandmother, Mrs. Louisa Coley.
The choir of St. Andrew’s mission is to join the choir of St. Mark’s church, Leominster, at the services to be held there on May 21. The pastor, Rev. Thomas L. Fisher, formerly of St. Andrew’s mission, preaches his farewell sermon on that day and it is expected that a large party of his old parishioners will attend from here.
The Sunday school children of St. Andrew’s mission held an Easter carol service at the mission on last Sunday. A short address was given by Mr. Ford. Potted plants were distributed at the conclusion of the services. The new pews are to be installed in four weeks. Rev. Mr. Fisher of Leominster attended the choral service last Sunday.
The concert and dance, which was given in Abbot hall on Tuesday evening, proved to be a thorough success. The affair was given in aid of St. Andrew’s mission and was in charge of Miss Mary B. Raynes and Miss Edith Forster. The concert opened with selections by the Titania orchestra of Lowell, which was followed by readings by Miss Veronica Lowe of North Chelmsford. Mrs. Nano Gallagher Leahey of Lowell, noted for her voice, delighted the audience with several solos. Dancing was enjoyed at the conclusion of the concert.
The office of the Abbot Worsted Co. was broken into early Friday morning of last week and after three explosions the safe was opened, containing about $150 in cash. It is said four “Yeggs” were in the party and arrived by auto at about midnight. From one o’clock until three the burglars were engaged in their work. Papers also were stolen but afterwards found under a boat near the canal. The men made their escape early and have not as yet been found. This is the third burglary in the town in a short time and it is hoped that a stop will soon be put to such marauding.
Mrs. Margaret Wilson is suffering from a severe cold at her home.
Graniteville. Mr. and Mrs. J. Fred Wall, who have been in San Francisco, Cal., for the last few years, are visiting relatives here.
Dr. Sherman’s father, O. W. Sherman, of Damariscotta, Me., is visiting here for a few days.
Death. Miss Mary E. Healy, a former resident of this village, died at the House of Our Lady of Grace in charge of the Sisters of Mercy at Manchester, N.H., on Sunday morning, April 30, after a comparatively brief illness. The immediate cause of her death was asthma of the heart. Her age was forty-five years. The body was brought here on the noon train on Monday. On Tuesday morning the funeral took place from the home of her cousin, Mrs. Henry Provost. At 7:30 o’clock a funeral mass was celebrated in St. Catherine’s church by Rev Henry L. Scott and was largely attended. The regular choir was in attendance and under the direction of Miss Mary F. Hanley sang the Gregorian chant. There were many beautiful floral tributes. The bearers were Fred Provost, Edward Raney, Patrick Rayhall, J. Fred Wall. The burial party left here on the 8:30 train for Lowell where the burial took place in St. Catherine’s cemetery.
The death of Miss Healy came as an acute shock to her many friends here. She had no near relatives, aside from the Larkin family in North Chelmsford and Mrs. Henry Provost of this village, also a cousin. Her friends, however, were many and she also enjoyed a wide acquaintance in a business way. She had a pleasing personality and never allowed her business cares to interfere with her ready smile. She was a good, true, loyal woman, a devout member of St. Catherine’s church and very devoted to all things pertaining to religion. Her death caused deep sorrow to all here who feel safe with the assurance that one who lived such a Christian life will surely receive her reward above.
Reception. A reception was tendered to the new pastor, Rev. Alonzo A. Fite, and Mrs. Fite, in the parlors of the M.E. church last Monday evening. Assisting Mr. and Mrs. Fite in the receiving line were Rev. W. E. Anderson, a former pastor, and Mrs. Anderson. The reception was held from 7:30 to 8 o’clock, after which the following pleasing program was presented. Opening remarks by the chairman of the reception committee, Mrs. W. J. Robinson; selection, orchestra, composed of George Wilson, piano, A. B. Carr and Albert Blanchard, violins; remarks, Mrs. L. A. Blood for the Ladies’ Aid society, Harry Ingalls for the Sunday school, and Edgar Farrow for the Junior Epworth league; prayer, Rev. W. E. Anderson; vocal solo, “Only a year ago,” Miss Alice May Gilson; speech of welcome, Rev. W. E. Anderson; selection, orchestra; original poem, “Our twin carriage,” written by Miss Bessie L. Adams, of Lowell, and read with fine effect by Mrs. A. C. Sager; remarks, pastor; selection, orchestra.
At the conclusion of the program all entered the vestry where a buffet lunch was served. The church was beautifully decorated for the occasion and the whole affair was very enjoyable to all.