Turner's Public Spirit, November 11, 1922
A look back in time to a century ago
By Bob Oliphant
Center. Mr. and Mrs. Fred Smith, Miss Maud Whitaker, of Ayer, and Mrs. Charles A. Wright, of Stow, were in town on last Sunday, calling on relatives and friends.
The firemen held their regular monthly supper at the firehouse on Tuesday evening. An excellent menu was partaken of by those present, nineteen being in attendance.
The fire department should receive much praise for the quick response to the fire call and fine work of the company at the fire at the home of Mrs. A. J. Blaisdell last week, and Mrs. Blaisdell and family are loud in their praises of the company.
A number of the young friends of Lawrence Ingalls [born Nov. 4, 1904, Beverly] tendered him a surprise birthday party on Tuesday evening at the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Ingalls, Main street. The affair was a complete surprise and during the evening he was presented with a beautiful silk umbrella. Games were enjoyed, refreshments served and all present had a very pleasant evening.
Westford people who left for Florida this week were E. J. Whitney and housekeeper, Mrs. Helena Bartlett, and Anson Griffin and housekeeper, Mrs. Green.
The County [Farm] Bureau will give the last regular motion picture entertainment of the year in the town hall on Tuesday evening, November 14, at eight o’clock. The program is good, the best since “Spring Valley.” All are invited.
The library will close at eight o’clock in the evening on Armistice day. Next week will be observed as children’s book week. Attractive books for children will be out for inspection at the library and lists giving suggestions for good books for children to read will be given to all interested.
The first lesson of the millinery class will be held at Library hall on Thursday of next week. All those interested in the work are invited to attend as spectators. The affair will be an all-day session, starting at ten in the morning, and those attending are requested to bring a basket lunch.
Death. George Henry Hartford, aged seventy years, died on last Sunday at his home after a few weeks’ illness, from heart disease. Mr. Hartford had been a resident of this town of the past forty-five years and was engaged in farming. He was born in Newfield, Me., and prior to coming here resided in Lowell, where he received his education. After becoming a resident of this town he became active in the political life of the town and in 1904 was elected to the state legislature. He also served as an assessor for a period of twenty years, and for nine years was a member of the school board and a member of the finance committee for five years.
While a resident of Lowell he was a member of the Torrent Veteran Firemen’s association, which under the late Capt. Ruel Britton carried off the honors by winning the New England cup at the firemen’s muster held in Lynn in 1875, when the company established a world’s record. Mr. Hartford carried the hose and ran the last 100 yards for the Lowell company, thus showing his athletic ability, which won him many valuable prizes in various competitions in which he took part while a young man. In politics he was a republican and was always interested in work for the advancement of his party.
The deceased is survived by his wife, Elizabeth J. Hartford, and nine children, George H., Jr., of Townsend, Rep. Alfred W. Hartford of this town, Mrs. Marion Cole of Lowell, Harry O. of this town, Archie A., of Freedom, Me., Ida F., of this town, Leroy C., of Lowell, John L., of Waltham, and James B. Hartford, of Ayer. [A one-year-old daughter, Mary Shepard Hartford, died in 1894.]
Mr. Hartford was a man of genial manner and his cheery words will be greatly missed by all with whom he came in daily contact.
Funeral services for the deceased were held from home on Wednesday afternoon and were conducted by Rev. John Blair, assisted by Rev. William Anderson. Mrs. George Burns, of Lowell, rendered some beautiful vocal selections. A large number of friends and relatives were present and the beautiful floral tributes bespoke the high esteem in which Mr. Hartford was held. At the grave Mr. Blair read the committal prayer, and Mrs. Burns gave another selection. The pall-bearers were five sons, Alfred W., George H., John L., Leroy C. and James B. Hartford, and a brother-in-law, Edward Morse.
Funeral. The funeral of Miss Helen McCoy was held from the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Fred L. McCoy, Thursday of last week. The services were conducted by Rev. H. L. Caulkins, of Hopkinton, N.H., her former pastor, assisted by Rev. William B. Anderson. The Misses Evelyn Kimball and Olive Flagg, of Littleton, rendered two beautiful vocal selections. The pall-bearers were Fred Meyer, Ralph Bonnell, William Hunt and Foster Kimball. The floral tributes were profuse and beautiful, many of them coming from Portsmouth, Va., friends and associates, and showed the high esteem in which Miss McCoy was held.
During the time of the funeral services the schools of Portsmouth closed for a few minutes out of respect to the deceased, and the flags on all schools were at half-mast for the week.
Friends and relatives from Chelmsford, Bedford, Lowell, Boston, Salem, Beverly, Marblehead and Littleton, Portsmouth, Va., Stoddard, Jaffrey and Antrim, N.H., attended. [She was buried in Fairview Cemetery, Westford.]
In the passing of Miss McCoy, a young life of great promise has been called home. She was greatly beloved by all who knew her, a fine type of young womanhood, talented in many ways, and the possessor a remarkable intellect. She lived not long but well, and the sympathy of the community is extended to the family in their hour bereavement.
Resolution of Respect
Whereas, Our Father, in His infinite wisdom, has taken from among us our classmate and friend, Helen M. McCoy, the chord of whose life was broken while yet in early womanhood, and whereas the close and friendly relation held with her both in work and in play make it eminently fitting that we, The Fidelity Class of Central M. E. Sunday School, record our appreciation of her; therefore
Be it Resolved, 1. That in the death of Helen M. McCoy, her home has lost a joyous, unselfish, devoted daughter; this community a capable and efficient teacher and a ready worker and leader; the Fidelity Class a faithful member whose helpful presence and loyal friendship was cherished by each individual classmate.
Be it Resolved, 2. That the taking of such a friend from our midst leaves a void that is deeply felt by all the members and friends of this Class.
Be it Resolved, 3. That the deepest love and sympathy of this class is tendered her mother, father and sisters in this time of inexpressible distress and sorrow, affirming to them, however, our deep conviction that our joyous Helen M. McCoy lives and brightens a larger, better world.
Be it Resolved, 4. That a copy of these resolutions be sent her family, copies published in the Lowell (Mass.) News and in the Portsmouth Star and also a copy be placed in the minutes of the Fidelity Class.
Lila Robertson,
Katherine Timberlake,
Mattie Worster,
Committee.
Virginia-Pilot and the Norfolk Landmark, Norfolk, Va., Sunday, November 26, 1922, sec. 5, p. 1.
Congregational Church. Friday evening meeting for prayer and study of the bible at eight o’clock. A scrapbook social will be held on Saturday evening for the Young People’s league. Sunday morning theme, “Money methods for Christians only.” Sunday school at noon. Junior C.E. meeting at 4:30 Sunday afternoon. Sunday evening theme, “Objections to divine healing.”
The annual church banquet will be held in the town hall on Wednesday evening, November 15, at seven o’clock. President N. R. Wood of Gordon College of Theology and Missions will be the speaker. See advertisement.
Dr. Nathan R. Wood (1874-1961), having studied at Harvard, Newton Theological Institute and in Germany, came to Gordon College as a teacher in 1908 and became Dean of the college in 1910. He was appointed as the second president of the college in 1919, a position he held until 1944. At that time the college was located in the Fenway section of Boston. It would move to its present campus in Wenham in 1955. See https://www.gordon.edu/wood.
In other words, the road is so rough that if you drove a truck loaded with fresh eggs over it, the truck would bounce around so much that many eggs would be cracked or broken
About Town. The first farmers’ institute of the season under the auspices of Middlesex-North Agricultural society will be held at the “Old Yellow Meeting House,” Dracut Center, Wednesday, November 22. The address of the forenoon will be given by Wentworth Stewart, of Groton. We are not informed of his subject, but as he has the reputation of always being interesting it will not make any difference what his subject is. We have not been made aware of the afternoon program, but expect to report it next week. Mr. Stewart, being a drawing card, let us all be prepared to be present.
Dane & Nutting have finished shingling the Old Oaken Bucket farm house [home of the author of the About Town section, Samuel Law Taylor (1845-1932)].
Among others from town who attended the funeral of the late Warden Elmer E. Shattuck was Rep. Alfred W. Hartford and Alonzo H. Sutherland, who represented the Spalding Light Cavalry association.
Election day was a wet day for dry missionaries.
Middlesex-North Pomona Grange had a well attended meeting last week Friday in Lowell, it being election of officers, which consumed all the forenoon, and “Safety first,” which was up for discussion, was changed to “Safety last,” all the time being utilized in the election of officers, and “Safety last” will be “Safety first” at the meeting in December. Clyde Prescott has made a good master and he was re-elected. The following officers were elected: Clyde Prescott, Westford, m.; Mrs. Sarah K. Mooney, Lowell, o.; Mrs. Grace Naylor, West Chelmsford, lec.; Mrs. Lillian Snow, Tyngsboro, stew.; Mrs. Charles Wright, Burlington, asst. stew.; Mrs. Flint, Tyngsboro, chap.; Mrs. Lulu Hutchins, Billerica, sec.; Norman Peavey, Dracut, treas.; Mr. Barnett, Dracut, g.k.; Mrs. Florence Swallow, Dunstable, Ceres; Mrs. Ethel R. Fletcher, Westford, Pomona; Mrs. Whiteley, Dracut, Flora; Miss Claire Bell, Tyngsboro, l.a.s.; Emery Smith, Billerica, ex. com.; Mrs. Leslie Putnam, Chelmsford, pianist. In the afternoon Harry Hopkins, of Lowell, was the soloist, and Mrs. Belleville gave a piano solo. Hon. John Jacob Rogers gave one of his instructive and inspiring talks. Seven from Westford were present.
At the last meeting of the Grange the lecturer’s hour was filled with a variety of entertainment, songs, music, instrumental and other kinds, and an address by Rev. William E. Anderson on “Comparisons in New England, ancient and modern.”
- Arthur O’Brien has finished seeding several acres of grass of the Abbot Worsted Company at Brookside corner. It is up and doing well.
We would recommend to the selectmen that they lay a twelve-inch pipe at Brookside to carry the water from Riverview road [now Moore Rd.] under the electric car line track, and under Brookside road to connect with the water way near the Stony Brook railroad track. While the road at this corner is not washed enough to be unsafe, it is decidedly unsafe for fresh eggs. We believe that there is a pipe under this road at the present time, but it is [so] small that it is clogged by the large quantities of sand and gravel that is washed down from the Riverview road, and now has to cross the Brookside road on its surface.
Mrs. William R. Taylor has received word that her brother-in-law, Charles Morris, of Modesto, Cal., has been made head of the Junior college at Modesto. For six years Mr. Morris has been assistant superintendent of school there. His appointment as head of the Junior college comes as a distinct reward for splendid work done.
Miss Ruth Sargent has accepted a position in the office of the Dennison Mfg. Co., in Framingham.
Emory Whitney, Mr. Griffin of the Oak Knoll farm [73 Hildreth St.] and Mrs. Helena Bartlett left this week on the Savanah Line for Kissimmee, Fla. Mr. and Mrs. Elliot Atwood, of Chelmsford, accompanied them.
Axel G. Lundberg, of Brookside, who has made a reputation for himself because of his efficient work on monuments, received a severe injury last week. Mr. Lundberg was doing some work in the Carlisle cemetery when a piece of the iron wedge broke off and hit him in one eye. He was taken to the eye and ear infirmary in Boston. We are sorry to report that the eye was severely injured. Mr. Lundberg’s genial ways have made him many friends, who will be sorry to learn of this misfortune.
Mr. and Mrs. James Savage (Mary Flynn) and their three children have moved to their new bungalow at the junction of the Lowell and West Chelmsford roads, near Mr. Savage’s father [Patrick Savage]. Mr. Savage bought the abandoned schoolhouse in West Chelmsford and has made out of it a very attractive bungalow.
A special town meeting will be held in the town hall on Friday evening, November 17. Matters of interest in regard to the schools will come up.
On last Saturday afternoon the cradle roll department and the home department of the Sunday school were entertained at the M.E. church in West Chelmsford. Mrs. F. A. Snow, superintendent of the cradle roll, had charge, assisted by Miss Margaret Reid, superintendent of the home department; Miss Helen Westberg, teacher of the cradle roll graduates, and Miss Lottie L. Snow, superintendent of the Sunday school. Seventy-eight were present. A good entertainment was provided, readings by Stanley L. Snow, piano solos by Warren Dean, songs by Rev. E. E. Jackman, piano duets by Mrs. Florence Trull and Mrs. Marion Habermann. Refreshments were served.
Rev. C. E. Spaulding, presiding elder of this [M. E. church] district, sails this month for Brazil, to spend six weeks studying the work in that country of the M. E. church south, and of the Episcopal church.
The next meeting of the Grange will be held on Thursday evening, November 16, at which the annual election of officers will take place.
The funeral services of Mrs. Harriett Chamberlin were held at All Saints church, Chelmsford Center, Monday afternoon, Rev. Wilson Waters, rector of the church, officiating. The bearers were Hugh F. Fletcher, Avery Larcom, Albert F. French and George W. Peterson. Interment was in Hart Pond cemetery, South Chelmsford. The funeral arrangements were in charge of Hugh F. Fletcher, who will be remembered here as a nephew of Mrs. Chamberlin’s husband, the late Adams Chamberlin. Flowers were abundant.
Union fair, Ayer town hall, November 16 and 17.
First Parish church (Unitarian) Sunday service at four p.m. Preacher, Rev. Frank B. Crandall, the minster; subject, “Two ways to orthodoxy.”
Reminiscences. We wish to recall a few of the many reminiscences of our association with the late George H. Hartford. Of his twenty years of service on the board of assessors we [i.e., Samuel L. Taylor] served with him for fifteen years. During this time he was chairman of the board. During our fifteen years of service with him there were two valuations of the town made. He was of rare, sound judgment and free from favoritism in applying it. His sense of equity knew no rich or poor, learned or ignorant, and best of all he had the courage of his judgment and his sense of justice. If figures occasionally had to be revised, it was not from error in judgment, but from inability to locate the property. It was not strange in a township of 18,000 acres that some of the remote woodlands could not be correctly bounded, either by the assessors or owners of the land.
The chairman had but little fault lodged with him as the result of his two new valuations.
We recall an instance to show that sometimes a taxpayer doesn’t just know what he is assessed for. Complaint was made by one that the value on his personal property was too high. The chairman of the assessors asked him to file his own list and values, such as he would be willing to be taxed for, which he did. It proved to be more than the chairman had credited him for on the valuation books. He demurred at his own figures, but he paid the tax on his own description.
Mr. Hartford was always cheerful, hopeful and helpful and took a broad, common-sense view of life. He was well provided with good judgment, whether as assessor or a member of the school board. On all the questions of the day, on town, state and national affairs, he was unusually well informed and an inspiring and informing person to talk with.
Death. Mrs. Harriet Chamberlin, widow of Adams Chamberlin, died at her home in Chelmsford Center, recently, aged eighty-five years. She leaves a daughter, Miss M. Florence Chamberlin, of Waltham; a sister, Mrs. B. O. Robbins, of Lowell, and a nephew, Larcom Avery, of Newton. She was a native of Grand Isle, Vt., and as a young woman she came to Lowell to live. Following her marriage she came to Chelmsford to live and had resided there ever since. She had a wide circle of friends and acquaintances and was abreast of the times and interested in the topics of the day. We met her on several occasions and found her an exceptional entertainer and conversationalist. For many years she had been a member of All Saints’ Episcopal church in Chelmsford. Her husband, the late Adams Chamberlin, is well remembered by some of the older residents of Westford as a leading member in an orchestra that played for many of the old-time, old-fashioned dances in town. His home was just over the town line in Chelmsford, about a mile south of the Edwin E. Heywood place.
Graniteville. The Abbot Worsted soccer club defeated the Shawsheen A.A. at Forge Village on last Saturday in the second round of the National Cup series, 4 goals to 1. On Sunday afternoon, November 5, the Abbots met the fast Fall River club at Fall River and held them to [a] 3 to 3 tie. This game was witnessed by a crowd estimated at 5000.
The Graniteville soccer football team won a fine game from the Methuen juniors at Glen Essex on last Saturday afternoon, defeating them 3 goals to 2. The Graniteville club is improving fast and with a few changes will be able to compete with any of the junior clubs.
The Ladies’ Aid society of the M.E. [church] met with Mrs. Maria Wall on Thursday evening at seven o’clock.
The Methodist church cottage prayer meeting will be held this week at the home of Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Beebe on Friday evening at seven o’clock.
The members of Cameron circle, C. of F. of A., are planning to hold a whist party here in the near future.
The local hunters have met with great success during the present season.
The Graniteville people deeply regret the passing of George H. Hartford, who died at his home in Westford on last Sunday, after a long illness. Mr. Hartford was well and favorably known throughout the town, and on many occasions his fellow citizens showed the confidence they had in him by electing him to many public offices, not only in the town, but to the state legislature. Mr. Hartford filled every office with credit to himself and his fellowmen, using good judgment and keen intellect on all important questions. He was a fine man to meet, being of a cheerful disposition with a bright smile and a good word for everyone. One felt better for having known him. He was deeply interested in all town affairs and when anything of importance was to be acted upon, be it at a town meeting or a baseball game, one could always count on George H. Hartford being present. A good man has passed on, who will be sadly missed by the Westford people. The deepest sympathy is expressed to the Hartford family in the loss of a loving husband and father.
Precinct 2 in Graniteville cast the heaviest vote on record here at the state election.
Ayer
News Items. The following real estate transfers have been recorded in this vicinity recently: … Westford, Caroline M. Whitney est. by ex. to Ida E. Leighton land on Main street. …
District Court. The cases of Frank Jeramer, John Sullivan and John Lacovitz, all of whom were charged with larceny and assault and battery on Steve Belida, of Westford, was continued to November 18 by agreement of counsel. Two similar complaints against Constanti Lacovitz, of Westford, were dismissed by request of counsel for the government.