Turner's Public Spirit, November 19, 1921
A look back in time to a century ago
By Bob Oliphant
“Center. Westford Grange holds its neighborhood night on December 1, and not on December 8, this latter date having been previously announced. Members of Groton and Ayer Granges, the ones especially invited, please take notice.
“Mrs. George H. Cadman has recently returned to England.
“The special Armistice day exercises at the Frost school were unusually good, the children entering into the spirit of the occasion with fine enthusiasm. The inclement weather affected attendance, but a good number of interested parents and friends were present to enjoy the exercises of patriotic music and recitations….
“The fire department was called out Tuesday afternoon for a burning automobile on the Tadmuck road. The machine was a Cadillac roadster and according to the registration numbers was traced as belonging in Lawrence, although the ownership had not been established as yet. The badly burned car was towed to the village.
“An interesting ceremony took place at the beginning of the Sunday school session last Sunday not in the usual schedule of opening exercises. In behalf of the school, Master Harold Wright [age 7] stepped forward and in a well worded and sincere presentation speech that would have done credit to one three times as old, presented Supt. H. G. Osgood, who was just rounding out twenty-five years of leadership in the Sunday school, a handsome bible suitably inscribed and with his full name in gold letters on the cover. Mr. Osgood was taken completely by surprise, but earnestly thanked the members for the gift.
“About Town. With all others and some others we can testify that the rain-sleet-hail-snowstorm did much damage last week to aged apple trees. At the Old Oaken Bucket farm limbs of apple trees considerably large were snapped from their fixtures like unto a T. D. pipe stem. But to get down to the phenomenal astronomical geological and botanical aspect of this storm, it is the first of its kind that we have ever seen in November, and we have seen seventy-five Novembers.
“Among those from town who attended the Boston show-off [Nov. 14] of Gen. Foch was Sergt. Seth Bannister, one of our town overseas veterans.
“Amos Polley is preparing land for tobacco and more of it than last year. Last year’s crop he has homemade into cigars which are said to have the right taste. We cannot testify as we haven’t tasted for seventy years, and that is sufficient for all time.
“While finishing haying on Tuesday, near some raspberries we unintentionally and unpremeditately [sic] cut a cane that measured perpendicular height ways fourteen feet. If any have doubts about the perpendicular of this story bring on your sworn land surveyor and we will submit the autopsy to him.
“Hon. Herbert E. Fletcher is one of the contractors for remodeling the Groton road, which is a guarantee that it will be remodeled according to the plans of the architect. We have not learned yet who the architect is, but it has been surmised that it is state, county and town.
“Fatally Injured. A fatal accident occurred Armistice day near the junction of Plain and Rocky hill [now part of Stony Brook] roads…. Arthur Fleury and Arthur Gormley, of Lowell, were enjoying the holiday and open season hunting. Gormley was slightly in the rear, and tripping on the underbrush, the gun he carried was discharged, the shot entering his right arm and piercing the lungs and liver of Fleury, who was almost instantly killed….
“Dr. Fabian Packard, of Graniteville, was sent for and the body was taken in charge by Undertaker David L. Greig, and removed to Ayer to await the inquest of Dr. Bulkeley, the medical examiner for this district.
“Gormley was rushed to the Lowell Corporation hospital, where his wounds were dressed. He is reported as resting fairly comfortable [sic].
“The body of Fleury was removed to his home in Lowell, where he is survived by his parents and five brothers. He was eighteen years old.
“Graniteville. The Abbot Worsted Company soccer football club had an easy time of it in Methuen last Saturday afternoon when they defeated the Methuen team in a contest for the state cup, six goals to two. It now looks from present appearances that the Abbots will have to fight it out in the finals with the Gray & Davis club of Cambridge for the state championship, although the Falcos [sic] of Holyoke are possible contenders….
“The Abbot Juniors soccer club defeated the All Stars from the Merrimack Valley league at Forge Village last Sunday afternoon, 2 goals to 0….”
TD style tobacco pipe made from white clay has the initials “TD” on the back of the bowl, possibly the 18th century London pipe maker Thomas Dormer, but the TD soon just denoted the style. Courtesy Image / http://www.odysseysvirtualmuseum.com.