The Westford Wardsman, November 22, 1919
Center. Mr. and Mrs. James L. Kimball, who have been in Westford during the autumn, have returned to Boston.
Mr. and Mrs. Perry E. Shupe expect to go this week to their farm in South Merrimack, N.H., for the winter.
Rev. and Mrs. R. Hussey, of All Souls church, Lowell, will preach at the Unitarian church on Sunday afternoon at four o’clock. Mr. Booth of the quartet of the First Universalist church, Lowell, will assist in the musical part of the service with tenor solos.
Street Superintendent McDonald has had the hollows along the main street of the village filled with gravel, which does much to improve conditions.
Mr. and Mrs. H. G. Osgood have recently spent two or three days with Mr. and Mrs. Lyman E. Wilkins at their home in Cambridge.
The subject for the morning service at the Congregational church on Sunday will be “Our priceless blessings,” and in the evening, at seven o’clock, Mr. Brownsey will speak on “Encouraging one another.” At the morning service a collection for regular benevolences will be taken.
George F. White had an unusual display in the show windows of his garage in Lowell on Thursday. “Diplomat,” Mr. White’s prize Ayrshire bull, and “Princess,” a prize heifer, was on exhibition from ten o’clock in the morning until five in the afternoon, and the public had an opportunity to see what probably was never seen in a showroom in Lowell before—a bull. These animals are used to travel and have been seen by many thousands of people this fall at the fairs in various states from Massachusetts to South Carolina. They have been shown nine consecutive weeks and came home with many honors, the bull having taken first prize at seven of these fairs, five junior championships and one grand championship. Mr. White is completing the extensive rebuilding for the housing of his registered herd of Ayrshires at his Westford farm.
Mrs. Julian A. Cameron was among the patronesses at an entertainment for the benefit of French war orphans at Whitney hall, Brookline, Wednesday evening, under the auspices of the All Souls Lend-a-hand club.
Schools close Wednesday for the Thanksgiving recess, which lasts over until the following Monday.
Mrs. Martha Grant Whiting, who has been filling her old place at the Frost school for a number of weeks, finishes her work on Wednesday, and her successor is not fully decided upon. Miss Edith A. Wright, who was ill in the summer, resumes her teaching after the Thanksgiving recess, and Miss Maude Robinson, who has been taking her place, takes a needed rest at home, she having taught a special summer course in addition to her teaching during the fall at Frost school.
Oscar Campbell, a recent service man, is staying at the home of his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Knight, and working with Mr. Knight for a few weeks.
Alexander Cameron had a telephone installed this week at the Cameron homestead, where he is spending the winter—42-13.
During the high wind of Wednesday evening a telephone pole blew down in front of the McDonald house on the Chelmsford-Littleton road.
Under the auspices of the Farm Bureau there will be a meeting at the town hall on December 11 at eight o’clock, held in conjunction with the canning club and the pig-raising club. The prizes to the winners in these two clubs will be awarded at the meeting. The first part of the meeting will be taken by the farm bureau on fertilizers and the project of starting an apple school will be discussed, and there will be a representative of the household economics department to speak to the home-makers.
At the next meeting of the Tadmuck club, Tuesday afternoon at library hall, Dr. Lily Owen Burbank, educational organizer of the state department of health, will speak on “The parents’ responsibility.” Each member is entitled to bring a guest, preferably a parent. This promises to be a worth-while meeting and a good attendance is hoped for.
That very interesting book, “[Theodore] Roosevelt’s letters to his children,” [1919] has been added to the J. V. Fletcher library.
A gathering for those scholars in the Congregational Sunday school who held the best record of attendance for one month was entertained in the vestry on Tuesday afternoon. There were thirty-two scholars who held this record and Mrs. Brownsey and Mr. Osgood were in charge. Games were in order, followed by refreshments. Mrs. Meyers and Miss Marion Woodbury assisted in helping the children to have a good time.
Eighteen more of the members of the state guard were released and came home Sunday, after ten weeks of duty. They were conveyed by auto from the city. Those left on duty in Boston are William Flagg, Clifford Johnson, Bertram Sutherland, Charles Roby and William Ledwith. They are on duty in the Roslindale section of the city and are quartered in one of the municipal buildings, which quarters in comparison they think pretty fine. Individual lockers, a piano, a gymnasium with shower baths and good food are among the good things enumerated.
A dancing party given by the young men will be held Wednesday, Thanksgiving eve. The Colonial singing orchestra, seven pieces, of Waltham, will furnish music for the dancing.
Rev. and Mrs. David Wallace of Sterling, who were guests at the annual supper of the Congregational church Friday evening of last week, were entertained at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler. During their stay they made a number of calls on old friends and parishioners.
Farmers’ Institute. The first in the series for the winter of these gatherings was held on Wednesday in the pleasant Congregational church in Chelmsford, in charge of Edward F. Dickinson, of Billerica, chairman of the institute committee.
The first part of the morning session was given to an informal discussion of the season’s experiences, especially with apples and potatoes, after which Lewis E. MacBrayne, formerly of the Lowell Courier Citizen staff and now with the Boston Chamber of Commerce, was introduced and gave a timely and intelligent address: subject, “The outlook for the New England farmer—economic and social.”
At noon a bountiful dinner was served by the ladies of the church, after which came the after-dinner exercises with good singing interspersing the speakers. Westford was capably represented at these exercises by Frederic A. Hanscom and Rev William E Anderson. The topic for the afternoon was “Home reading,” with illustrations by Rev. J. Harold Dale of Billerica and was followed with appreciative attention. These two addresses made a most worth-while day.
Those present from Westford were Mr. and Mrs. S. L. Taylor, Rev. and Mrs. William E. Anderson, Mr. and Mrs. L. W. Wheeler, Frederic A. Hanscom, Mrs. H. M. Bartlett and E. J. Whitney.
Annual Supper. The annual supper of the Congregational church took place Friday evening of last week at the town hall. One hundred and forty occupied places at the tables for the supper served at 6:30. The supper coming in victory week runners of red, white and blue on the tables gave the patriotic touch. After the menu had been well discussed John P. Wright presided and introduced Rev. Mr. Puddefoot of Boston, keen, alert and original at nearly four score, who spoke on “Why I am an optimist.” John P. Wright gave an interesting account of recent state guard experiences in Boston and Rev. David Wallace of Sterling, a former pastor, brought greetings and spoke earnestly on “Service.” Music was furnished by the Mendelssohn quartet of Lowell.
The entertainment committee consisted of F. A. Hanscom, William C. Roudenbush and Mrs. William R. Taylor. The supper committee was Mrs. L. W. Wheeler, Mrs. G. F. White, Mrs. P. E. Wright, Mrs. A. W. Hartford, Mrs. P. E. Shupe, Mrs. William C. Roudenbush, Misses Mary and Winnifred Green, Mrs. Bartlett, Mrs. Gumb and Mrs. Sutherland.
About Town. Tuesday, about midnight, Mr. Cutting, who lives on the Amesberg farm, while returning from Lowell in his automobile, ran into the deep ditch on the Stony Brook road soon after turning from the Lowell road. The lights became extinguished, which was the real cause of running into the ditch. The machine, uninjured, remained there until morning, when by horse power it was drawn to the road. The road is narrow and the ditch is deep at this point. The east side of the road should be widened even for safety [sic] daytime travel.
Rev. Frederick Gauld, formerly of Leominster, conducted the service of the Unitarian church last Sunday afternoon, delivering an inspiring address on “The law of kindness.” Rev. Alfred R. Hussey, of All Souls church, Lowell, will conduct the service at four o’clock Sunday afternoon.
Mr. and Mrs. W. R. Taylor and Mr. and Mrs. S. L. Taylor recently motored to Merrimack, N.H., to visit Mr. and Mrs. Robert Schelenger and family, he being a half-brother of Mrs. S. L. Taylor.
Amos Polley, on the Prairie farm, finished haying Tuesday, having defeated Oliver Desjardens [sic] by an apparent one month.
Billerica and Westford Granges accepted the invitation of Tewksbury Grange to a neighbors’ night visit and entertainment Tuesday evening, and appeared in encouraging numbers, Westford Grange with forty-seven and Billerica with fifty-eight. Jointly they furnished the entertainment. The following was given by Westford Grange: Piano duet, Marion and Mildred Fletcher; piano solo and song, Rachel Wall; pantomime, “Widow Murphy weighing heavy on a close line,” Edith Judd; reading of the pantomime, Mrs. Elizabeth Taylor; singing, depot brigade, Marion and Mildred Fletcher, Eva and Edith Judd, Freda, Alice and Ruth Johnson. Billerica Grange furnished the rest of the entertainment. At the close Tewksbury Grange exemplified refreshments in one act.
Mark Jenkins has bought a quantity of dropped apples on the Read-Drew farm. The cider apples are sent to Perham’s at Chelmsford and the balance sent to Boston.
The heavy chestnut lot on the Lowell road, beyond Chamberlin’s Corner, owned by Oscar R. Spalding, is being cut off so that Chestnut hill, as it is called, will be less a chestnut than the past has properly called it.
As there was just complaint made of the short notice of the recent farmers’ institute in Chelmsford, Mr. Dickinson, in behalf of the institute, gives notice that the next institute would be held in Lowell at the Paige street Baptist church, Wednesday, December 17.
A. F. Conant & Co., of Littleton, have sold their forty-acre farm in Parker Village to Austin Lawrence, of Concord, who buys for a home. The land is all under cultivation, has two acres in asparagus and 200 nice apple trees. There is a two-story, ten-room brick house with telephone, water, several fireplaces and a slate roof. There is also a garage, henhouse and two barns. Fred A. Smith, real estate broker, Ayer, was the agent who handled the deal.
If your farm is for sale or you wish to buy a farm communicate with Fred A. Smith, Real Estate Broker, Ayer.
Back-log dance, Littleton, Nov. 27.
Graniteville. L. H. Stone, the candy dealer from Littleton, had a narrow escape from serious injury on last Saturday afternoon when the automobile he was driving was struck by the engine of the four o’clock freight at the crossing in West Graniteville, near St. Catherine’s church. This is known as the “Red Line” railroad crossing and is a rather dangerous spot. Mr. Stone was driving from Forge Village to Graniteville and was unable to see up the track owing to the woods on the left. He had nearly crossed the track when the locomotive struck the back part of the auto, turning it completely around and up against the stone wall on the opposite side of the track. The machine was badly wrecked, but Mr. Stone remained in the car and was uninjured. This is the first accident of this kind that has happened at this particular crossing and it is a wonder that something similar has not taken place before. It is fortunate that there were no serious results on Saturday.
A daughter [Helen Marjory] was born to Mr. and Mrs. Albert Reeves, West Graniteville, Saturday, November 15.
The Abbot Worsted Company eleven defeated the fast Methuen team on the Forge Village grounds last Saturday by the score of 1 to 0. It was the fastest and best played game of the season and was witnessed by a large gathering from Lowell, North Chelmsford, Graniteville, Ayer and all the surrounding towns. On this week Saturday the Abbot team will meet the United Machine Company in a cup tie match in Beverly.
The regular meeting of Court Graniteville, F. of A., was held on Thursday evening with a good attendance.
Part of the mill pond was frozen over for the first time this season on last Saturday night.
Many of the local state guardsmen who have been on duty in Boston have returned to their homes here.
Many of the young people from here attended the dance in East Pepperell last week and had a very enjoyable time.
It is expected that the “movies” will start in the near future.
Forge Village. On Saturday afternoon in a hard fought game the Abbot Worsted team defeated the Methuen players 1-0 in the Lawrence and district league before the largest crowd of the season. One of the features of the game was the fine work of Morley the Methuen goalkeeper, who saved a great many wonderful shots from Abbot’s forwards. After twenty minutes of play Clegg of Abbot scored the only goal, after clever footwork. In the second half Abbots were continually bombarding at the Methuen goal without result. The goal of the home team was never in danger, because of the fine work of the backs. There is much good natured rivalry between these two teams, owing to the fact that both are tied for second place in the league with Manchester but one point ahead. This Saturday the local team journeys to Beverly to play the United Shoe players in the second round of the national cup.
Miles Collins has now returned to his duties after a pleasant vacation spent in and around Boston.
Mrs. Carrie Holton of Westboro is the guest of Miss Eva M. Lord.
Miss Annie L. Cherry of Somerville spent the weekend with her aunts, the Misses Christine and Theresa Lowther.
Miss Katherine Ward is at home again after a delightful trip to Washington, Philadelphia and New York. She was one of a party composed of members of the force in the office of the Abbot Worsted Co. They visited all the points of interest in the three cities.
Townsend
Red Cross. The Townsend branch of the Red Cross entertained in Memorial hall last week Friday afternoon twenty-five of the ex-service men from Camp Devens hospital and the young women chauffeurs who accompanied them. T. E. Flarity acted as host and Mrs. R. G. Fessenden, the Red Cross chairman, as hostess, extending to the boys a very cordial welcome. Commander C. W. Hildreth and L. C. Jefts of the Townsend Memorial association, G. A. R., and Rev. and Mrs. A. L. Struthers of the Congregational church were also present to extend loyal greetings and assist socially. An appetizing luncheon was served in the selectmen’s room, the table decorations being Red Cross emblems and ferns. Music was furnished upon the piano by Miss Irene McGuire and following the luncheon some enjoyed dancing and card playing in the auditorium of the hall.
The committee in charge were Mrs. R. G. Fessenden, Mrs. A. J. Atwood, Mrs. J. Livingston and Mrs. Lilla Estes, who were assisted in serving by Mrs. George Page and Miss Alice Day.
Ayer
District Court. Last Saturday morning three soldiers and three women, found in a raid made last week Friday night at the New Union House by the local police, were found guilty of a statutory offence. The women, Anna Gagnon and Mary Day, of Lowell, and Christie Brown, of Gardiner, Me., were placed on probation for three months. The soldiers, Michael Ball and Gabriel Lucas of the 36th Infantry, Camp Devens, and James M. Parker of Camp Dix, N.J., were found guilty and turned over to the camp authorities.
Dennis H. Carpenter, a soldier at Camp Devens, and Alice DeLisle, of Lowell, who were caught in a raid at the New Union House Wednesday night, were found guilty of a statutory offence and paid fines of fifteen dollars each.
Famous War Pictures. On Wednesday, November 26, at the Soldiers’ club, under the auspices of the Joseph Connors post, there will be an opportunity given to the public to see the famous war pictures taken by Capt. Cooper, the official photographer for the A.E.F., assigned to the Yankee division. Capt. Cooper has 4000 feet of film and 75 stereopticon slides, showing faithfully the stirring scenes through which this division passed from the time it entered the trenches until after the armistice.
A most thrilling picture is one which portrays the shelling of the troops in their advance of the Vesle, when the troops are seen coming toward you in skirmish formation and soon shells start to fall among them. An artillery battalion has taken its position on a slope and is just starting to fire. The German observers having seen them, presently the German fire starts to fall among the guns. The shelling is so intense that the battalion is forced to pull the guns out by hand, dragging them down a steep hill to the road where horses and caissons are waiting and as they are galloping away, one shell makes a direct hit on the horses, killing eight of them and seven men.
A full explanation by Capt. Cooper accompanies every reel and picture. All these pictures are official and are the property of the war department.
There will be two shows at seven and nine p.m.