The Westford Wardsman, October 11, 1919
Center. Mrs. Helena M. Bartlett has demobilized her service flag this week. Her son, Perley M. Bartlett, who has seen two years of service overseas, has returned and has recently been spending a few days with his mother. Mr. Bartlett has been in the S.O.S. service at Bordeaux for many months.
Mrs. Robert H. Elliott is at the Baptist hospital, where she underwent an operation Friday of last week. She is now resting quite comfortably and beginning to make a good recovery.
Dr. and Mrs. Henry L. McCluskey spent over night at Mr. and Mrs. Arthur E. Day’s Tuesday.
Mrs. William H. Pollock is at the Lowell General hospital, where she underwent an operation the first of this week. Mrs. Pollock has not been in good health for a long time and it is hoped she may now make a good recovery for the sake of her family, who need her so much.
Deacon Charles L. Adams of South Chelmsford died this last week and funeral services were held from the South Chelmsford Baptist church, October 5. Burial was at Fairview cemetery, Westford. Formerly Mr. Adams lived at Parkerville and he with his family are remembered by the older members as constant attendants at the Congregational church in this village.
The opening meeting of the Tadmuck club takes place next Tuesday afternoon at 2:30 at the Unitarian church. Mrs. William C. Roudenbush, president, will give her opening address. Mrs. H. V. Hildreth will give a report of the annual meeting of the State Federation at South Hadley in June. An address will be given by Miss Agnes Hassett on “Women and finance” and there will be music by Misses Mildred and Pamelia Precious of Forge Village. Club tea will be served. Members please remember the annual dues.
Rally Sunday was made interesting last Sunday at the Congregational church. There were over sixty of the Sunday school classes not including the senior classes who took part in the exercises. Next Sunday Rev. John L. Kilbourn, secretary of the Massachusetts Home Missionary society, will be the speaker both morning and evening. The special missionary offering will be held at this time.
An all-day Ladies’ Aid meeting was held at the home of the Misses Mary and Winnifred Green Thursday of this week. The delightful hospitality of this pleasant home was much enjoyed by those present.
The Cameron-Braley wedding Saturday last was an interesting and brilliant affair, when Alexander Abbot Cameron, son of Mr. and Mrs. Julian Abbot Cameron of this town, and Miss Joanna Sedgwick Braley, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Henry Hudson Braley of Concord, were united in marriage. The ceremony took place at the historic and beautiful old first Parish church at 6:30 in the presence of a large assembly of guests. The preceding evening the bride gave a dinner at her home followed by dancing at the Concord town hall for the bridal party. After a wedding tour Mr. and Mrs. Cameron will live in Westford and occupy the beautiful new home which is being built for them [at 10 Graniteville Road across the road from Alexander’s parents who resided in the large home at 7 Graniteville Road].
Miss Emily F. Fletcher and Miss Harriet M. Hodgman attended September 26 and 27 the Federation of Natural History societies of New England, the gathering being held at Fall River.
Death. Word came to the Westford relatives on last week Thursday of the sudden death of Frederick A. Hildreth in Malden. His only son, Lieut. Herbert V. Hildreth, of this village, and on duty in Boston with his company of state guard, was granted a four-days’ furlough on account of the death and funeral of his father. The following obituary sketch of the late Mr. Hildreth is quoted from the Malden daily paper:
Frederick Asa Hildreth of 53 Gould avenue, for forty-seven years an employee at the Boston postoffice as letter carrier, collector and clerk, passed away suddenly yesterday afternoon at the Boston postoffice where he had called for his pay, suffering an apoplectic stroke. Mr. Hildreth had been off duty for a week because of the indisposition of his wife, and had not been in the best of health himself. Of late years he had been clerking in the letter room. Mr. Hildreth was stricken just as he advanced to sign the pay roll, and before a chair could be provided he fell to the floor. He passed away shortly before physicians from the Relief hospital could arrive. Word came to his family here through the local postoffice.
Mr. Hildreth was born and went to school in Lowell, but later attended and graduated from Westford academy [entered in 1861], after which he learned the printing business. At the outbreak of the civil war he enlisted in Westford in the signal corps and served for over two years in New Orleans and vicinity. Returning, he started in the printing business in Lowell, and in 1872 he entered the postal service, spending all three years in the Central office at Station A in the south end and back to the central office.
He had lived in Malden thirty years and in Everett fourteen years where he was a member of J. A. Perkins post, G.A.R. Mr. Hildreth was also identified with the Westford Veterans association. He attended the Universalist church and Rev. E. Perry Bush conducted his funeral service.
Mr. Hildreth was married fifty-seven years ago to Miss Ella S. Fletcher [entered Westford Academy in 1857], who survives him. He also leaves his son, Herbert V. Hildreth, of the Hildreth Granite Co., of Westford and Boston, and a daughter, Mrs. E. Catherine Allen of 53 Gould avenue, Malden, where Mr. and Mrs. Hildreth made their home; also, three grandchildren, Harold W. and Leon F. Hildreth, and Mrs. Allen’s only daughter Catherine; also, one great grandchild, Richard L. Hildreth.
After the funeral services at Malden Mr. Hildreth’s body was brought to Westford for interment in the family lot at Fairview cemetery, where committal services were held at the grave. A delegation of G.A.R. men accompanied the funeral party.
State Guard. Few signs appear of a speedy ending of the stay of the state guard in Boston. In fact provisions in the line of equipment and for making better their accommodations look more for a prolonged stay there. For instance, modern rifles from Camp Devens are replacing the antiquated weapons that have been in use. The South Armory, where the Westford company is quartered, however well it may have been designed as an armory, never was planned as a barracks for a whole regiment of infantry. Boston has been so sure of her own self control that she never thought of arrangements for the entertainment of an army to see that she behaved herself. Several efforts are being made to make the armory more nearly a suitable barracks, but there seems no danger that it will become such that the men will pine to stay there.
Canvas cots have been provided throughout our regiment. The Westford company has somehow fared yet better in obtaining iron spring beds with mattresses. While some cases of sickness have occurred, on the whole the health of the men stays good. All are uneasy over the prolonged stay and some of the apparently needless military restrictions.
Graniteville. Evelyn Ruth Defoe, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Defoe, celebrated her fifth birthday anniversary with a birthday party at her home on last week Friday afternoon. The affair was largely attended by many of her little friends. During the afternoon the time was pleasantly spent in playing games and other forms of amusement, and all had a thoroughly good time. Refreshments were served and it is needless to say that this part of the program was much enjoyed. Miss Evelyn was the recipient of many pretty gifts from her numerous little friends.
At the harvest supper and entertainment held in the vestry of the M.E. church, recently, Mrs. A. B. Carr had charge of the supper and the entertainment was under the direction of Mrs. J. E. York.
William D. Hannay, of Rexton, N.B., has been a recent guest of Mr. and Mrs. A. B. Carr.
Mrs. H. D. Wright has been on the sick list for the past few days.
Both masses in St. Catherine’s church last Sunday morning were celebrated by Rev. J. Emile Dupont. After the second mass the regular meeting of the Holy Name society was held.
Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Wright, with their two children, who have been stopping with Mr. and Mrs. H. D. Wright for the past few weeks, left for their home in Washington, D.C., last week.
A surprise party was given to Miss Blanche Carpentier at the home of Miss Grace Pickos on last Monday evening that was largely attended by many of the young people. Numerous games were played and were thoroughly enjoyed. During the evening refreshments were served. Miss Carpentier received many pretty gifts from her numerous friends and all had a fine time.
Many from here attended the soccer football game in Forge Village on last Saturday afternoon, when the Abbot Worsted Company team defeated the Lawrence Thistles by the score of 5 to 1. Soccer football is making quite a hit with the sporting fraternity in this vicinity and the games are being well attended.
Chestnuts are very plentiful here this season and many parties are to be seen daily going into the different woods in this vicinity.
Forge Village. The nurses report of the work done for the month of September is as follows: Communicable diseases reported 2 cases of mumps, 1 whooping cough, 1 German measles, 1 tuberculosis and 2 suspected cases, 3 scarlet fever cases carried over from last month; 4 cases of itch were found in one school and their homes were visited and instructions given to the parents; number of visits made to communicable diseases 31, school 29, instructive and observatory calls 19, baby welfare visits 22, advisory calls 15, office calls 4, surgical cases 2, sanitary visits 2, school children visited at their homes 24, visits of business and social nature 10; 12 children taken to physician to be vaccinated and 3 taken to dentist in Ayer; 41 office consultations for slight ailments in the different schools; 6 pupils under special supervision. Eva M. Lord.
John Venn has resigned as clerk for Hanley & Co., and is working in the employ of Abbot Worsted Co.
William Wilson has returned to Camp Lee after a ten-days’ furlough spent at the home of his mother, Mrs. Margaret Wilson. He expects to sail shortly.
Philip Lord has resigned as clerk in the store recently taken over by J. A. LeClerc. Mrs. William Cushaine is now in charge of the postoffice and store.
Mrs. Josephine Coogle, who has conducted the mill boarding house for several years, has retired. She leaves to spend the winter in Hartford, Conn., with relatives. The boarding house has been taken over by Miss Mary Hannon, of Lawrence, who arrived with her father last Saturday.
Mr. and Mrs. Alvah Bicknell are spending their vacation with Mrs. Bicknell’s brother, Mr. and Mrs. John Carmichael.