Turner's Public Spirit, October 11, 1924
A look back in time to a century ago
By Bob Oliphant
Center. Mrs. Nora Colburn spent a few days in Concord, N.H., last week as the guest of her daughter, Miss Eleanor S. Colburn, who is an assistant supervisor of music in the schools. Miss Colburn also has a position as soloist in one of the churches.
Mr. and Mrs. James Kimball left last Saturday for Florida, where they will spend the winter.
Charles Colburn attended the Brockton fair on Friday.
Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Gould and daughter Bernice and Miss Lillian G. Wright leave this Saturday on a trip to Schenectady, N.Y., by way of the Mohawk Trail.
At the last meeting of the Grange, held on Thursday of last week, the first and second degrees were conferred and at the next regular meeting the third and fourth degrees will be conferred followed by a supper in charge of Miss Ethel Ingalls, assisted by other young people.
The Grange will conduct an old-fashioned dance on October 24. Any member having friends to whom they wish invitations should notify Carl Lydiard at once.
The many friends of Miss Helen Kimball will regret to learn of her illness at the Millers River hospital, Winchendon. Miss Kimball, at the beginning of the school year, had started her first year as a teacher. She had endeared herself to her young pupils in the short space of time and as a token of appreciation the little folks presented Miss Kimball with a gold Eversharp pencil.
Mr. and Mrs. David Hilton (Daisy Bashford) and Miss Katherine L. Ott, the two latter being former teachers at the academy, have been recent guests in town.
On October 10 Miss Frances Ladd, superintendent of the Faulkner hospital, Jamaica Plain, will speak to the academy girls on “The opportunities of nursing.”
John Trask has been elected as captain of this year’s basketball team at the academy and Roger Hildreth as manager. Mr. Fitzgibbons, principal of the Sargent school, will again act as coach for the team.
The Northwest Middlesex Teachers’ association will hold their annual convention in Ayer on October 24.
The Ladies’ Aid of the Congregational church met with the Misses Atwood on Thursday.
The Missionary society will meet with Miss Sarah Rogers on Friday of next week.
The Legion Auxiliary will hold a benefit dance in Abbot’s hall, Forge Village, Friday evening, October 10.
Thomas Welch, who was formerly employed in town, is ill at the Massachusetts General hospital.
Mrs. Bosworth, Mr. and Mrs. Donahoe and two children were guests of Mr. and Mrs. Sidney B. Wright last Sunday.
The funeral of Mrs. Gertrude Lehman Rode was held from the home of her parents on the Littleton road, on Wednesday of last week. The services were conducted by Rev. Frank B. Crandall. The bearers were Harwood L. Wright, George F. White, Sebastian B. Watson and Alfred W. Hartford. Interment was in Fairview cemetery.
Death. Howard A. Felch, son of Mr. and Mrs. John K. Felch, passed away at his home early last week Thursday morning at the age of 16 years, 9 months, 11 days. Master Felch had been an invalid for a long period and although a great sufferer at times maintained a cheery disposition. He received the tender ministrations of his foster parents, who devoted their time to making his short life happier and brighter.
The funeral was held from the Congregational church on Sunday afternoon and was conducted by the pastor, Rev. Edward Disbrow. The singing was by the full choir—“Safe in the arms of Jesus,” and “Rock of ages.” The bearers were Harry E. Nourse, Allan G. Day, Lewis E. Day and Percy D. Murray. The floral tributes were profuse and beautiful and interment was in Fairview cemetery.
Friends and relatives were present from the neighboring towns, also from New Hampshire and various places in Massachusetts.
About Town. The Andrew G. Anderson family have moved from the Lowell road, Brookside, to Amherst, N.H., a little north of Nashua, having sold their small farm to Lafayette Overlock and bought one of the largest farms in Amherst.
Fred H. Davis, formerly of the Harvard town farm, sold all of his personal property at auction today at the Abbot Worsted Company farm at Brookside. Mr. Davis is planning to go to Florida. His family will remain here for the present.
The Old Oaken Bucket farm folks are digging a piece of potatoes badly tangled with morning glory vines. We measured one trailing vine and it measured twenty feet; if it had been a good year for them it probably would have measured forty feet long.
The next meeting of the Grange will be held in the town hall next week Thursday evening, when the third and fourth degrees will be conferred, the third degree by the ladies’ degree staff and the fourth by the regular officers. A harvest [supper] will be served. Here is a chance to get your money’s worth, so come right along and help yourself to enjoyment. Enjoyment is free and it will be freer and more of it if you take your turn at its evolution. Loosen up a bit on your pentup mental cells.
The Old Oaken Bucket farm folks and others made a sudden, flying visit to dear old Harvard last Saturday afternoon. We did not know that we were going until we got started, such was the suddenness of the notion that propelled us into our go-cart. We spent most of our time on the sunny, western slope of Prospect hill, meditating on the long-time-ago “Fruitlands,” where A. Bronson Alcott tried to lay the foundations of a new heaven on earth, but as humanity was not developed up to the living on such an ideal foundation failed out before it got starved out. Besides meditating on the “Fruitlands” movement we meditated on the unparalleled natural view of the westward and certainly if the word “magnolia” means anything it means this westward view. We got trapped in this view so that we were unable to call on some of the Harvard brethren as well as some of the female brethren who have so entertainingly entertained us on reminiscences of Harvard. Well, there are other days, when we hope not to be seized so notionably sudden.
When I wrote last week on the proposed child labor law I builded better than I knew, for I did not know then that “Cal,” as he is familiarly called, is for the bill. Hurrah for “Cal!” [i.e., President Calvin Coolidge] He has got into good company now and I am going to vote for him now instead of Lay Folly Etta [i.e., Senator Robert M. La Follette, the new Progressive Party’s nominee for the Presidency].
We acknowledge with delight recent visits from Revs. Frank B. Crandall, Edward D. Disbrow, Everett E. Jackman and O. L. Brownsey. Gosh, I guess I am well cared for!
This is “fire week” as per the proclamation of Governor Cox. Say, sir, and others, is there not danger of this being construed into a “gesture for more fires?” I am dreadful ‘fraid on it. Just the same as I was afraid that demonstration day would be construed as a “gesture to war.” Say, has anyone heard even a popgun or toy pistol noise up as the result of demonstration day? If anyone has I wish that they would report from what direction this popgun cannonading came, for I am so dreadful ‘fraid of what it may lead to. Well, we had $19,022,000 worth of fires in this state last year, and if it runs a cent over that amount this year you are safe in saying it is owing to this “fire prevention week gesture.”
Rev. and Mrs. O. L. Brownsey, formerly of the Congregational church here, were in town on Tuesday, calling on friends. They are now located in Dunbarton, N.H.
The W. R. Taylors and the S. L. Taylors made a recent automobile trip to Framingham, going through Westford, Acton, Littleton, Concord, Sudbury, Hudson, Stow and Southboro. We were too late—we saw some thrifty wooden peach orchards and land where watermelons had grown, that’s all. I told them it was too late, but they insisted on trying it.
The first meeting of the Tadmuck club for the season will be held on Tuesday afternoon at 2:45 in the Congregational church. The speaker will be Mrs. Joseph S. Leach, with music by Mrs. Seabury T. Short, soprano, and Mrs. Alfred Uhler, pianist. There will be a reception to the officers, and tea will be served, the reception committee as hostesses.
Charles L. Hildreth, administrator of the estate of Ella F. Hildreth, will sell at auction October 17-18 at the Hildreth place at the Center [10 Hildreth St.], household furniture, etc. [They are first cousins once removed.] An antique sale will be held on November 1. The advertisement concerning this auction will be found in another column.
Hand-picked Candidates. “The Man About Town,” who writes so entertainingly under Ayer, asks, “Let us hear what the Westford correspondent thinks about the way the republican nomination for state senator was handled in that district.” Well, I’ll tell you Mr., as far as the convention acted I am unable to see anything but legalized honesty even if they did not nominate our man from Westford. They nominated one of the best and most efficient of men. Now as far as the cause that made it necessary to nominate by convention, I-er, I-er—well to be plain about it brother—well let me see what I was going to say anyway. Oh, I know, it has just come to me, I like hand-picked apples; they are worth more and sometimes for the sake of getting nominated an exceptionally efficient legislator. The way you line up in hinting you seem to be inclined to charge this nomination up against the republican party generally. Remember, Mr. Brother, that the steps preceding this convention had an example set them by the democratic convention. Brother Charlie was reported to be hand-picked, and the man who hand-picked is reported to have displayed remarkably poor judgment. Why bless us all in a bunch unanimously. I can pick forty men each in Westford and Ayer that can display as much national brain capacity as Brother Charlie.
Personally, I am for the hand-picked conventions as against the primaries.
Church Notes. First church (Unitarian)—Sunday service at 4 pm. Preacher, Rev. Frank B. Crandall, the minister. Subject, “The discoveries of America.” Church school at three.
Miss A. Mabel Drew who has long and devotedly served the church and the community as superintendent of the First church school, has been obliged by the pressure of business matters to resign her post of service. Her loss will be keenly felt.
The church school reopened on Sunday. Mrs. L. H. Buckshorn has consented provisionally to serve as superintendent. It is her conviction, shared by the minister and the past superintendent, that the church school ought to have the benefit of the counsel of one or more experienced schoolmen as consultants.
The Y.P.R.U. held the first meeting of the fall season Sunday at 5 p.m. Devotions, singing of hymns, business and a collation served by the hostesses, Elizabeth Carver, Elizabeth Wells and Angie Parfitt, were included in the program. The society is planning a big military whist party to be held in the near future. The committees to serve at the meetings for the rest of the year were announced. It is suggested that the list be clipped and preserved for reference.
The committees are as follows: November—H. M. Seavey, Everett Millis, Ernest Peterson, Gustave Peterson, Walter Wright, Andrew Parfitt, William Carver, Norman Day. December—A. Mabel Drew, Genevieve Blaney, Alice Heywood, Edna Hamlin, Angie Parfitt, Blanche Rockwell, Betty Prescott. January—Fisher Buckshorn, Charles Colburn, Leon Hildreth, Lawrence Ingalls, Wallace Johnson, Morton Seavey, Philip Prescott. February—Eleanor Colburn, Marion Fletcher, Mrs. Ethel Fletcher, Mrs. Ruth Johnson, Freda Johnson, Alice Johnson, Mrs. Mildred Robinson. March—Rev. and Mrs. Crandall with officers. April—Austin Fletcher, Clifford Johnson, Carl Lydiard, Freda Robinson. May—Mrs. W. C. Carver, Elizabeth Wells, Elizabeth Carver, Virginia and Violet Green.
The church has received the following invitation:
All Souls’ church, Washington, D.C., invites you to be represented by minister and delegates at the dedication of its new home of worship Sunday and Monday, October 26 and 27.
On Sunday the preacher will deal with an important question which concerns the American people—and it is not whether Columbus or Leif Erickson was the discoverer of America.
Graniteville. The C. E. Spaulding class of the Methodist church Sunday school held a very pleasing social and entertainment in the church vestry on last Saturday evening. Many amusing games were played, after which the following pleasing program was given: Songs, Miss Hilma Hanson and Dorothy McEnaney; piano and violin duet, Miss Ada and Albert Eaton; piano solos, Mrs. A. L. O’Brien; recitations, Doris Perkins and Master Walter O’Brien. Miss Ada Eaton was the accompanist during the evening. The following committee had charge: Misses Evelyn Robinson, Doris York, Maud Writley, Dorothy McEnaney, Lillian Dane and Dorothy Doucette.
Joseph Wall has been spending the past few days in Riverton, N.H., as the guest of Mr. and Mrs. Charles McLean.
Harold and Henry Harrington started college life this week. Both young men are now attending the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston. [MIT was located in Boston until 1916 when it moved across the Charles River to its present campus in Cambridge.]
Local radio fans have greatly enjoyed getting the results of the world series games this week. [The 1924 World Series between the American League Washington Senators and the National League New York Giants was played October 4-10. The Giants, under Hall of Fame manager John McGraw, had been in the previous three World Series, winning in 1921 and 1922 but losing in 1923. Thirty-six-year-old Hall of Famer Walter Johnson, who won 23 games that year for the Senators, made his first World Series appearance losing his two starts in Games 1 and 5. In the seventh game, widely considered as one of the most dramatic games in Series history, Johnson came in as a relief pitcher in the ninth with the game tied 3-3. The game went to 12 innings before Johnson and the Senators won the game and the series 4 games to 3. It was the Washington Senators first and only Series Championship while they were in Washington. The team relocated to Minnesota in 1961 and became the Twins, winning the Series 1987 and 1991. The radio announcer for the 1924 Series was sports broadcasting pioneer Graham McNamee (1888-1942), who had just started announcing games in 1923 and is credited with originating play-by-play broadcasting for which he was awarded the Ford C. Frick Award by the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2016.]
Littleton
News Items. Littleton people are reported as having been at the K.K.K. meeting in Westford town hall Wednesday evening.
Groton
News items. Henry Sanderson of Westford has been spending this week at Edwin Shattuck’s.
Ayer
News Items. William Leahy, who was hit by a falling electric pole at Forge Village on last week Thursday evening when returning from his day’s work, is at the Ayer private hospital and is as comfortable as can be expected. Numerous fractures and Mr. Leahy’s advanced age render his condition serious. He has been in the employ of the Daniel Gage Ice Company for many years.
District Court. Joseph Normand of Lowell was before the court on Monday morning charged with being drunk at Westford and also charged with operating a motor vehicle in that town while under the influence of liquor. He was found guilty on both complaints and was fined $100 for operating while under the influence of liquor and $10 for being drunk. Henry Tellier of Lowell, who was with him was fined $10 for drunkenness.
Pepperell
To the Editor:
In the interest of clean interscholastic sport the following is written to the superintendents of Ayer, Groton, Harvard, Littleton, Lunenburg, Townsend and Westford:
I am wondering if by your influence there might be effected some better cooperation toward compliance with locally adopted and generally accepted principles of the ethics of inter-scholastic sport than seems to be the resultant of recent interrelations of our principals and coaches?
For one thing, I would like as a reaction, (1) a statement from you that you discountenance the principle of “anything to win,” when “anything” includes entry of contestants who are not members in good standing in their schools; (2) and further that pressure of a community sentiment in favor of “anything to win,” such as I am led to believe exists in one of the towns concerned, does not justify yielding by the school officials to any such community sentiment.
I am also led to believe that there exists at the fair, and with cooperation or connivance of fair officials and meet officials, a definite purpose to “get Pepperell.” In regard to this I would like to state that school and public sentiment in this town seems scarcely more disturbed over the existence of this desire than is the case with me personally. I believe the feeling here is rather that whether the aim to “get” is successful or not, the main harm is wrought in the minds of those who desire to do the “getting,” and in the community where such sentiments prevail.
George B. Clarke
Supt. of Pepperell Schools.