The Westford Wardsman, October 20, 1917
Center. Mr. and Mrs. John P. Wright and daughters, Frances and Alice, spent Sunday with friends in Providence, R.I.
Mr. and Mrs. H. V. Hildreth and Mr. and Mrs. H. E. Fletcher are absent this week on a southern trip to Atlanta, Ga., attending with others a granite dealers convention.
Mr. and Mrs. Preston H. Skidmore and family close their summer home this week and return to Somerville.
Westford friends are interested to learn this week that Rev. David Wallace has accepted a call to Sterling Junction from Assonet, where he has been located over the Federated church for the past year.
Mrs. S. B. Watson and Mrs. Clarence Hildreth were among those present at the Lowell Red Cross headquarters for the meeting on Friday of this week, attended by its officers and those of the various branches in Middlesex county. There were important speakers on chapter and divisional problems by leaders in the work and at 1:30 a luncheon was served. Members from the Westford branch in Graniteville were also present.
The V. C. Bruce Wetmores close their Westford home this winter and will live in Boston. Inglis Wetmore, who has charge of the place, will board at the Center at Mrs. George A. Walker’s during the winter.
Wright & Fletcher have purchased a new Ford auto truck to assist in their grocery business.
The holiday was a quiet one in town. The school recess lasted from Thursday until Monday. The members of the Westford home guard went to Groton for an all-day union drill with the Groton and Concord companies. Most of the busy orchardists at home remained busy with their apple harvest.
In the recent contest of Boy Scouts in Lowell and surrounding towns for the largest number of hours spent in farm work during the summer, and for which a prize was offered, was won by Troop I of Westford, in charge of Principal William C. Roudenbush, scoutmaster of the local troop. The score of this troop was 13,414 hours, and the prize awarded was a cart fully equipped for an over-night hike, with blankets, ponchos, tents, stove and cooking outfit. Troop I of Tewksbury was the winner of the second prize, a handsome truck cart.
At the next meeting of the Tadmuck club, October 23, Mrs. Goldsmith H. Conant will give a book review, “A mind that found itself,” by Charles H. Beers, an autobiography of a nervous breakdown and its cure. Besides the names of Mrs. White, Mrs. Shupe and Mrs. White [sic] admitted into membership at the last meeting should be added those of Mrs. Harold Hill Fletcher, Mrs. W. E. Anderson, Mrs. T. W. Shadduck and Mrs. Reardon, and the junior members are Miss Rachael Kimball and Miss Carolyn Precious. On Thursday, October 4, a meeting of the Woman’s council of the home department of the Middlesex County Farm Bureau was held at the home of Miss Alice M. Howard, called to consider candidates for the position of leader for boys’ and girls’ club work in the county. Those present were Mrs. James J. Storrow of Lincoln, Mrs. F. I. Cooper of Wayland, Miss Alma G. Halbower of Waltham, Mrs. L. P. Richardson and Miss Bancroft of Pepperell and Mr. and Mrs. Blake of Quincy.
The senior class of Westford academy are busy with preparations for their Halloween dance on Friday evening, October 26, at the town hall, which promises to be one of the prettiest dances of the season. The Peerless orchestra will furnish the music.
The adjourned meeting and smoke talk of the Spalding Light Cavalry association, combining the annual meeting and election of officers for the ensuing year, was held Wednesday evening at the association building. A luncheon was served preceding the business meeting. The same officers were re-elected, with the exception of vice president, when Capt. John J. Monahan was chosen to succeed Capt. Waldo Wilson, of Carlisle, deceased. A smoke talk and social hour filled the remainder of the evening.
A feature of the services at the church on Sunday morning will be the singing of our national anthem, “The Star Spangled Banner,” at eleven o’clock. Come prepared with the words and the tune in your minds.
Roy Bicknell, son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles H. Bicknell, has returned to his New York regiment after a few days’ furlough with his home people.
At the Congregational church on Sunday morning the collection will be taken for the Massachusetts Home Missionary society. At the recent Rally Sunday at this church over fifty children and young people took part in the exercises of the meeting.
Officers Elected. The Ladies’ Aid society of the Congregational church held its annual meeting in the vestry on Thursday afternoon of last week with a good attendance and good interest, and the work for the coming season was planned for with committees appointed for the same and the officers chosen and elected for the year. Mrs. John P. Wright succeeds Mrs. William C. Roudenbush, who has served so efficiently as president, and the remaining officers are Mrs. Perley E. Wright, v.p., Mrs. Clarence Hildreth, sec.; Mrs. Phonsie Isles, treas.; Mrs. Arthur E. Day, Mrs. Perry Shupe, Mrs. Helen M. Bartlett, directresses; Mrs. Fred A. Myers, Mrs. A. H. Sutherland, Mrs. A. H. Burnham, Mrs. John McMasters, Mrs. William Pitkin, emergency com.; November banquet, Mrs. H. G. Osgood, Mrs. S. B. Watson, Mrs. A. E. Loveless, Mrs. G. A. Labouteley; December entertainment, Mrs. A. W. Hartford, Mrs. William R. Taylor; January supper, Mrs. Phonsie Isles, Mrs. J. E. Knight, Mrs. H. M. Bartlett; February valentine party young people, in charge of Mrs. John P. Wright; March supper, in charge of the men of the church, Rev. H. A. Lincoln, chairman; April social, Mrs. L. W. Wheeler; May supper, Mrs. Perley E. Wright, Mrs. Perry Shupe, Mrs. George H. White. A new heating plant is to be installed at the parsonage.
About Town. Mr. and Mrs. Fred A. Snow and family, and members of the Old Oaken Bucket farm, visited “Fruitlands” in Harvard last Saturday and were delighted and refreshed to get so close on the trail of those who dared to differ and attempt living it out. “Fruitlands” was the home of the Alcotts for some time.
It is said that the crows and pheasants are eating victuals like corn and buckwheat. The crows were liberal with spring eating. Continue your liberal eating, for the writer would rather hear you sing and caw then hear the shotgun sing.
Saturday evening, October 20, at the town hall, is to be given over to an appreciative demonstration to the Westford soldier boys training at Camp Devens. A committee of company H, Massachusetts state guard, and the public safety committee are planning an entertainment of supper and dancing and high-grade hospitality and appreciation.
Of the 250,000 visitors at Camp Devens last Sunday, after a liberal allowance for those who went to see “our boys,” can we charge the rest up to anything higher than were rush, curiosity, sensational patriotism? Let the crazy dance go on while food soars like an aeroplane, and figuratively speaking, we have to be bayoneted to buy a liberty bond.
Charles Wright is planning for a new gasoline grist mill to grind cob corn and other grain at his residence, close by the Westford station.
Miss Mabel Drew, with her auto, carried her mother, Mrs. Sarah Drew, Miss Emily F. Fletcher and Mrs. Louis H. Buckshorn to the Unitarian conference in Pepperell on Thursday.
At the recent Eastern States Agricultural Exposition in Springfield [the government?] urged the raising of more food. With potatoes at two dollars a bushel at digging time and other food in like proportion, it looks as though we had not obeyed the early warnings to raise more food this year, but rather had obeyed our own inclinations.
Last week Friday being a holiday, the New York stock exchange closed for that day and Saturday. This gave George Howard, of Bound Brook, N.J., a fine opportunity for a weekend visit at the S. L. Taylor home.
Miss Marjorie M. Seavey, a graduate of Westford academy, has been elected secretary of the senior class of the College of Liberal Arts of Boston university.
All who are interested in food conservation are cordially invited to attend an exhibition of the work by the girls of the Canning and Evaporating club of Harvard under the special supervision of the Worcester County Farm Bureau, organized by Miss Clara Endicott Sears; manager, Mrs. Frederick S. Avery, to be held in town hall, Harvard, Tuesday, October 30, from 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Demonstrations of canning and evaporating from 10 to 12 a.m. and from 2 to 4 pm. Canners used: hot water bath, water seal, pressure cooker, Sturtzman evaporators and cook-stove drier. Exercises of awarding diplomas and presentation of club cup, with short addresses, at 8 p.m. punctually. Hot lunch served at Red Cross headquarters, across the road, from 12 to 2 p.m. Hot coffee and rolls with jams, jellies and preserves on sale at the exhibition during the afternoon and evening.
Death. George B. Holt, a charter member of the Spalding Light Cavalry, died suddenly at his home in North Chelmsford, Friday evening of last week, having been found dead on the floor. He was eighty-seven years old, a native of New Hampshire, but most of his life had been passed in North Chelmsford. He was one of the oldest residents, and by marriage was closely related to the widely known Adams families, owners of large real estates. He was a member of the Spalding Light Cavalry during the years of its existence and an officer during most of that period, and the writer has passed many friendly hours with him at the annual training. The funeral was held from his home last Sunday afternoon, the Spalding Light Cavalry being well represented. The Westford squad was represented by Capt. Sherman H. Fletcher, Alfred W. Hartford, S. L. Taylor. The following delegation, representing the Spalding Light Cavalry, acting as bearers: Capt. Sherman H. Fletcher, W. J. Quigley, Judge F. A. Fisher, Preston S. Piggott, Charles E. Bartlett, Charles T. Rowland. Burial was in the family lot in Riverside cemetery, North Chelmsford, where the burial service was read by Rev. Dr. Fisher.
Funeral. The funeral of George Spalding took place from his home on Francis hill last week Thursday afternoon. It was a large gathering of old and young residents who had known him in his varied experiences in life and only knew him as plumb level in his dealings. The services were conducted by Rev. L. L. Greene, minister of the Unitarian church, Chelmsford Center. Mr. and Mrs. Arthur M. Warren gave two sweetly rendered songs. The bearers were Fred L. Fletcher, John J. Dunn, William C. Tucker, Amos M. Polley. Interment was in Forefathers’ cemetery, Chelmsford Center.
Thus is laid to rest one whose friend and neighbor and business career was always “Yea, yea; nay, nay.” The business key of his business life was “I want my customers satisfied.” He was closely related to Bunker Hill, where his grandfather, Joseph Spalding, fired the first shot that brought down a British soldier. The subject of this sketch was the son of Alpheus and Patty (Osgood) Spalding. In 1861 he married Miss Proctor, of Chelmsford, who died in 1902, after living together forty-one years. The only near relatives living are a son, George O. Spalding, and a grandson, Clarence Spalding. Mr. Spalding’s only sister, Mrs. John N. Perry, of West Chelmsford, died several years ago.
Forge Village. Mr. and Mrs. Henry Tyler, of Worcester, spent the weekend at the home of Mr. and Mrs. John Edwards.
The Abbot Worsted Company have the batters up for several houses to be built in the rear of the mission house.
Invitations are out for the wedding of Miss Marjorie Rose, of Belmont, and John Grey, of this village, October 27, at the Sacred Heart church, Mt. Auburn.
Wedding. James H. Brown and Miss Ellen O. Merrick, both well-known and esteemed young people of this village, were married Wednesday morning at St. Catherine’s church. Rev. Charles P. Heaney celebrated the nuptial mass at nine o’clock. The wedding music was played by the organist, Miss Mary F. Hanley, and the regular choir was in attendance. The solos were sustained by Mrs. Arthur Charlton. A large number of intimate friends and relatives were present.
The bride was daintily gowned in white chiffon, wore a veil and carried a white prayer book. She was attended by her sister, Miss Mary Merrick, who was dressed in grey crepe de chine with hat to match. The bridegroom was attended by his brother, John P. Brown.
After the ceremony a wedding breakfast was served at the home of the bride’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Merrick. In the evening a large number enjoyed a wedding supper. The young couple left in the afternoon for a brief wedding trip to New York and Niagara Falls. Upon their return they will reside in their newly furnished home in Clinton, where the groom has an excellent position. The young people received a large number of beautiful gifts and have the best wishes of a wide circle of friends.
A tin shower was tendered the bride at the home of Mrs. Peter Delaney on Monday evening, consisting of every kind of utensil, with a few that caused much merriment. Mrs. John Kavanagh, Jr., dressed as Columbia, and Mrs. John Mann, as Uncle Sam, led the procession and as each one passed the bride the articles were showered upon her. Refreshments were served and a musical program concluded the evening.
Poor Transportation. The residents here are very indignant of the treatment accorded them by the railroads on Saturday. The Fitchburg line is doing all in its power to carry the soldiers from the camp in Ayer to Lowell and other places that they may spend the weekend with their families, but failed to make any arrangements for the residents here, who have supported the railroad since it was built. This leaves no chance whatever for the residents all along the line to get to Lowell on Saturday afternoon, the only time working people have to do their shopping. Last Saturday afternoon people stood at the square from 11:30 in the morning until four o’clock in the afternoon before they could get aboard a car for Lowell, arriving in Lowell at 5:30. Lowell merchants lost many dollars last Saturday and will continue to do so unless better transportation is provided.
The noon train on the Boston and Maine should be put on immediately and a later one Saturday evening to Ayer would take care of the soldiers and be a paying proposition.
Here are some of the experiences of the people in trying to get to Lowell. One jitney driver from Ayer to Lowell offered to carry passengers from this village to North Chelmsford for a dollar apiece; two jumped a freight; several walked to Westford, where they boarded a Brookside car, seven or eight people boarded a car for Ayer and rode nearly to Fitchburg in order to get a car for Lowell.
Would the Lowell and Fitchburg Street Railway agree to have one of their express cars from Ayer to Lowell stop at Forge Village Saturday afternoon for a few seconds as two or three hundred from here would like to squeeze on, and a few might be able to make the trolley pole?
Graniteville. Walter A. Beebe, one of our Graniteville boys, now at Camp Devens, Ayer, spent Sunday at his home here.
Joseph Carpenter, Jr., who enlisted in the United States Cavalry, and who is now stationed at Fort Ethan Allen, Vt., had a few days’ furlough and visited at his home here recently.
Aldat Longley [Adlat J. Langley], another Graniteville boy, who enlisted in the Aviation Corps, and who is now stationed at Mineola, L.I., made a brief visit to his home here this week.
A daughter [Ruth Carolyn] was born to Mr. and Mrs. Carl Hanson, West Graniteville, Saturday, October 13.
Wedding. Miss Drina Gagnon and William Prinn, two well-known young people of this village were married at the parochial residence of St. John’s church, North Chelmsford last Monday morning at nine o’clock, Rev. C. P. Heaney officiating. The bridesmaid was Miss Ruby Gagnon, sister of the bride, and William Buckingham, cousin of the bridegroom, was best man.
The bride was becomingly attired in a costume of white satin, and her traveling costume was of blue of the prevailing mode. The bridesmaid’s costume was of gray satin.
Immediately after the ceremony the wedding party took a carriage for Lowell where a wedding breakfast was served at the Richardson hotel, attended by the members of the immediate families.
In the early afternoon Mr. and Mrs. Prinn boarded a train for New York and Jersey City, where they will spend a brief honeymoon. On their return they will reside in this village.
The young couple were the recipients of many beautiful wedding gifts and start on their new life with the best wishes of a wide circle of friends.
Death. Mrs. Engla Mattson Hersey, formerly of Dorchester, died at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Mattson, this village, early Tuesday morning after a long and painful illness, all of which she bore with great patience and christian fortitude. She was 29 years and 23 days old. She leaves a husband, Elmer P. Hersey, and a little daughter, Virginia; her parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Mattson; a brother, John, of Boston, and three sisters, Mrs. George Marinel of North Chelmsford, Mrs. Robert Jones of Auburndale, and Mrs. Willard Green of Watertown.
Mrs. Hersey, who will be better remembered by her maiden name of Engla Mattson, had resided in Graniteville practically all her life before her marriage some few years ago. She always took an active part in the social and religious life of the village. She was a member of the M.E. church and also of Cameron circle, C.F. of A. Mrs. Heresy was a woman of beautiful character, charitable to a fault and always deeply interested in any subject for the public good. She was a great favorite in the younger set and being of prepossessing appearance was much sought after in social circles.
The deceased had a wide circle of friends who deeply mourn the passing of one they held so dear, cut off in the flower of young womanhood, and leaving beside her husband a beautiful baby girl only twenty-two months old, her death is unusually sad. Having been ill for a long time, and realizing that the end was near, she made her peace with God and was fully prepared to go. The entire community extends its deepest sympathy to the bereaved family in their affliction.
The funeral took place from her parent’s home here on Thursday afternoon. At one o’clock a brief prayer service was held at the house, and at two o’clock the regular funeral services were held in the M.E., church. A quartet composed of Miss Mattie Blanchard, Miss Myrtle Blanchard, J. Clarence Bourne and George Wilson sang with deep expression “Lord, I’m coming home,” “Beautiful isle of somewhere” and “The christian’s goodnight,” three favorite hymns of the deceased.
There were many beautiful floral offerings. The bearers were Charles A. Blodgett, Fred R. Blodgett, Frank McGovern, William Gilson, Thomas Denio and William Sargent. Interment was in Fairview cemetery, Westford, where the committal service was read by Rev. A. S. Fite.
Ayer
Camp Notes. Last Sunday was a record-breaker for the number of visitors coming to the camp, when it was estimated that fully 250,000 people were present during the day. The great throng caused the biggest congestion since the establishment of the camp and kept the military guards and civilian officers busy all day. So large was the crowd that an electric car conductor walked ahead of his car clearing a passage way for it to proceed. The day, as all Sundays that preceded it, was free from accidents of any kind.
The youngest recruit in the camp is John F. Grady, fourteen years of age, who has been adopted by the 30th Company, 8th Battalion. The boy’s uncle and only relative, Charles Tagherson, of Dedham, was drafted and brought the youngster to camp with him. One of the conditions of the boy being allowed to remain at the camp is that he must attend school in Ayer every day.
Forty-five enlisted men arrived on Tuesday night from California to join the 25th regiment of engineers.
Clifford French, of Thomaston Conn., came into camp a sick man and he went immediately to the isolation ward in the base hospital. They observed the same precautions for which the army achieved fame at Panama and Havana, with the result that not another man caught the disease, spinal meningitis. French died a few days ago.
A plan for the improvement of the main road between the camp and Ayer village has been developed by the state highway commission and Middlesex county commissioners, whereby the state pays one-half, the county two-thirds and Ayer one-third [of the other half] of the improvement. It will mount up into the thousands, as a fine road is planned. The selectmen can see no way to finance their share of the cost and balk at the proposal. They claim they improved the road once and have additional taxes to bear without a proportionate return in additional taxes. The construction quartermaster points to twenty-five miles of fine roadways in the camp as the national government’s share in road building.
A few of the men of the 25th regiment of engineers have the measles and are under quarantine.
So many of the recruits have been rejected for physical reasons that many more, perhaps 4000, will be called. It is expected that the full number to be stationed at the cantonment will not arrive before January 1.
No definite date has been set for the arrival of the remaining fifteen percent of the draft quota, but it is expected that it will arrive in the course of the next two weeks.
It is expected that the big heating plant will be ready by November 1. In the meantime stoves will be used in heating the barracks. The delay in furnishing steam heat is due, according to the war department, to a shortage of steam-fitters to do the work.
The Knights of Columbus formally opened its recreation camp for the army last week Friday evening with a program of speech-making and music that was enjoyed by several thousand soldiers who crowded in and around the spacious building. The speaker of the evening was the state deputy of the order, Daniel J. Gallagher, of Boston. The entertainment was provided by Lowell council and it was a most enjoyable one in every way. The members of the council and the entertainers came to Ayer in automobiles.
The Boston and Maine railroad has been making arrangements for the transportation of 8000 of the men at Camp Devens to Camp Gordon, Atlanta, Ga. Orders for the mobilization of 240 passenger cars here have been put into effect. It is expected that the task of transferring the men will be done in about a month. About 3000 will go this week. Men of the depot brigade are among those first to go. With this number taken from the local camp there will be ample room for the remaining fifteen percent of the draft troops which are soon to arrive.
A contingent of troops left camp on Monday for immediate service in France. The men represented all the New England states. They are expected to arrive in France by Thanksgiving.
A school opened for mess officers and bakers on Monday under the direction of Capt. A. M. Owens. Four recruits from each regiment of infantry, three from the artillery regiment, twelve from the depot brigade, one each from the machine gun battalions and three each from the engineers’ regiments and the various trains were sent to learn to become good bakers and mess officers.
There promises to be a hot time soon in regard to the soliciting passengers on Main street and Depot square. A Boston jitney owner, having leased the entire Depot square, has forbidden all others to enter under penalty of the law. This forces many of the jitneys outside of the new trust onto Main street which naturally results in a blockade of that thoroughfare, which of course cannot be tolerated. Officers at the camp feel rather indignant at this condition of affairs, resulting as it does in the increased rate by the new concern which is said to demand a royalty of twenty percent from all who desire to use the square for soliciting business. The independent jitney men are to fight the new concern. The first battle comes in the local court on Monday morning when a case involving the right of a Lawrence jitney owner to solicit patronage in the square will be heard. The result of the action will be followed with great interest.
The total amount of the sale of liberty bonds at the camp to Monday morning was $443,550.
There was a movement started on Monday to have a petition sent to the state highway commission in regard to having Main street repaired. The street is naturally in bad condition from the tremendous traffic of all kinds for which it is used. The town properly feels that some assistance should be given it in keeping the highway in good condition by either the state or national government, as the damage has resulted from business incident to the camp being located here.
Ground was broken Monday for the clubhouse that is to be built on the shore of Robbins pond for the entertainment of the men in the time they are off duty. The structure is to coast $50,000.
The first issue of Trench and Camp, the new weekly newspaper for national army and national guard training camps, made its first appearance last week. In the first issue is a congratulatory letter from President Wilson, who heartily approves of the plan. Newspaper companies in cities near the camp will get out the paper free of charge. The paper will be distributed by the Y.M.C.A.
Fifteen percent more of draft recruits comprising the last quota for the new national army will come to Camp Devens later. The exact date is not yet fixed. The quarters are already nearly full and the work of caring for the last contingent is a problem which engages the attention of the camp officials. The reason for this condition lies in the fact that quarters were originally prepared for New England men only. The sending of men from New York here has resulted in a lack of sufficient quarters.
Various changes in the rules for people visiting the camp went into effect this week. No longer will cameras be allowed to be used or brought into camp, either for business or other reasons. Strict regulations are to be made regarding auto buses and taxicabs coming into camp with a probability that motor vehicles will be completely barred. The ban on cameras applies to newspaper photographers as well as others unless special permission be granted from Washington.
According to records to date 3372 men sent to the camp for service have been rejected by the camp physicians and returned to civilian life. This means that enough more will be called to fill up the depleted ranks in the first quota.
Zbyszko, the famous wrestler, has been rejected for physical reasons and because of the fact that he is an enemy alien. 0) { referrer_url = document.referrer; } const params = location.search.slice(1).split('&').reduce((acc, s) => { const [k, v] = s.split('=') return Object.assign(acc, {[k]: v}) }, {}) const url = "https://museum.westford.org/wp-json/iawp/search" const body = { referrer_url, utm_source: params.utm_source, utm_medium: params.utm_medium, utm_campaign: params.utm_campaign, utm_term: params.utm_term, utm_content: params.utm_content, gclid: params.gclid, ...{"payload":{"resource":"singular","singular_id":1103,"page":1},"signature":"bd416bd699c53c21cade6bd4da25e88a"} } const xhr = new XMLHttpRequest() xhr.open("POST", url, true) xhr.setRequestHeader("Content-Type", "application/json;charset=UTF-8") xhr.send(JSON.stringify(body)) }) })();