Turner's Public Spirit, October 21, 1922
A look back in time to a century ago
By Bob Oliphant
Center. Mrs. Charles H. Wright, local president of the W.C.T.U., is at Hyannis attending the state convention of the W.C.T.U. There was a big banquet on Thursday evening. The convention closed on Friday.
Mr. and Mrs. Harry Heywood, of Woonsocket, R.I.; Mr. and Mrs. Charles Heywood, of New York city, and Mrs. Stella Warren, of Newark, N.J., were weekend guests of Mr. and Mrs. Charles L. Hildreth, at their home [at 25] Boston road.
Rev. Howard Anderson, of Oswego, N.Y., is the guest of his brother Rev. W. E. Anderson. Rev. Howard Anderson made the trip in his Cadillac, 355 miles in one day, bringing his mother with him for a visit with her son, Rev. W. E. Anderson.
Rev. W. E. Anderson has recently returned to his home here from Walkersville, W.Va., where he was called by the illness and death of his father, W. D. Anderson, who died the last of September and was buried at the Arlington National cemetery. He had requested his family to bury him there. Mr. Anderson will be remembered by the G.A.R. veterans, as he was their guest at the Memorial services held in the Congregational church in May, 1919. Mr. Anderson, at that time, was eighty-three years of age and had made the trip from West Virginia to visit his son, Rev. W. E. Anderson.
The Ladies’ Missionary society met with Mrs. John Felch at her home on Main street, recently. The topic of the afternoon was “The handicap to Christian progress in India.” After the meeting cake and coffee were served by the hostess and a social hour was enjoyed by the ladies.
The North Middlesex Congregational conference of Unitarian and other Christian churches was held in the First Parish church in Tyngsboro on Wednesday, this being the 113th session. There was a fine program which was enjoyed and found helpful by the large audience in attendance. There were fourteen present from this town. Henry A. Smith, of the First Congregational church, of Lowell, gave a talk on how one church secures a Sunday evening capacity congregation; Rev. Florence Buck gave a fine talk which appealed to Westford representatives. The conference is considered one of the best and most helpful one in recent years. The Tyngsboro ladies served a luncheon at noon.
Master William Prescott, son of Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin A. Prescott, has been quite ill, but is reported as improving.
Mrs. W. H. Pollock is at the Lowell General hospital, where she recently underwent an operation. She is considered very seriously ill.
Friends of Mrs. Alice Lambert will be pleased to hear that she is making progress at the Lowell Corporation hospital where she has been for several weeks as a result of burns, when her home was destroyed by fire last July. She is able to walk a little and some of her friends have received postal cards from her that she wrote herself.
- Herbert Fletcher reports a very enjoyable hunting trip to Jaffrey, N.H., where he, with Edward Abbot, was the guest of Paul and James Draper, of Canton. Mr. Fletcher had two foxes to his credit.
Miss Florence Reed, of Barre, was in town on Columbus day and called upon old friends.
Miss Marjorie Seavey, of Salem, was in town over the holiday.
The Woman’s Alliance of the Unitarian church held an all-day session with Mrs. Charles Robinson, Boston road, recently, twenty members being present. The time was spent in sewing, with a lunch at noon served by the hostess, Mrs. Robinson, followed by a business meeting in the afternoon.
Mr. and Mrs. Carl Reed, of Waterville, Me., (Bertha Woodbury), who have been spending two weeks with Mr. and Mrs. Harry L. Nesmith, of Parkerville, have returned to their home.
Miss Pauline Larson, of the William E. Frost faculty, recently spent a few days at her home in Fitchburg.
A number of the friends of Miss Marion Woodbury, who became the bride of George Hartwell, of Littleton, last week Wednesday, tendered her a surprise shower at her home in Parkerville recently. Miss Woodbury was the recipient of many useful articles. During the evening games were enjoyed and refreshments were served.
Mrs. Harry E. Whiting and little daughters, Anna M. and Jean G. have been spending a few days with relatives in Gloucester and Rockport.
Miss Alice Howard, who was appointed a member of the conservation department of the Massachusetts State Federation of Women’s clubs last summer, attended the first regular meeting of the conservation department which was held at the Hotel Vendome, Boston, Thursday, October 5.
A number of Alliance members attended the neighborhood Alliance meeting which was held in Littleton on October 6, at which Mrs. William I. Lawrence was the speaker of the day.
Several ladies from here attended the open meeting of the Littleton Woman’s club on October 9, when a lecture on the art of dressing, illustrated by living models, was given.
Mr. and Mrs. Woodward, of Rockport, were in town recently, calling on old acquaintances.
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Carter are to occupy the home of the late Mrs. Frances Prescott the coming year.
- Herbert Fletcher and Edward Abbot spent the weekend recently as guests of Paul and James Draper, of Canton, at their camp, Jaffrey, N.H.
The young people of the Union Congregational church held a social hour and business meeting last Saturday evening at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Ingalls, Main street. The next meeting, which will be held at the church vestry, will be “a scrap book social,” when those in attendance will make scrapbooks to send to India.
Friday evening meeting at the Congregational church at eight o’clock. “George Muller, a Christian Aladdin,” will be the pastor’s theme at the Sunday morning service at 10:45. Sunday school at noon. Young people’s meeting at 6:30. “God will give—how? What? To whom?” These questions will be answered at the evening service at 7:30.
School Notes. Forty-five teachers of Acton, Littleton, Carlisle and Westford met at the [new] Nabnassett school on last Tuesday afternoon. Miss French, assistant director of physical education, gave a very interesting talk on class formation, methods of teaching, and pupil leadership, all related to physical education. After her talk she gave a demonstration with the pupils of the Nabnassett school, which was enjoyed by all.
The grammar grades of the Frost school invite all parents and friends to attend their exercises to be held in the lower town hall on Thursday, October 26. After the exercises it is hoped that a large number of parents will stay and join the Parent-Teacher association. The program for the afternoon will be as follows: “October bright blue weather,” grades 7 and 8; “The yellow leaves,” Charlotte Wilson; “The wandering of the birds,” Edna Whitney; “Halloween month,” Lillian Dane; song, “Jolly Halloween,” grades 7 and 8; ghost dance; “The leaves of October” Violet Green; “Three jolly pumpkins,” Betty Prescott; “A curious minister,” Ruth Nelson; “The golden key” Blanche Pickup; play, “That wonderful circus,” Elizabeth Wells and Linwood Nesmith; “The fairies,” Ruth Ryan; “Dance of the fairies,” Betty Prescott and Gladys Stiles; “Their Surprise,” John Baxter; “My Jack-o’-lantern,” Viola Day; “Old Halloween friends,” Alice Heywood; song, “Solomon Levi,” grades 7 and 8; “The pumpkin,” Ruth Nesmith; “Theodore Roosevelt,” Elmer Bridgeford; “Life of Roosevelt,” Angie Parfitt; “After school,” William Anderson; “Bushy tail,” Walter Wright; “Wandering,” Helena Desmond; “Golden-rod,” Hazel Spellman; “How I know it is October,” Helen Gallagher; play, “Examination day,” Elizabeth Carver, Gladys Stiles, William Anderson, Everett Millis, Jardine Davis.
About Town. Our apple shipper, Perley E. Wright, who was never known to be other than good-natured, went to Dunstable on Tuesday with his trucks and transported 600 boxes of apples from orchards to cellars. This was certainly quite a stunt. We have gone through Dunstable several times this summer, and we never saw 600 bushels of apples in the center of the town. But these may have been on Roby hill or some other suburban part of Dunstable.
John Reid, of Strawberry hill, West Chelmsford, is picking apples for Houghton G. Osgood on Frances hill, Chamberlin’s Corner. Mr. Reid was formerly fireman and engineer on the New Haven railroad and more recently for the Boston and Maine, until he was stricken by the strike.
Bernard J. Flynn, Pigeon hill, Stony Brook road, has sold his vinegar apples to Perham’s vinegar shop in Chelmsford, and is busy teaming them.
Taxes were due October 15, and if not paid on or before November 1, interest will be charged at the rate of six percent from October 15.
The selectmen and other folks are repairing the Lowell road, locating gravel in the broken into cradle holes, removing the impediments in the ditches and varnishing up the road generally, preparatory to its going into winter quarters.
Last Saturday morning was down to ice cold, but for all this we saw an adder and striped snake sunning themselves [paper torn, line missing] at the intersection of the Lowell and Stony Brook roads. They evidently were still rising by daylight saving time.
Mrs. M[ichael] H. Donnelly [nee Ellen S. McGlinchey] was sixty-five years old on Thursday, October 12, and her friend gave her a surprise in the evening at her home at Brookside. Mrs. Pete McGlinchey, in behalf of those assembled, presented her with the birthday gifts brought by friends and relatives. Misses Mary and Julia Donnelly gave a pleasing musical program. Miss Mary Donnelly and Miss Margaret McGlinchey served refreshments.
Miss Helen Whittier, who has been spending the summer with Miss Ella T. Wright, has returned to her home at Trinity court, Boston.
Mr. and Mrs. William R. Taylor attended the wedding of Mrs. Taylor’s cousin in Waltham on Tuesday evening.
- Arthur O’Brien picked eighty-seven bushels off of a Baldwin apple tree; and a very poor year for apples. We refer to the price bringing as high as twenty-five cents a box and expenses out of it, and the rest out of your pocket.
We read with interest under Groton news last week the announcement of a Halloween harvest festival by the Groton Farmers’ club at Hales’s apple house on Wednesday and Thursday, October 25 and 26. There are some attractions and advantages in holding this entertainment and Halloween party at an apple house. It is closer to nature than any hall. It is closer to the spirit of Halloween. “Half your corn and half your pay” and all your apples and no pay might appropriately be added this year. The committee from Westford to serve on the general reception committee is composed of Oscar Spalding, William E. Wright, Alex Fisher and William R. Taylor.
Mrs. Flora Edwards has sold her house on Brookside road, Westford Corner, to Frank Alexander, of Billerica.
William J. Parfitt, who has moved into the J. Murray Chamberlin house at Chamberlin’s Corner, is working for Houghton G. Osgood.
Miss Ella F. Wright, at her summer home, “The Elms,” Lowell road, Brookside, has a three-year-old McIntosh red from which two bushels of apples were picked this year. At the Old Oaken Bucket farm there is a McIntosh red fifteen years old from which only one apple was picked this year.
A few weeks ago we reported that Herbert Mills picked forty bushels of apples in one day of eight hours. We should have explained that the trees were from one-quarter to one-half mile apart and were very much headed towards the right of way of Massachusetts. Since then we have come across something different—Charles Robey and Howard Ferguson each picked 125 bushels in one day. This may seem large, but we have no more reason to doubt it than that the earth is round like an apple, and that apples are all around. But we have got expelled from the Ananias club for inefficiency and we want to get back most dreadfully bad and we are now looking for a one-legged, one-armed man, deaf, dumb and blind, who can pick 200 bushels a day and make his boxes as he goes along. Please help us find such a man.
Batters are up and excavation commenced for a new building of Westford corner, and plumb on the corner of the corner. The amount of excavation is much reduced by the cellar being directly over the old abandoned canal, where was located the first saw mill which was put there when the town was incorporated September 23, 1729. Since then various small industries have been located on this canal; the water being the outlet of Lake Nabnassett and Sawmill meadow swamp. This land, during our remembrance was the property of Levi Trull and is still in the Trull possession. Just what this building is for we are not enlightened enough at present to diffuse.
The grammar grades of the William E. Frost school invite all parents and friends to attend their exercises to be held in the lower town hall on Thursday afternoon, October 26 at three o’clock. After the exercises it is hoped that a large number of parents will stay and join the Parent-Teacher association. This association aims to bring about a closer understanding between teachers, parents and scholars and stimulate a much-needed interest in our public schools. It is a splendid thing to have this meeting early in the school year instead of at the close.
First Parish Unitarian church Sunday service at four o’clock in the afternoon. Preacher, Rev. Frank B. Crandall, the minister; subject, “Traveling in foreign countries”
When we reported several weeks ago that Herbert Mills picked on the Morning Glory farm forty bushels of apples in eight hours we thought that it would make us a life member of the Ananias club, but we have been ruled out. A man over sixty years of age picked seventy-six bushels of apples on the Sidney B. Wright place in eight hours and scattering picking at that. He has lost the little finger of his right hand so that he is a little handicapped. Two years ago he picked eighty bushels in eight hours. Some picking, we’ll say. His name is John Welch.
Winter apples are falling very fast for more are on the ground than on the trees; some orchards are nearly all on the ground. We always did like to have Providence pick the apples as it costs forty cents an hour less to have them picked that way, and they will keep just as long and sell for as much as hand-picked apples, and it doesn’t take as long a ladder to pick them off the ground, causing less broken necks and fractured skulls.
George H. Dean, a venerable resident of West Chelmsford, died at the home of his son, Bayard C. Dean, early Tuesday morning. He leaves a wife, a son and three grandchildren.
We have heard with pleasure of the remarkable peach crops of George Albert Drew at the Conyers Manor, Greenwich, Conn. One night there were loaded up five ton trucks from New York, besides all the trucks owned by the Conyers Manor itself.
Mrs. Henry W. Hildreth (Harriet Sargent) has entered upon her second year as president of the Winchester Woman’s club, number over 600. She very graciously sent club programs to the Tadmuck club and invited the members to attend any of the meetings. Mrs. Fred Reed, of Lowell, Mrs. Robert Elliott, of this town, and Mrs. F. A. Snow, of West Chelmsford, were guest or Mrs. Hildreth at the Winchester Country club on Wednesday.
Mrs. Sarah Drew observed her eighty-seventh birthday on Columbus day. Mrs. Drew is unusually active for her years. This fall she visited her son in Greenwich, Conn. On Tuesday she was present at the meeting of the Tadmuck club and thoroughly enjoyed the occasion.
Movie Censorship. Just as we expected, the shout now [paper torn, 2 or 3 lines missing] the world without its being open to abuse. Therefore, we should stand still and refuse any progress or innovations, if we wait until we could be sure of progress and innovations that were not open to abuse. The automobile is a splendid modern mode of travel, but it is also a splendid “get-away for criminals.” The friction match is a splendid convenient and time-saving method of lighting the fire in the modern cooking stove, but it is equally as convenient and time-saving in setting fire to your neighbor’s buildings. Needless to multiply. If anyone will name anything in modern civilization that is good that is not open to abuse we would be glad to second the motion that such a person was the greatest discoverer this world ever produced.
We quote as follows: “Two great safeguards of individual liberty are free speech and free press. Apply censorship to either of these and individualism would wither.” Now is it not an historical fact that free speech and free press have always been censored and curbed when they threatened the foundations of government or the safety of society. If you do not believe it ask Old Big Bill Heywood what he is in Russia for. Ask the inhabitants in the government prison at Atlanta, and if you’re not satisfied with these answers, try it yourself on the corner of the street, make an incendiary speech or one that incites a riot and see how quick your darling free speech nonsense will be taken out of you and you be escorted under cover. If anyone is going to argue against censorship of moving pictures do it in the name of common sense; get a foundation to stand on that is not flatly contradicted by daily history.
If you think that we have always had a free and unrestricted free press and censorship of the moving pictures is an attempt to suppress what has always been free, just try sending some of your demoralizing literature and pictures through the mail and see how quick you will come under the law of suppression. The argument against censorship has not got even an atom of history and common sense from which to make out a case.
Another shouter sounds forth the alarm. “One-man power.” You would supposed that in their fright, which is more make-believe than real, that censorship was for life and descended to the third and fourth generation, and from which there was no appeal to the inherent best in mankind. You can lay down as incontrovertible that there never would have been any agitation of censorship without a justifiable cause. There never was any anti-slavery society until the horrors of slavery created it. There never were any temperance societies until the debaucheries of drunkenness organized them.
Don’t be frightened over “one-man power.” It runs through all government—town, county, state and national, and you cannot have government without this element. We are inclined to believe opponents of censorship are not frightened over liberty, free speech, free press and one-man power as they are over a prospective loss of gate receipts, for be it remembered as the last thought before you vote on censorship, that the cheaper the show and the nearer man the animal in saddle, the larger will be crowd and entrance fees.
Graniteville. The Abbot Worsted soccer club of Forge Village met the Methuen club at Methuen last Saturday in the first round of the national cup series and defeated them handily 5 goals to 0. The Abbots put up a great game. On this Saturday the same two clubs will meet in Forge Village in the first round of the state cup series and a great game is expected. Kick-off at three p.m. at the Abbot field, Forge Village, Saturday, October 21.
[torn paper, one or two lines missing] [the M.E.] church held their annual harvest supper and entertainment in the vestry on Wednesday evening. An excellent supper was served at 6:30 and this was followed by a very pleasing entertainment at eight o’clock. The program was furnished by the Misses Lillian and Anna Wyman of Lowell, assisted by local talent. The affair was largely attended and proved to be a great success.
The usual Lenten devotions were held in St. Catherine’s church Tuesday and Friday evenings.
- Henry Harrington, the local contractor, has recently been awarded the contract to build the new parish rectory for St. Catherine’s church. Work has already been started on the cellar.
A son [Willard Walter Beebe] was born [in Westford] to Mr. and Mrs. Walter Beebe on Monday, October 16.
Some of the students in the Westford academy are planning to hold a Halloween party in the town hall in the near future.
Ayer
Real Estate Transfers. The following real estate transfers have been recorded recently from this vicinity: …Westford, Alfred Gagnon to Julian Dymowicz et ux., Staf Kowalchuk to Danenika Dowalchuk land on Central street, Staf Kowalchuk et ux. to Stanislawa Lapniewski land on Central street, Floryan P. Woitowicz to Mike Sawosik land on Story street; …