Turner's Public Spirit, October 22, 1921
A look back in time to a century ago
By Bob Oliphant
“Center. Arthur G. Hildreth is teaching this year at the Technical high school, Newton. It is
at this school, also, that Dexter M. Coggshall, a former principal of Westford academy, is a
teacher.
“The food sale of the auxiliary of the American Legion on last week Friday afternoon in the
lower town hall was most successful. A good array of good home-cooked food, which sold at
reasonable prices, found a ready sale. Over twenty dollars was realized for the treasury….
“A display of about sixty pictures of Belgium, loaned by the Woman’s Educational
association, is on exhibition at the J. V. Fletcher library.
“October 20 and no frost on Westford hill. Garden lovers are still enjoying such flowers as
nasturtiums, dahlias and cosmos.
“The meeting of the Ladies’ Aid society at the Misses Atwood’s [4 Graniteville Road] last
week Thursday was well attended and a good amount of very practical sewing was accomplished.
Eighteen partook of the bountiful social dinner at noon.
“Arthur G. Hildreth brought in the first fox of the season one day last week. Some of the other
sportsmen are out for Sir Reynard and will probably recount success before the season ends.
“Surprise Party. Mr. and Mrs. Carter, both teachers at the Frost school, … started
housekeeping this week in the pleasant J. W Bright cottage on Depot street. When Mrs. Carter
came here she was a bride of a week and this is their first housekeeping venture. The other
teachers and sixty-nine of the scholars of the Frost school … planned a sort of combination
surprise and pound party … on Tuesday evening when the happy children and their teachers
made their surprise visitation, each armed with some good-will offering. There were all sorts of
good things—cakes, candy, fruit, cream, vegetables, groceries, etc. The recipients were
genuinely surprised and pleased. Games and music were enjoyed and after about an hour of good
time the children and their teachers departed with many good wishes for their host and hostess.
“About Town. The first frost of the season occurred last week early Thursday morning. The
next frost was held early Saturday morning and the next frost was postponed on account of the
weather. The frosts were light. We had shelled beans to be shelled that barely got introduced to
the frost. Vines of all kinds showed a longer and more serious introduction.
“The West Chelmsford Benevolent society held a successful sale in the parish house last week
Friday evening. There was a large variety of food on sale, including ice cream and peanuts.
Besides this there was a large display of aprons for a small display of money. The proceeds will
go towards furnishing the new [Methodist] church which is expected to be dedicated the last of
November….
“The recent special town meeting was the largest special that we ever attended, the hall being
packed to the point of illegality in case of fire. As much as we regret rubbing in $42,500 more of
debt into the taxpayers in addition to the present rate, the highest in the history of the town,
mostly for school accommodations, it seemed to be unavoidable. The Forge Village school, we
are informed, is so cramped for room that the scholars have to attend in relays, and Brookside,
with nearly 100 scholars is school-houseless…. The lot selected by the special town meeting for
the Brookside school was the unanimous choice of the school committee.
“Our efficient game warden, Joseph Wall, is onto his job. He has stocked all our beautiful
little brooks with trout which came from our state hatchery at Sutton…. Trout are beautiful and
they are good to eat and we cannot have too many of them. Thank you, Mr. Game Warden, for
looking after the best interests of our choice brooks.
“Graniteville. The moving pictures here were very largely attended on Monday evening.
The feature picture was Elliott Dexter in “The witching hour,” … Before the pictures were
shown the Abbot Worsted Co. band gave a very pleasing concert from 7 to 7:45 p.m.
“In a contest for the first round for the national cup the Abbot Worsted Co. soccer team
defeated the Massachusetts Mills club at the Bunting club grounds in Lowell last Saturday by the
score of 1 goal to 0….
“Classes in sewing and millinery will soon be opened at the Abbot hall here. The instructions
will be entirely free and all are cordially invited to attend the classes….
“Forge Village. The new bowling alleys and poolroom, under the management of Charles
Dudevoir and James O’Hara in Storey street, were formally opened for business Tuesday
night….”
Elliott Dexter (1870-1941), shown in 1923, starred in the silent movie “The Witching Hour”
shown at Abbot Hall, Graniteville, in 1921. Courtesy photo / www.periodpaper.com.