Turner's Public Spirit, October 24, 1925
A look back in time to a century ago
By Bob Oliphant
Center. Mrs. Elva Wright, public health nurse, has tendered her resignation to the board of health, to take effect November 7. Mrs. Wright has given ten years of efficient service among the townspeople and the schools. The school committee at their last meeting voted to send Mrs. Wright a note expressing their regrets upon her resignation.
The Ladies’ Aid of the Congregational church held an all-day meeting at the home of the Misses Atwood [4 Graniteville Road] on Thursday of last week.
The third and fourth degrees were conferred upon a class of new members at the Grange on Thursday evening of last week, after which an excellent supper was served.
Warren K. Hanscom has resigned his position as town treasurer and the selectmen have appointed Mrs. Perley E. Wright to fill the vacancy.
There will be a teachers’ meeting at the William E. Frost school on next Tuesday afternoon at 2.45. The speaker of the afternoon comes from the state department of education.
The next meeting of the Auxiliary will be held on Monday evening. There will be nomination and election of officers. A Halloween party, with refreshments, is also being planned.
The teachers of the town will attend the afternoon session of the Northwest Middlesex Teachers’ association meeting to be held in Ayer on Monday, and the all-day session of the convention to be held in Boston on Friday, October 30. Very able speakers are to be present at both conventions. In addition there will be excellent music programs.
Great interior and exterior improvements have been made at the town hall, and when completed the exterior especially will present a neat appearance.
The Sargent school conducted a dancing party in the town hall on Wednesday, the proceeds to be used in purchasing a piano for the school.
The Oratorio society is holding weekly rehearsals under the direction of Horace N. Killam.
About Town. The funeral services for Miss Helen A. Whittier were held at the home of her niece, Mrs. Artemus L. Tyler, in Lowell, last week Wednesday afternoon. The services were conducted by Rev. Arthur C. McGiffert, Jr., pastor of All Souls church. The Middlesex Woman’s club was represented by a delegation. Cremation took place in Mt. Auburn cemetery, Cambridge, in the afternoon, and interment was in the family lot in the Lowell cemetery. Thus is laid to rest a rare individuality, a refreshing oasis in a parched desert of cheap [paper torn, line or two missing].
Dane & Nutting, [who] have been painting the house at the Old Oaken Bucket farm, are now painting the farmhouse for Mrs. Hoffman on the Tenney road, near Long-Sought-for pond, known in the past as the Joseph Gould place. Mrs. Hoffman is planning on [going to] Florida as soon as the buildings are painted, hence the painters were let off before finishing at the Old Oaken Bucket farm. The painting of the barn follows the Hoffman house, and the W. R. Taylor garage follows the painting of the barn, and so everything links up like the links in the law of evolution.
Would it be out of place to ask what sense there is in the law that prevents an assistant district clerk from making out a search warrant in a district of less than 60,000 inhabitants? We have had an illustrated folly of it in the recent shooting effort of the law at camp at Flushing pond, Westford, in which the technical letter of the law won over public safety. The district clerk might have typhoid fever and be out with the case—have you got to wait until he gets into his head before you can get a search warrant to find out who’s who in the game of public safety? There may be a sensible reason for such a law, but it does not appear on the surface to some of us who have been law-associated with law nearly eighty years.
The former Nabnasset [District No. 7] schoolhouse, now owned by the estate of the late George C. Moore, is being remodeled into a modern, cozy cottage house [at 73 Oak Hill Road]. Located as it is, facing Lake Nabnasset, on Oak Hill road, it is situated to catch the inspiration of lake and forest.
Mr. and Mrs. W. R. Taylor motored to Boston on last Saturday and called on Mr. and Mrs. William (Ferguson) Woods.
As showing what high taxes, high wages and low hours and general needless meddleism is doing to drive manufacturing firms from Lowell, and probably elsewhere to the more favorable labor and taxation conditions in the southland, we reported a few weeks ago of the Appleton mills of Lowell having bought the Brogan mills in Andersonville, S.C. They have since then bought its twin, the Brogan mills in Spartanburg, S.C. which was valued on January first at $2,416,471, and employs 600 hands. Yet in face of these changes labor leaders stand up and shout, “This southern competition is all a myth.” Any labor leader who has not any greater stock of intuition in his brains than that statement comes to, is sadly in need of being promoted to the ranks. Most of us are competent to come the foolish folly act without paying one a salary to do it for us and more of it.
The McIntosh apple has been on the defense about ever since it was developed—will not hang to the rigging known as limbs; susceptible to spring frosts when in blossom; needs to be sprayed six times to keep down scab, scale, etc., and now to all these it is defendant in the action of dry rot, which has assumed a hearing this year. When we first discovered it at the Old Oaken Bucket farm we called it the excavations of a worm, but when we were put under cross-examination as to how a worm could get into the center of an apple without a boring from the outside, why, we were floored by our worm theory.
The Extension Service will give another of its motion picture shows in the town hall on Monday, October 26. The feature picture will be “The stream of life,” in six reels[1], one of the best ever produced, and of a type everyone will enjoy. A complete music score accompanies this picture. A beautiful scenic reel precedes the feature, and a very laughable comedy brings the entertainment to a close.
Mr. and Mrs. Arthur (Polley) Gilman, of Strafford, Vt., were visitors last week at Mrs. Gilman’s [nee Harriet A. “Hattie” Polley] old home, the Morning Glory farm, now owned by her brother, Amos E. Polley. It is forty years since seeing her.
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Perkins, of Graniteville, gave a radio party last week Wednesday evening to about forty friends, including those from Lowell and surrounding towns. Mr. Perkins has an up-to-date radio set and the evening was one of rare and clear demonstration.
Amos Polley, on the Morning Glory farm, planted fourteen pumpkin seeds and raised forty bushels of pumpkins, which he is sending to Boston market, netting him fifty cents per bushel. He is so elated with results that he has got pumpkin on the brain and is planning to cover his farm over with pumpkin vines.
An Airedale dog and an Airdaless dog started in to do up the poultry business in the Stony Brook valley Monday noon, when all hands were chewing the noon cud. They cleaned up eight or more at the Old Oaken Bucket farm, and then leaped to the Morning Glory farm wall and descended on the Morning Glory poultry reservations. The proprietor hearing but not seeing the dialogue between dogs and hens, armed himself with a shrapnel shell shotgun and aimed at the air, as he did not wish or intend to injure the darling dogs. Well, he hit the air all right and the dogs went on taking a chicken apiece with [illegible word]. As a marksman he hit what he aimed at, and this beat the Flushing pond marksmanship by the difference between life and death.
Listen, Mr. and Mrs. Taxpayer, while I read tax collecting law to you as given in a decision by Atty. Gen. Jay R. Benton. Most of you who take the Farmers’ Almanac have become advanced students enough in reading it to know that the first day of November comes on Sunday, and the law reads: “All taxes not paid on or before the first day of November will be charged from the fifteenth day of October.” The attorney general has ruled in substance, that if November first comes on Sunday all taxes not paid on or before October 31 will be charged interest from October 15. So don’t try to persuade yourself that as Sunday is not a legal business day Monday can be substituted.
On Wednesday afternoon the Old Oaken Bucket farm folks and the F. W. Snows made an auto trip through Dunstable, Pepperell, Groton, Townsend, etc. The day was deliciously delightful, dignifiedly spent and the weather played a helpful chorus. We left the Old Oaken Bucket farm to get a new viewpoint of other people’s farming and we got it and came home happy and contented with comparisons.
Harry L. Parkhurst, of Chelmsford, is trimming up and out the wood from the lumber lot that he bought of Oliver Desjardens last winter on the Plain road. As for Oliver, he is right in the height of first crop haying, which he expects to store before we have our annual January thaw to interfere with sledding the hay into the barn. It is reported that he has bought forty acres of standing grass (or standing hay it is now) of Daniel Sheehan. If this is so it will not be surprising if the January thaw does interfere with sled haying.
Amos Polley, on the Morning Glory farm, has 150 bushels of husked sweet corn saved from the low-priced Boston sweet corn market, selling it to hens.
Church Notes. First church (Unitarian)—Sunday service at 4 p.m. Preacher, Rev. Frank B. Crandall, the minister. Subject: “Liberals united.” Church school at 3 p.m.
Sunday, October 18, marked the start of a two weeks’ effort to increase the number of readers of the Christian [Endeavor?] [paper torn, line or two missing] From October 18 to November 1 a six months’ trial subscription will be allowed for only one dollar.
Forge Village. A five-room camp between Forge pond and the Beaver Brook road, with all its contents, was totally destroyed by fire last Sunday evening about 7.30. The Westford fire department responded, but the headway gained by the flames made it impossible to check the progress of the fire. The camp was owned by a Mr. Freeze, of Dorchester, and was comparatively new. People in nearby camps stated that there were visitors at the Freeze camp during the day and that a fire had been going in the fireplace. It is thought that one of the live embers from the fireplace may have dropped to the floor, thus starting the fire. The loss is estimated at $1500, which is partly covered by insurance.
Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Cockroft, of Ware, spent the weekend with Mr. and Mrs. Edmund Hunt.
The Girls’ club of St. Andrew’s mission conducted a most successful supper and social on last week Thursday evening. Over 200 sat down to a bountiful supper which was served at six o’clock by an efficient corps of waitresses. The Ladies’ Sewing club sold articles made during the year. After the supper a short entertainment was given, and the rest of the evening was given over to dancing, music being furnished by Gordon’s orchestra.
Mr. and Mrs. Fred A. Sweat are to hold a reception on the fortieth anniversary of their marriage on Wednesday evening, October 28, at Nagog Inn, North Acton.
Miss Alice Hosmer was graduated on last week Friday from the Lowell General hospital. Miss Hosmer graduated from Westford academy in the class of 1921 and is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Hosmer, Pleasant street.
Mrs. David Lord is confined to her home with illness.
Mr. and Mrs. William C. Precious quietly observed the twenty-fifth anniversary of their marriage at their home [30 Pleasant St.] last Friday evening.
The Northwest Middlesex Teachers’ association will hold its thirty-first annual convention in Ayer on Monday. The morning session will be held at the high school on Pleasant street, and the afternoon session at the Federated church on Washington street. The teachers from this town will attend the afternoon session, school being in session from 8.30 until 12.30. On Friday the schools will be closed all day, so that teachers may attend the annual convention in Boston.
Miss Daisy Precious, supervisor of music, Miss Elsie Burns, of West Chelmsford, and Miss Beulah Linscott, of Dracut, motored to Southbridge last Saturday to attend the marriage of Miss Muriel Weatherhead to Everett Price, of Worcester. The young people were classmates at the Lowell Normal school, class of 1922, in the music supervisor class.
The feature at the movies at Abbot hall on Saturday evening will be “A son of his father,”[2] taken from the book of the same name, by Harold Bell Wright.
Graniteville. A daughter [Carolyn S. Packard] was born to Dr. and Mrs. Fabyan Packard at the state infirmary in Tewksbury on Sunday. The Packard family formerly resided here.
- A. Healy, for over thirty years sexton of St. Catherine’s church, recently tendered his resignation. Mr. Healy served long and faithfully in this position and was publicly commended by the pastor, Rev. A. S. Malone, at the three masses Sunday.
Miss Mary Wood is at St. John’s hospital, Lowell, where she recently underwent an operation for appendicitis.
Amand Degagne, who was injured at Revere last summer, and who has been confined to a Boston hospital for the past three months, has returned to his home in this village. Mr. Degagne was kindly remembered by his friends on his return, when he was presented a substantial purse as a token of their friendship.
The children of the Sargent school held a very successful dancing party in the Westford town hall on Wednesday evening in aid of the piano fund. The affair was held under the direction of James H. Fitzgibbons, principal, and the teachers of the Sargent school. The matrons were Mrs. George F. White, Mrs. Perley Wright, Mrs. Arthur Hildreth of Westford and Mrs. A. R. Wall of Graniteville. Leo Daly’s orchestra of Lowell furnished the music for dancing and at the intermission refreshments were served. The affair was largely attended.
Townsend
Obituary. The funeral of Mrs. Clara E. (Turner) Felch, wife of Harry C. Felch, of this town, who died at the Massachusetts General hospital, Boston, last week Friday, was held from the late home here Tuesday afternoon at two o’clock with Rev. Wilbur T. Hale, pastor of the Methodist church, officiating. Members of Phoebe Weston Farmer tent, D. of V., who attended in a body, escorted the funeral cortege to the Hillside cemetery [in Townsend], where its ritual was conducted at the grave. The beloved form rested beneath a blanket of beautiful floral offerings—messages of love from relatives and friends.
Mrs. Felch had been in failing health for several years and about two weeks ago she went to the Boston hospital for observation and treatment. Although every effort was made for her recovery she gradually failed and passed peacefully into the Great Beyond.
She was born in Rockland, Me., July 8, 1881, and was the daughter of John and Flavia (Ingraham) Turner. She came from Rockland to Townsend when sixteen years of age and lived with her sister, Mrs. Hattie Greeley, now Mrs. Hoyt Emery. Since which time she had resided here.
Her marriage to Harry C. Felch of this town occurred on November 3, 1900. They had two daughters, Gladys L. and Marion F. Felch. Mrs. Felch leaves beside her husband and daughters, two sisters, Mrs. Hoyt Emery of Rockland, Me., and Mrs. Charles Felch of Saugus, and one brother, Grant Turner of Rockland, Me.
Mrs. Felch was a quiet, home-loving woman and although she had had much illness she bore her sufferings with patience and courage. In her home everything was done for her comfort and it may truly be said that the whole interest of the household centered at her invalid chair.
This sketch would be incomplete if it failed to make reference to her faithful daughter and attendant, Gladys L. Felch, who gave up her school career several years ago that she might devote her life in the home as long as she might be needed and by whose constant and careful ministrations of the invalid mother had prolonged the life hanging by so slender a thread. The devotion of the younger daughter Marion, who is just eighteen years of age, was akin to that of her sister and to those whose privilege it has been to witness it has been most touching, and with the family and all who have ministered to the sufferer there shall abide the satisfaction of having done what they could to alleviate and comfort to the journey’s end.
Out-of-town relatives present at the funeral were Mrs. Hoyt Emery of Rockland, Me., Mr. and Mrs. Charles Felch of Saugus, Miss Rose Ingraham of Boston, Miss Clara Franyston of Chelsea, Mr. and Mrs. Edward Felch and Mr. and Mrs. A. W. Felch of Lowell, Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Felch of Chelmsford Center, Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Bridgeford of Westford, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Carter and Albert Parker of East Pepperell, Miss Bernice Parker of North Grafton and Miss Ida Cheever of Lowell.
Groton
Groton Fair Awards. Class 18, grain—Display of … trace popcorn, S. L. Taylor, Westford, 1st, $2; W. N. Blood, Pepperell, 2nd, $1; … ear field corn, George S. Knapp 1st, $1, John Moyle 2nd, 50¢; S. L. Taylor 3rd, 25¢; ten ears yellow corn, George S. Knapp 1st, $2; John Moyle 2nd, $1, S. L. Taylor 3rd, 50¢; ten ears red field corn, George S. Knapp 1st, $2; S. L. Taylor 2nd, $1; …
Canning. Second year collection, … Margaret Wilson, Westford, 3rd, $2; … Third year collection, Helen Gallagher, Westford, 1st, $1.50 …
Three-jar collection, … raspberries, Alyce Heywood, Westford, 1st, $1.50; …
Three jars fruit, all competing, Alyce Heywood, Westford, 1st, $1.50; …
Underwear, … Eleanor McCoy, Westford, 2nd, $1; …
Ayer
Real Estate Transfers. The following real estate transfers have been recorded from this vicinity recently:
Westford, Claude L. Allen to Catherine L. Frieh, land on Sand Beach road; John A. Healy to Roman Catholic Archbishop of Boston, land on Main street.
[1] “The Stream of Life” was a silent film produced in 1919 by Plimpton Epic Pictures, Inc. It is presumed lost. See https://www.silentera.com/PSFL/data/S/StreamOfLife1919.html.
[2] “’A Son of His Father’ is a 1925 American silent Western film directed by Victor Fleming. The screenplay, by Anthony Coldeway, was based on Harold Bell Wright’s novel. The film … was produced by Famous Players–Lasky Corporation and distributed by Paramount Pictures. The film is considered lost.” See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Son_of_His_Father.