The Westford Wardsman, September 1, 1917
Center. Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Bosworth motored to Lebanon, N.H., last week, for over Sunday, returning Monday night, bringing with them for a visit Mr. Bosworth’s mother, Mrs. Arthur Bosworth, of Lebanon.
Mr. and Mrs. James Kimball, who are summering at Winthrop, entertained a group of Westford neighbors and friends by invitation on Thursday of last week. Those who went were Mr. and Mrs. Arthur E. Day, Mr. and Mrs. S. B. Watson, Mr. and Mrs. William A. Roudenbush, Mrs. Josie Hill and the Misses Sarah, Lillian and May Atwood. The party made the trip down to the beach in the Watson and Day automobiles, and upon arrival were most cordially met by their host and hostess for the day. A splendid shore dinner was served for the guests at Shirley Point and the choice variety of sea food attractively served with its attendant pleasant sociability was much enjoyed. The remainder of the time was pleasantly spent with boating and visiting after which the party started for the return trip with many assurances to their host and hostess of a very pleasantly spent day.
Miss Agnes Balch is at the Clinton hospital, where she has gone for rest and special treatment.
Mrs. Burrill, who has spent the summer weeks at Mrs. Walker’s, and who has pleasantly identified herself with the Red Cross and French Aid work during her stay, has returned to her home at the Colonial Inn, Concord.
The reading circle of the Tadmuck club met at the home of Mrs. H. A. Lincoln on Monday afternoon and continued its study of modern contemporary drama. Clyde Fitch’s four-act drama, “Truth,” was read and much enjoyed.
George H. Cadman has been picking and marketing a fine crop of peaches.
Mrs. William R. Carver entertained a very pleasant party at auction bridge on Friday evening of last week. There were three tables for the game. Miss Hamlin, of New York, who is visiting her friend, Mrs. Skidmore, was the special guest of the evening.
The Ladies’ Aid society of the Congregational church will hold its regular meeting next Thursday.
The long summer vacation of the schools ends this week and the fall term opens next Tuesday morning. At the academy Mr. Roudenbush resumes the helm and Miss Denfield also returns this year. Miss Osborn does not come back, but goes to a position in Dalton. Her successor at the academy will be known later in the week. At the Frost school the teaching force remains the same, Misses Grant, Crocker, Dunn and Wright. Miss Grace Ranney returns to the Parkerville school and will board at Mrs. Knights with the other teachers, the same as last year.
The vacation at the Congregational church ends this week and regular services will be resumed Sunday. Mr. Ingalls conducted the evening service last Sunday, at which there was a good attendance.
John P. Wright has been having this week of vacation from his office duties in Boston and has been enjoying various auto trips with his family.
Mrs. Hill and Miss Morrill, of Amesbury, are guests at Dr. and Mrs. O. V. Wells this week.
The Westford Oaklands defeated the Maples of Lowell last Saturday at Whitney playground by the close score of 3 to 2. The Maples are a strong team with a series of victories to their credit this season and it was a considerable satisfaction to the home team to carry off the laurels. The batteries were Griffin and Nystrom for the Oaklands; Cox and Neeley for the Maples. The Oaklands have a record this season of twelve games won and three lost. This Saturday afternoon they will play at Whitney playgrounds the Ewars of Lowell, and on Labor day, at the same place, will play the Forge Village team in the morning and a second game in the afternoon with a team from Lowell.
The Boy Scouts will hold a meeting Friday evening. Dues are payable at this meeting and special business will come up for consideration.
Mr. and Mrs. L. W. Wheeler drove to Jaffrey, N.H., the first of the week and climbed Monadnock Mt. The day was unusually clear and the fine views from the top of the mountain at their best. Coming down the mountain they met Herbert A. Walkden, from Westford, who was climbing for the summit house.
Mrs. Clarence Hildreth is enjoying a visit from her mother, Mrs. Doolittle, of Rutherford, N.J.
About Town. Miss Luanna B. Decatur, after pleasant vacation days at the old home on the Lowell road, returned to her school teaching at New Rochelle, N.Y., Saturday. While here she added much to the social life of the Stony Brook valley.
Oliver Desjardin has bought the standing and laying meadow grass on Tadmuck meadow on the left of the Stony Brook road.
Mrs. Bertha Falls Bacon, of Winchester, was calling on old friends Tuesday at the Banister homestead. She has supervision for a few weeks of society girls at Nabnassett lake. She will be remembered as a former resident in youthful days with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. George S. Falls, at the old Dupee farm.
Our youthful and active Charles F. Crosby, of Arlington, is doing the happy vacation days at the home of his aunt, Mrs. F. W. Banister, on the Lowell road.
John A. Taylor has returned from York Beach and reports crowded hotels and the usual stirring social life which the war spirit hasn’t weakened.
The Frank C. Drew farm has the real premium corn crop of the Stony Brook valley.
Buckwheat sown in the cornfield at the Old Oaken Bucket farm has advanced to the stage of reducing the poultry grain outgo.
George C. Moore, the proprietor of Brookside, and large mill owner at North Chelmsford, with characteristic individuality and business courage, has a large force of men and force of engine power rebuilding the broken-down and unused dam at what was last the Hiscox file works and formerly scythe shop and later the Roby Sabre Company, at West Chelmsford. It is rumored that Mr. Moore intends building for cleaning wool by a new chemical process.
The first lumber sawed on foreign soil by the American forestry unit for the war purposes of the Allies was sawed by the Blanchard & Gould mill of West Acton, located in Scotland. The sawing was done by Burpee Steele, of Boxborough and G. Howard Reed, of West Acton, was engineer. This mill, officially known as Unit No. 3, is made up of thirty-five men from Acton and Boxborough, under the management of Webster S. Blanchard, of Acton. A piece of lumber was preserved with these words inscribed on it: “First lumber sawed by American lumbermen in this country, July 28 1917, at 3:20 p.m.”
The next meeting of Middlesex-North Pomona Grange will be held on Friday, September 7, at Odd Fellows’ hall, Bridge street, Lowell. Morning, relief committee in charge, with the chaplain as chairman; afternoon, open to the public, “Reports of farm visiting day,” written or oral, ten minutes the limit. Prizes are offered for good better, best.
The meeting of Westford Grange will be held on Thursday evening, September 6. The lecturer’s hour will be in charge of the music committee, Edith Blaney, Frieda Stiles, Prescott O. A. Nelson, Grace Robinson, Beatrice Sutherland, Frank Johnson.
There will be a public hearing at the town hall next Thursday evening at eight o’clock. This public hearing is on the petition of the Lowell Electric Light Corporation for permission to erect poles on some of the roads. As one of the owners of real estate abutting on the road where said poles are to be erected the writer has received legal notice from the selectmen of said meeting. As far as he is concerned the hearing can begin and end now. Erect all the poles you want and then go and cut some on the Old Oaken Bucket farm. Public interests must not stagnate because private interests applies the brakes. The whole matter should be left with the selectmen, who are the legal guardians of the town, and not drag in every little, petty, private opinion. Each is law and we shall get more of it with the referendum.
Daniel H. Sheehan has commenced haying.
Amos Polley, on the Prairie farm, has a vigorous growth of alfalfa, which he has just finished cutting the second time.
Word comes from North Dakota of a large wheat crop. As the government is going to fix the prices the farmers are after their interests in hearings in Washington and attempting to urge the government into three-dollar wheat. That is right, gentlemen, we are rich and can afford to ignore the law of supply and demand. The larger the crop the higher the price, and let us reduce the high cost of living on a scale of reduction.
The Matthew Smith family have moved from the Lowell road, Brookside, to the Groton road.
Mrs. Hulda (Carlson) McGlinchey, wife of Michael L. McGlinchey died at her home on Nabnassett road, Westford Corner, Tuesday morning, aged 36 years and 9 months. Although in failing health for several months it was not known to her intimate friends that she was in so serious a condition. Most of her life was passed in West Chelmsford, where she was a helpful favorite in social life. She was a devout member of St. John’s church, North Chelmsford; of the Married Ladies’ Sodality, of the Blessed Virgin and of the Cameron Circle, Foresters of America. Besides her husband she is survived by three children, Eileen, Catherine and Richard; her parents, Eric A. and Augusta Carlson; four brothers, Edwin, Ernest, Charles and Herbert, and a sister Eva.
Prof. J. D. Sallee of the Lowell high school visited the Old Oaken Bucket farm on Wednesday, and with others got mosquito bites and an occasional windfall blueberry in Shepley [Shipley] swamp at the headwaters of Nabnassett pond.
Middlesex-North Fair. The premium list of the Middlesex-North Agricultural society is before the public. The poultry exhibit will be managed by Perley Kimball of Chelmsford. The display of fruit and vegetables will be managed by George H. Upton of Lowell. Each plate of apples, pears, peaches, quinces, etc., must contain five specimens, grown by the exhibitor. Home garden exhibition will be under the management of Lewis E. MacBrayne of Lowell. This exhibit will be strictly limited to the small home garden, and market gardeners and large acre farmers will not compete. The lover of the beautiful will receive liberal premiums as displayed by the flowers. This department will be managed by George H. Upton. Canned goods, of which in the conservation of food agitation by the government, will come up for a view and extra meaning. This department will be managed by Mrs. Butler Ames, Mrs. James H. Carmichael and Mrs. George M. Heath of Lowell.
This fair will be free to the public, under the management of the Middlesex-North, Lowell Board of Trade and the park commission as represented by George W. Trull, James C. Reilly, Robert F. Marden, in an effort to stimulate to better farming and enlarge the area of friendship and social life. This fair will be held September 20, 21 and 22. The first day, Thursday, will start off from the North Common with a parade at ten o’clock in the morning, through the principal streets of Lowell to the Kasino on Thorndike street, with Hon. Edward Fisher, of Westford, as marshal. This parade will include trucks, automobiles, wagons, etc., decked with flowers, fruits and vegetables for which liberal rewards are offered. Aside from the above inducements special prizes are offered for individual gardens by boys of the North Chelmsford Training school or children’s homes and orphanages and similar institutions in the county.
Forge Village. Services will be held at St. Andrew’s mission on Sunday evening at 7:30. Communion will be celebrated.
Miss Marion Blodgett is enjoying her vacation at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Blodgett, of Medford.
There is an exceptionally large crop of blueberries in the swamps here and hundreds of quarts are being picked.
A large auto truck with a load of furniture, the property of Edward C. Croule, of Chelsea, caught fire on the Beaver Brook road last Saturday evening at seven o’clock, and before the blaze could be extinguished the entire truck and the furniture were a total loss. The accident occurred following a flat tire, when the machine backfired, and fed by the breeze and oils, the blaze quickly made its way through the property. Two men in charge, with the assistance of Dr. Christie, of Littleton, did their best to extinguish the flames, but before succeeding the fire had entirely demolished the furniture and truck, except the front tires. The machine was valued at $2000 and the furniture, the property of Mr. Croule, was being taken to the Croule cottage at Forge pond, where the owner is expecting to entertain a number of friends from Kentucky.
A large number from here, journeyed to Ayer last Sunday to visit Camp Devens.
Mr. and Mrs. William Baker and family, Mr. and Mrs. John Edwards and family journeyed to Framingham last Sunday to visit Corp. Edward Blodgett, who is to leave camp shortly.
Mrs. David Flatley and four children, of New York, returned home last Saturday after a month’s visit at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Michael Malloy.
Mrs. Patrick Mulligan is ill at her home on Pine street.
Fred Marshall and son of Fitchburg, former residents of this village, spent Sunday visiting friends here.
A son [Joseph Joffre LeClerc] was born on Wednesday [Aug. 29] to Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Leclair [LeClerc], Bradford street. Mrs. Leclair was formerly Miss Rose Canton [Cantara].
A son [Joseph May] was born to Mr. and Mrs. James May, of Pond street, Wednesday [Aug. 29].
Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Graham, of Providence, R.I., are spending this week at the home of Mr. and Mrs. John Kavanagh.
Graniteville. On last Tuesday morning at eight o’clock a high mass of requiem was celebrated for the repose of the soul of the late Hyacinth LeDuc [died Sept. 4, 1916]. Rev. H. L. Scott was the celebrant in St. Catherine’s church.
On last Tuesday afternoon the members of Battery F passed through here from Boxford on their way to Camp Devens in Ayer. It was surely an unusual sight to see the long line of soldiers on our village streets and the soldier boys received a hearty greeting from the people here, who gathered in large numbers to see them march by.
Mr. and Mrs. Frank Esple, with their two children, Margaret and Francis, with Mr. Esple’s mother, from Fitchburg, have been recent guests of Mr. and Mrs. Joe Wall.
P. Henry Harrington attended as a delegate the supreme court convention of the Foresters of America that was held in Portland, Me., this week. He was accompanied by H. J. Healy, also a Forester.
Mr. and Mrs. Fred M. Defoe and little daughter Evelyn visited friends in Lexington recently.
Mrs. Edward Defoe and daughter Evelyn are spending a few days at Revere Beach and will be joined by Mr. Defoe and son Gerald for the weekend.
The mills and shops will close here as usual on Labor day.
A large number from here visited Camp Devens in Ayer last Sunday.
Local interest in baseball has somewhat revived here owing to the coming series of games that is now being arranged between the Westford Oaklands and the Forge Village club.
Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Carmichael will spend the next few days with relatives in Wilton, N.H.
The members of Cameron Circle, C.F. of A., held a largely attended and interesting meeting in their rooms on Tuesday evening, with Mrs. Katherine Daley, chief companion, in the chair. Much business of importance was transacted and at the close of the session a social hour was enjoyed.
Many of our local boys who come under the selective draft took the physical examination at a meeting of the exemption board in Ayer Thursday.
Groton
News Items. There will be a band concert Saturday evening at the usual hour. Musicians from Camp Devens are expected to assist in making this one of the most entertaining concerts of the season.
Capt. Powers of Groton has leased his home to an army officer whose wife is the daughter of Oliver Ames.
Mrs. E. A. Barrows reached the seventy-ninth milestone in life’s journey Saturday, August 18, and celebrated the day by visiting her son, U. H. Barrows and family. Among other pleasures of the day she visited Camp Devens and attended the Chautauqua meeting held in Ayer. She was also present at the band concert in Groton in the evening.
Harvard
Comments on Editorial. The following letter, which explains itself, was sent to the Boston Herald under date of August 29 by Henry H. Putnam, of this town:
You editorial this morning entitled “At Ayer,” describing the tremendous changes taking place from the military encampment suggests that “all Massachusetts should let Ayer know that in her new problems, industrial and social, she may count on statewide help.”
This appeal on your part will be appreciated by all the communities centering about the encampment at Ayer, whose welfare may be permanently affected by changed conditions. Camp Devens has been established solely for the convenience of the United States government in training her New England recruits; nevertheless the adjoining communities have shown their patriotism by taking matters in a cheerful and friendly spirit
But if the residents of the few New England villages—heretofore peaceful farming and residential communities—even assumed to handle this tremendous problem by themselves, they would be swamped. The question is vital to Massachusetts and the whole of New England, whose sons are being trained at this point. From all the centers of New England states must come help, generous and continuous, if this great and exceptional situation is to be properly handled.
Being a resident of one of the towns in which the camp is located, familiar by daily contact with the work, and seeing the problems arise under by very eyes, I am able perhaps to appreciate a little more intimately the tremendous difficulties and the extraordinary needs of appeal to the generosity of New England people.
The United States government has foreseen the needs and provided the machinery, by the appointment of the commission on training camp activities, but for the money to make these activities successful it relies upon the patriotic impulses of people who will generously give, in order that the utmost may be done to make Camp Devens as clean as possible, and thus contribute to the welfare of the troops who are to fight our battles in France.
We must do the very best we can for our soldiers. This means a sanitary camp with the time of the men well occupied, and with an atmosphere in the communities surrounding the camp which shall be kept up to the highest possible tone.
Ayer
Camp Notes. There are now 7400 men employed at Camp Devens on construction work.
Company I, 6th regiment, of Concord, were given an enthusiastic reception in that town last Saturday afternoon. A parade took place which was witnessed by a great crowd, all business being suspended during the afternoon in honor of the boys. The 1st Massachusetts Engineers band furnished music for dancing which took place in the state armory in the evening.
Among the Plattsburg commissioned officers who will do service at Camp Devens are the following, all from Lowell: Capts. Parker Tucke, and Roswell B. Whidden; First Lieuts. Lincoln Clark and Harold E. Dwyer; Second Lieuts, Hammond Barnes, Arthur F. Woodles, James J. Mullaney, Ralph Coburn, Gerald F. Beane, Ralph R. Melloon, George C. Robertson and A. F. Tetley.
It is probable that a special session of the legislature will be called to pass a law which will give the soldiers on duty away from their homes the privilege of voting. Under the present conditions the right of voting is not allowed to men engaged in such duty unless they go to the places where they are registered, which will be impossible when they are under training at government camps. With the coming of many thousands of voters to Camp Devens as drafted troops from all parts of New England and from New York it will mean that these men will be practically disfranchised. The injustice of such conditions is plainly apparent.
The sanitary division from Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana, took up its duties Tuesday at the camp.
When the full number of drafted men are at the camp it is estimated that 35,000 to 40,000 loaves of bread will be consumed every day. A huge bakery will be installed to meet the tremendous task of providing this amount. An army of cooks have arrived to teach the boys how to provide their meals and to instruct less experienced cooks as to the best methods of cooking for the recruits until they can provide for themselves.
Maj. Elihu Root, Jr., a son of the distinguished New York statesman, Elihu Root, arrived at Camp Devens for duty on Wednesday. He has been an instructor at the Plattsburg camp during the past three months.
According to an official announcement on Tuesday the depot brigade of the 26th army division, of which the members of the 6th regiment will form a part, are to be held in reserve to replace all losses at the front.
Several officers at Camp Devens attended the outing of the Leominster Elks lodge at the Country club grounds at Fort pond on Wednesday.
Two hundred men, comprising the coast artillery, from Portland, Me., came to Camp Devens in a special train Tuesday night. The train came over the southern division to Ayer and was run into the main camp grounds on the camp track from a point near Davis’ crossing at Harvard.
The new camp postoffice was opened Monday with W. C. Frawley, formerly of the Greendale office, which is a branch of the Worcester office, in charge. As a consequence there is great relief from the vast amount of work at the Ayer office which has been the rule of several weeks past. There are times when the rush is great now, even with the transferring of the camp mail to the new office, but it is expected that conditions will become the same as before the big rush soon. The camp office has several clerks at present and more are expected soon. There is ample room for thirty clerks to work. Postmaster Frawley has as his chief assistants, Superintendent of Mails Mudgett and others from the Fitchburg and Leominster offices.
The great scarcity of rooms in town has forced army officers and others to go to the surrounding places for quarters. Even in the towns immediately adjoining Ayer rooms are hard to get at any price. It is probable that many of the army officers will go to Fitchburg for quarters. The Lowell Red Cross chapter has interested itself in the work of procuring rooms for the officers and families in Lowell and any of the towns in the vicinity of the camp, and ask all having rooms to let to notify the president of the chapter in Lowell.
The Indiana troops have with them a police dog which assists in patrolling the camp with the regular military guard.
In the search for criminals at the camp the government secret service officers occasionally find men without draft registration cards which means that these men have failed to register as required. This failure is a serious offense and anyone who is found without a certificate showing that he was duly registered is arrested and taken to Boston to appear before the United States authorities for a hearing.
Too many joy rides have caused a new order to be given that automobiles or auto trucks shall not be taken out of the camp grounds after nightfall unless permission is given to do so by the proper authorities.
Sergt. Frank McAnnelly was found unconscious, lying on the ground, last Saturday for the effects of inhaling fumes from the gasoline of an automobile he was repairing. He was rushed to the regiment hospital for treatment. He quickly recovered consciousness and is apparently none the worse from his experience.
It is said that New England rifles will be given the drafted troops after they have learned the manual of arms sufficiently to use them.
The first recruits to appear for military service at Camp Devens, September 5, will consist of one percent of the quota of each district. One percent will follow on September 6 and 7, respectively, and two percent on September 8, making a total of five percent for the four days. Each man will wear an identification tag. The baggage will also be tagged to present confusion. All arrangements for the trip to the camp are in the hands of the local examination boards.
The remainder of the 6th regiment expect to leave here this Saturday.
While on his way to work at Camp Devens on Thursday morning Louis Uller, of Boston, was struck by a shifting engine at the North Station, Boston. He was taken to the Massachusetts General hospital, where both legs were amputated.
The war department announces that schools for the training of officers will be opened at all the training camps soon. This means that the government will take no more officers from civil life after the second series of officers’ training camps has been completed. The new camp schools are to be opened to give the enlisted men an opportunity to rise from the ranks to higher positions in the army.
Boston politicians are much concerned over the situation regarding the voting of drafted resident of that city who are to be stationed in Ayer at the time of the state primary next month. There is said to be no legal way whereby the men could cast their ballots here. About 15,000 men from that city are to be called here for training for the draft army. It looks as though the registration in Boston would be 15,000 short when voting time comes.
Col. P. H. Callahan, one of the leaders of the Knights of Columbus in the United States, says that $35,000 of the $3,000,000 fund to be raised by the order will be spent at the Ayer cantonment for recreation buildings and equipment. The main building will have an auditorium capable of seating 1100 persons in the center. There will be two wings, one with a 110-foot hotel porch, with lounging chairs, facing the regimental road. A Victrola and piano will be inside the building. The fund will be spent for the benefit of soldiers of every creed. Entertainments are expected to be furnished by the soldiers. The camp will field secretaries and chaplains. Two hundred chaplains will be sent to France with the New England troops, the expense of which will amount to $250,000. The order has already raised more than $1,000,000 and $440,000 has been spent so far.
Famous Sixth No More. Eight hundred of the members of the 6th regiment went to Camp Bartlett, Westfield, Tuesday, where they will undergo final training before being called for foreign service. They will form a part of the new 104th regiment of the 26th division, the second regiment and a part of the eighth being the remaining parts. Twelve officers are included in the quota of the 6th.
The large detachment of the 6th regiment went to Westfield by special train from a siding near the West Main street crossing, the route being by way of Springfield. The boys marched to the point where the train was standing and were accompanied by the regiment band, who gave selections until the departure of the train at 9:30.
All day Monday the soldiers were busy in packing up their equipment to be in readiness to move on the following morning. For several hours mule army teams were busy loading cars with supplies for the men into box cars. A large number of civilians and army officers were on hand to see the boys off. The soldiers were as a whole in a happy frame of mind while awaiting their departure.
The one thought that caused regret among the officers and men was the fading of the famous 6th into the new 104th regiment. The 6th, as such, no longer exists. The remainder of the regiment may be moved from here at any time, possibly before the end of the week.
Another pathetic feature of the dismemberment of the regiment is that the officers, who have served together so long and among whom there are strong bonds of friendship, are distributed among other units in the big new division. Several of the noncommissioned officers have been reduced to the ranks for a time through the new reorganization plans. This is caused by the doubling of the strength of the regiments, so as to meet with the foreign standards. The merging of the two units into one naturally requires less officers for the new organization, those at the head being reduced in rank and so on down to the lower officers who are necessarily reduced to the ranks for a time at least.
Coincident with the departure of the 6th members came the crack cavalry troop from Fort Ethan Allen, Vt. They have pitched their tents across the road from the 6th regiment camp on the parade ground in the rear of the Day house. The corral for the 220 horses was ready for them when they arrived. The horses are fine looking animals and attract much favorable attention.
The 6th regiment camp is now pretty well deserted. With the passing of a few more days it is expected that all the men will be gone. In the meantime preparations are rapidly going forward for the reception of the new draft troops which are scheduled to arrive next Wednesday. Officers are continually arriving. It is expected that 2000 of them will be here within the next few days.
The machine gun company has passed out of existence, its members having been distributed among the infantry companies. The cavalry units have been turned into machine gun companies.
The depot brigade of the 26th division will be composed of national guard units not called for service when the regular army division was formed, soldiers now stationed at Ayer and Springfield on guard duty and enlisted men in the regular army and draft recruits. The work of those doing guard duty will be done by the coast artillery corps of the New England states.
News Items. Members of George S. Boutwell post, G.A.R. and E. S. Clark post of Groton visited the military camp last Saturday afternoon. The veterans of ’61 exchanged greetings with the boys of ’17 during the stay at the camp. The present day soldiers were much interested in stories told of the great civil conflict by their visitors, who contrasted the methods of warfare of over a half century ago with those of 1917. The visitors spent a very pleasant time at the camp. Commander Augustus Lovejoy of George S. Boutwell post arranged the details of the visit.
Large Crowd at Camp. Last Sunday was by far the greatest day at Camp Devens since the work on the camp began, so far as attendance is concerned. It is roughly estimated that 15,000 people or more visited there during the day. The great majority of them came to visit the military camp, as it was generally understood that the day was to be the last Sunday for the soldiers at the camp, orders being given to move to Westfield some time during this week for a short training before being sent across to France. All day long people came in automobiles, steam and electric cars, teams and every sort of conveyances and on foot to bid the boys of the 7th regiment farewell. Practically every section of the eastern part of the state was represented in the immense crowd. Main and West Main streets were filled with automobiles passing to and from the camp.
The Fitchburg and Leominster street railway ran two cars together on half-hour schedule all day and evening in an attempt to handle the crowds, but even with the double service this was found to be impossible. The jam of people and automobiles extended for fully a half mile on the Shirley road in the vicinity of the grounds. To relieve the situation a special train was run to Boston, leaving here at eight o’clock.
The great crowd naturally was mostly composed of parents, sisters and brothers of the soldiers, who came to bid their kindred a last farewell prior to their going abroad for service. The soldiers and their relatives presented a cheerful appearance during the day in spite of the sadness of their final meeting, which was soon at hand. Underneath this cheerfulness, however, could be noticed an air of sadness. The soldiers, in anticipation of the farewell day, were prepared for the day’s visits from their relatives and friends, and everything was put in order for their reception.
The failure to have the regular afternoon dress parade was a great disappointment to the crowd which gathered in great numbers about the parade ground. The reason given for not having this very interesting feature was that the officers wanted the boys to have all the time possible with their relatives because of it being the last day that many could come to the camp.
The main camp, which is ordinarily closed to people without passes, was opened all day, these passports being unnecessary. Those who had not visited the place were astounded at the marvelous changes which have taken place in the past few weeks. There were a great many sight-seers besides those who came to say farewell to the soldiers. Many for the first time roamed at will over the military camp, getting an interesting first hand sight of the camp life of the boys.
The Arizona truck company, which is camped near the soldiers, is expected to be here indefinitely, their work being the carrying of supplies to the camp. With the coming of the many thousands of draft recruits soon, the company will be busier than ever.
Many camera men were about the ground getting photographs during the day.
At retreat when the inspiring ceremony of the lowering of the colors took place, there was a great crowd. All stood at reverent attention facing the colors which floated from the top of a high flag pole on the knoll overlooking the camp. While the flag was being lowered, as is the daily custom at sundown, the band played “The Star Spangled Banner” amid impressive silence.
As the day neared its end the soldiers who were to leave camp started to pack up their effects in readiness for their departure which was to take place soon.
Camp Notes. Major General Harry F. Hodges arrived at Camp Devens last Saturday to take charge of the 76th division of the draft army. With him came his staff composed of the following officers: Brig. Gen. F. D. Evans and Brig. Gen. F. A. Albright, brigade commanders, Lieut. Col. M. B. Stewart, chief of staff of the division; Maj. J. M. Wainwright, assistant chief of staff; Maj. Harry L. Hodges, division adjutant; Maj. A. M. Pardee, division inspector; Lieut. Col. E. K. Massee, division judge advocate; Lieut. Col. J. A. Dalton, division quartermaster. Lieut. Cowgill of the Coast Artillery corps will be aid to Gen. Hodges. Field officers not yet assigned to regiments are: Infantry, Cols. Perry, Estes, Heron, C. C. Smith, Frank Tomkins and J. H. Preston; field artillery, Cols. Craig, Conklin and Brook; Lieut. Cols. Arnold and Latrobe of infantry; Reakoph of field artillery; Maj. Winn of field artillery. Col. A. M. Pope is to have charge of the Engineers’ regiment; Lieut. F. B. Downing will be his assistant. Gen. Hodges made an inspection trip over the main camp lasting several hours. At the conclusion of the trip he expressed himself as being much pleased with what he saw and was impressed with the beauty of the camp.
The cantata, “Ruth,” was given at the Baldwin Commissary and at the Y.M.C.A. tent last Sunday evening by Mrs. Hager, Mrs. Hartwell and Miss Flagg, of Littleton. At the Ayerdome [sic] theatre there was a concert.
Frank B. Rogers, general manager for F. T. Ley Company, the camp contractors, has been accepted for service by the Springfield exemption board, he having been registered in that city. Several of the office force have also passed the draft examination.
A medical unit from Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana, arrived at the camp on Monday.
Among the camp visitors last Sunday were Capt. J. B. Lonot and Lieut. F. E. Gon, who are training the Harvard college students, and Capts. W. V. Warren and C. E. Selek, who are Plattsburg officers.
Company H of Stoneham left for that place last Saturday, where a reception was given in its honor by the townspeople. A feature of the day was a parade. The boys were taken to their home town in automobiles which were generously provide by their friends. The company returned last Sunday.
Three roofers fell last week Friday when a staging upon which they were at work gave way. They were treated at the camp hospital.
The second cavalry troop from Fort Ethan Allen, Winooski, Vt., arrived in town early last Monday morning. Later, the horses and equipment were unloaded and taken to Camp Devens, where the troop will be located. The men will do military police duty. This troop has for many years held the distinction of being the best in the United States service. They came into town on a special train over the Fitchburg division.
Ayer is getting accustomed to war-like scenes such as have been witnessed for several weeks past. However, the long line of artillery wagons from the Boxford camp, which passed through Main street Tuesday evening, attracted more than passing attention. The company is to make their headquarters at Camp Devens.
Sergt. Robert Cinquiars, of Company C, was struck by an automobile truck at the camp grounds on Monday and seriously injured. He was removed to the camp hospital for treatment.
A few days ago a soldier became engaged in an argument with the proprietor of a well-known business place in town in regard to the respective efficiency of soldiers of the United States and other nations. The talk closed when the military man said that the regiment at Camp Devens “could lick any body of equal size in the world.”
Suspect German Taken at Camp. George H. Rohloff, 23 years old, was arrested by Deputy Marshals Bradley and McGrath Tuesday at the army cantonment at Ayer and taken to Boston on suspicion of being a German spy. After a close questioning by Asst. U.S. Atty. Leo A. Rogers, he was committed to the East Cambridge jail to await a final disposition of his case. He may be interned at one of the alien enemy detention camps.
Rohloff told Mr. Rogers that he was born in Berlin and had been in the United States only about four years. He said he heard about the work at Ayer and went there seeking employment as a carpenter, being a member of the Leominster union. Unable to get a job as a carpenter, he took a place as a laborer, he said, hoping to get work at his trade later.
He said that he had registered in accordance with the draft law, but had never applied for an alien enemy permit. For being within a half-mile radius of the Ayer military camp without a permit he is liable to internment under the President’s alien enemy proclamation. Final disposition of the case will be made when instructions come from Washington. A complete report of the case has been forwarded to the department of justice.
District Court. George Posner, of Westford, was found not guilty of assault and battery and discharged, Tuesday morning.
W. J. McDonald, of Cambridge, was found guilty of drunkenness and fined five dollars. On a complaint for disturbing the peace he was found not guilty. Several drunks paid the usual fines.
Harry Barnaby, a camp laborer, was held on a serious charge for the superior court on $500 bail. Being unable to furnish these sureties he was committed to the East Cambridge jail to await trial. The witnesses in the case personally recognized in $50 each for the higher court. Barnaby was represented by associate justice John M. Maloney.
Third Draft Call. The local board for the fifteenth district have issued a third call for men to appear before them at the town hall, Ayer, this week Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The following is a list of those included in this call for the towns in which this paper is circulated in this vicinity, divided off into the days upon which they were to appear before the board for physical examination:
August 30 | ||
Call no. | Serial no. | Name |
Westford | ||
810 | 1508 | Hildreth, Harold W |
817 | 1667 | DeRohen, John E. |
819 | 1619 | Wall, William L. |
870 | 1661 | Couture, Lewis L. |
August 31 | ||
Westford | ||
933 | 1728 | Tousignant, Joseph |
938 | 1592 | Minka, William |
949 | 1513 | Ling, Edw. R. |
954 | 1545 | Boucher, Isacher |
956 | 1490 | Blaisdell, Frank L. |
970 | 1553 | Charlton, Arthur L. |
976 | 1491 | Burland, Ernest L. |
987 | 1717 | Spinner, Edw. G. |
1001 | 1719 | Sudak, Mike. |
1016 | 1576 | Manson, Carl H. |
1028 | 1527 | Sullivan, Frank H. |
1030 | 1692 | MacKey, Antonio |
1048 | 1492 | Burnham, Chester A. |
1053 | 1530 | Symmes, George E. |
1056 | 1529 | Swanson, Hilding |
September 1 | ||
Forge Village | ||
1171 | 1726 | Thompson, Joseph |
1190 | 1703 | Palermo, Joseph |
Westford | ||
1063 | 1487 | Banister, Seth W. |
1072 | 1684 | Kowalchuk, Ignati |
1076 | 1505 | Harrington, James W. |
1084 | 1671 | Flanagan, Charles |
1088 | 1533 | Whitney, Hamilton E. |
1093 | 1564 | Dumont, Ernest |
1107 | 1559 | Cote, Hormides J. |
1109 | 1498 | Ferguson, Howard H. |
1115 | 1534 | Whitney, Harry A. |
1139 | 1643 | Seimeni, Stephen |
1144 | 1494 | Day, Walter O. |
1147 | 1518 | O’Connell, Patrick |
1158 | 1683 | Kovolozak, Staf |
1159 | 1614 | Symmes, Paul E. |