The Westford Wardsman, September 30, 1916
Center. A daughter [Vivian Beryl Green] was born to Mr. and Mrs. William E Green last Saturday [Sept. 23, 1916] which makes the eighth child in the family.
J. S. Nathans, of New York, is visiting his daughter, Mrs. J. H. Colburn, seeking rest and quiet in our pretty hilltop village.
Charles D. Colburn, met with an accident last Saturday afternoon which easily might have proved very much more serious. While getting a large two-horse load of hay weighed at the town scales at the east end of the common, the horses started suddenly as the electric car was coming along. Mr. Colburn was thrown violently to the ground and received a bad shaking up and bruises and cuts, but fortunately no bones were broken. The front part of the wagon was demolished and the over-turned load of hay had to be re-loaded onto another wagon. Many willing helpers came to Mr. Colburn’s assistance.
Dr. and Mrs. N. L. Griffin, of New London, N.H., have been guests of Dr. and Mrs. O. V. Wells this week.
It is a great satisfaction to our residents to have the Unitarian church clock keeping accurate time and striking the hours regularly. It has recently had a thorough repairing by a Lowell clock doctor.
Mrs. A. W. Hartford has been visiting in Boston and Somerville the greater part of the week.
About $175 was realized from the Congregational fair which took place at the town hall on Wednesday of last week.
H. Bert Walker, who underwent a serious operation at the Lowell General hospital this week, is reported to be resting as comfortably as can be expected, although very weak.
The reading circle of the Tadmuck club met with Mrs. L. H. Buckshorn on Thursday afternoon of last week with a good attendance and degree of interest. Mrs. A. H. Sutherland reviewed “They who knock at our gates,” one of Mary Antin’s thought-compelling books, which deals with the immigrant problem. Mrs. Sutherland’s able review was followed with an interested discussion by those present.
George H. Kimball, while driving the school barge home last Monday afternoon, had an unpleasant experience. While going past S. B. Wright’s the horses took fright, just what about their driver could not ascertain, having met no other team or other apparent cause. They jumped badly and both Mr. Kimball and some of the children were somewhat shaken up and frightened, but there were no serious results.
The opening meeting of the Tadmuck club takes place on October 9 and will be a reception to the membership, taking place at the Unitarian vestry. The Ladies’ Germania orchestra, of Lowell, will furnish music, and Mrs. F. L. Roberts will be the soloist of the afternoon. Miss Alice M. Howard, the club’s new president, will give an opening address of greeting and welcome.
About Town. The next meeting of Middlesex-North Pomona Grange will be held in Odd Fellows’ hall, Bridge street, Lowell, Friday, October 6. Morning—Reports of farm visiting day, oral or written, ten minutes the limit: prizes $2.50, $1.50 and $1. Afternoon—Visitors’ day, entertainment to be furnished by the visiting Grange.
Westford Grange will confer the first and second degrees Thursday evening, October 5. State Master Chapman will be the guest and speaker. Rev. David Wallace will be violinist. Let everybody bring everybody and give the initiating class, the state master and the violinist a cheer that sounds very much like alive.
At the primaries on Tuesday evening John M. Fletcher, Walter J. Merritt, Albert R. Wall and John Edwards were appointed guardians over the voters. It was the largest primary since primaries began. The total vote cast was 205: for representative 11th district, Perham 117, Small 54; senator, 8th district, Marchand 43, Colburn 188; district attorney, Tufts 31, Higgins 49, Brown 67, Councillor, Malligan 66, Harris 77, register of deeds, Stearns 131, Purcell 14. The above were all contests within the republican party, except for register of deeds.
In the account under Harvard last week of the death of Mrs. Martha A. Savage, a few additional facts might interest the older residents of Westford. She was a native of Westford, the daughter of Ephraim and Asenath (Fletcher) Wright, and in her early life a regular attendant at the Congregational church, a pleasing and familiar figure in the choir and student at Westford academy. She married Sampson Fletcher who died long ago. One daughter, well remembered by the youthful as a student at Westford academy, died in the prime of womanhood, as also an adopted daughter. She left no children. The Ida B Allen referred to as her daughter, is the adopted daughter of her deceased sister, Mrs. Sarah P (Wright) Cummings. Martha Fletcher, as she was familiarly known after her first marriage, was a liberal contributor to the life of society in its varied opportunities.
A mild form of infantile paralysis is circulating in town, its last appearance being at the Harry L. Nesmith’s in Parkerville.
At the food sale of the First Parish last week Friday afternoon $14.25 was what becometh of the effort.
Harry L. Ingalls, who for a few years has been farming at the junction of the Groton road and Milestone hill road, has leased the John McMaster farm near Chamberlin’s Corner, taking possession October 1. As per present plans the McMasters will move to Lowell.
The Grange had a full house at the open meeting last week. Supt. Frank H. Hill started the inspiration as the first speaker to emphasize special education for those who are not built to know everything. For the real, workable, every-day sound sense, his advice was as needful and refreshing as an oasis in a desert. William C. Roudenbush also spoke in a like manner. Dr. Stimpson, of the State Board of Education, in a moving picture style, spoke on “Agricultural education,” and held the close attention of all during his remarks.
Daniel Sherman died at his home on Cold Spring road Sunday morning at the age of ninety-one years. He was a native of Tewksbury, but lived in Westford for many years, quietly carrying on his farm. He leaves a daughter, Mrs. William Pollock, with whom he was living, and four grandchildren; also, an adopted son, David Sherman. The funeral was held on Tuesday afternoon, Rev. David Wallace conducting the services, which were private.
The Greig farm folks have bought a milk route in Lowell, taking possessing on October 1.
Mrs. Clara Littlefield, of Fitchburg, has been visiting at her old home, the old Walker homestead, Main street.
W. R. Taylor has joined the crowd and taken to a Ford automobile. All heretofore jokers are turned over to him, while others have a vacation.
The Albright family have removed from the John H. Decatur house to the somewhat larger and romantic New Hampshire.
See Littleton item for grand concert by Frank Stewart Adams, organist.
Special Town Meeting. There was a very good attendance at the special town meeting last week Friday evening. Charles L. Hildreth, town clerk, called the meeting to order and Arthur E. Day was elected moderator. The special town meeting prior to this one related to the purchase by the town of the Henry O. Keyes property in Westford Center for a firehouse, and while it was unanimously a peaceable meeting, it was also a unanimously lawless meeting, for after all the outflow of desire to improve the environments at the Center the law steps in and says you can’t borrow any money at a special meeting to repair buildings, but you can borrow sky high to build onto buildings already existing. The special town meeting last week was to get back to law, and having got back to law this much was saved in the transit: Oscar R. Spalding, chairman of the board of selectmen, out of the generosity of his life and the largeness of his finances, bought the Henry O. Keyes property for $2300 and was willing to donate it to the town as soon as the town was willing to donate him $2300 and interest, which the town nodded in the affirmative. It was voted to sell all the valuable buildings on said lot except the academy building and the cottage house.
Next on the program was the report of the committee on lighting the streets. Hon. Edward Fisher, for the committee, made a clear disclosure of all attempts to renew the contract with the Lowell Electric Light Company. The committee reported adversely on a contract for ten years and the town endorsed the adversity of the committee. For a ten-year contract the company is willing to be good clear down to $20 per light, a reduction of $3.50 from the last contract. But as nearby towns are being lighted for $15.50 and some for $18 per light, the town and the committee thought that the Lowell company had better try again at being good, and so the committee and the company will have another head-on come together and report at another special meeting in October.
Graniteville. The Ladies’ Aid society of the M.E. church is planning on holding the annual harvest supper in the near future.
The Westford Water Company is laying additional pipes and has already put in a new hydrant in River street, near the new houses. This street is also being widened and when all the work is completed in this vicinity the hill section of River street will certainly present a much improved appearance.
Harold Horan, of Charlestown, has been a recent visitor here.
Arthur Healy is attending the Lowell Commercial college.
The large number from here who attended the dance in East Pepperell on last week Friday night had a very enjoyable time. The majority of those who attended went by auto, while others who went by motorcycle were rather a long time on the road, owing to tire trouble.
Mrs. Herbert Milton Searles, of Greenfield, has been a recent guest of Miss Lilly Mae Moran.
M.E. church Notes. At the M.E. church last Sunday afternoon the Junior league held its opening service. Miss Lottie York, the new superintendent of this department, promises to make the work of great value to the younger folks.
At the Epworth league meeting Percy Barnes was installed as president; Miss Lena Wilson, 2d v.p.; Miss Lottie York, 3 d v.p.; Miss Alice May, 4th v.p.; Fred Smith, sec. and treas. The vestry room was comfortably filled with an audience interested in Epworth league work.
An appreciative congregation enjoyed the stereopticon pictures on Christ’s parable, “The ten virgins,” shown at the evening service. This is a public service and all are welcome.
The banquet has been eliminated from the program arranged for the new resident bishop, Rev. Mr. Hughes. Under the new plan he will address Methodists and friends on the evening of October 3, at the Central Methodist church.
Forge Village. Mrs. Laura E. Jones and daughter-in-law, Mrs. Albert E. Jones, with baby son of Worcester, visited relatives here on Monday and Tuesday. A. E. Jones is still with his regiment, station in Columbus, N.M.
The Ladies’ Sewing circle held the first meeting of the year at Recreation hall on Thursday afternoon.
A daughter [Alice Edith] was born on last Saturday [Friday, Sept. 22, 1916] to Mr. and Mrs. Charles Flanagan.
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Ayer Varney, together with their little son Austin, of West Somerville, were recent guests at the home of Mr. and Mrs. John E. Burnett, Pleasant street.
On Sunday the services at St. Andrew’s mission will be held at 1:30 in the afternoon. There will be no morning services. Sunday school will commence Sunday afternoon at 3:30.
Mr. and Mrs. Edwin H. Cherry, of New York city, have been the guests of Mr. Cherry’s grandmother, Mrs. M. A. Lowther, this week.
The cottage on Pleasant street, together with several acres of land running from Pleasant street to Pine street, owned by Mrs. Harriet E. Randall, and now occupied by the John Baker family, has recently been purchased by the Abbot Worsted Co.
Miss Julian Donnelly, of West Chelmsford, spent Saturday and Sunday as guests of Mr. and Mrs. A. H. Comey.
Constable William Wall has been notified by the selectmen of the town of Westford to prosecute any person or persons using profane or vile language on the public highway. Recently complaints have been sent in to the selectmen by residents here, and the nuisance is now going to be stopped. The offenders are of all ages, some range from eight or nine years of age, others old enough to know better. All persons sitting on the fences in the square or otherwise being a nuisance while waiting for electric cars, will also be punished to the full extent of the law. Any person caught after this writing will be prosecuted as far as the law allows.
Mrs. Nellie Prince chaperoned a party of fifteen young people of North Chelmsford at Forge pond on last Sunday. The day was ideal for such an outing and all enjoyed a delightful time. A basket luncheon was enjoyed at Cameron park in the early evening.
Mrs. Hugh Daley and daughter, Miss Gladys, have returned from a few days spent in the White Mountains.
Mrs. Fred Eccles and baby son David, who have been visiting her sister, Mrs. Fred Naylor, have returned to their home in Providence, R.I. Little Miss Ruth Naylor accompanied her aunt, and expects to make an indefinite stay in Providence.
Rev. W. M. Ford, vicar of St. Andrew’s, officiated at the services in the mission chapel on last Sunday. Mr. Ford is making preparations for a harvest home service.
Mr. and Mrs. Napoleon Leclerc, together with Mrs. Felix Leclerc and daughter Corinne, went to Manchester, N. H., last Wednesday to attend the funeral of their cousin, J. Coté.
Death. The community was very much shocked on last week Wednesday to hear of the death of James Kavanaugh, the twelve-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. John Kavanaugh, of Pleasant street. James had been sick but a brief time, and at four o’clock on last week Wednesday morning death came. He had spent the past couple of years with relatives in Providence, R.I., and returned in August for the vacation. On the Thursday of the week before his death he was taken with a cold. The day before his death he grew worse and a trained nurse was in attendance. Typhoid developed shortly and the end came as a result. Much sympathy is expressed to the bereaved parents. Mr. Kavanaugh, who is the overseer of carding in the employ of the Abbot Worsted Co., had just returned to work after an illness of three weeks.
The body was taken to Providence, R.I., on Wednesday afternoon, where services were held.
Among the floral offerings was a beautiful wreath from the pupils and teachers, Miss Mary A. Garvey and Miss Abbie M. Blaisdell; a spray of asters from the principal Miss Letitia V. Ward, and a spray of carnations from Miss Eva F. Pyne, teacher of the lower grades of Cameron school.