The Westford Wardsman, September, 1908

Saturday, September 5, 1908

About Town. A merry party of the grangers left town last week Thursday for Revere beach and Wonderland, where European sight-seeing curiosities, limited of course, could be seen. The weather was of the autumn sunshine type, which with the recreations of the day left sunshine impressions on the individual expression as they gathered back home. Only about fourteen answered the rollcall to the exhibitions of the day. It should have been multiplied by six, with some to carry.

The contract for remodeling Monument square in Lowell has been awarded to the H. E. Fletcher Co., Oak Hill, Westford. The figures were below the expectation of the city engineer. These figures were in competition with the Lawrence Granite Co. of Lawrence.

Judson F. Sweetser, who lives on Bear hill, one of the southerly suburbs of Parkerville, is the only person in town who appears to have a large crop of peaches. Give him a call and take that bright shining dollar with you, and bring home a basket and then invite in thy neighbor who has not the financial shine thou hast, and see what an endorsement of the sale though wilt have together.

The Unitarian church will open Sunday after its usual summer vacation.

The scholars in the Nashoba school will be transported to the new school at the Center, instead of the Minot school. All schools open Tuesday, Sept. 8.

James A. Walkden has sold to Mark W. Jenkins, a lot of land containing about three acres on the Chamberlain road, between the blacksmith shop and the Putney place. This lot of land was formerly a part of the Zacheus Reed farm and familiarly known as Bowen lane.

A Brookside farmer has been inquiring of his potatoes how they liked the long-continued stringency in rainfall. They report, now that they are all harvested, ten bushels planted and twenty bushels harvested. Had they been planted whole it would have been better to have dug them the next day after planting; it would have saved labor and sorrow.

Edwin E. Park, who was on trial last week before Judge Pickman of Lowell for hen thieving, was found not guilty. Sidewalk evidence generally gets pretty well shaken up on the witness stand.

Daniel H. Sheehan is making preparations to start up his cider-vinegar-sawmill cotton manufactory located on Tadmuck brook near Stony Brook school.

Baseball. The struggle of the season in baseball lines took place at Milford, N.H., last Saturday between the Milford and Westford teams. Two games were played on July 4, Westford winning the first and the second was a tie, and the Westford boys were obliged to leave to catch the cars. A later game resulted in a tie, again the Westfords being obliged to leave to catch a car, and the Milford team were rather liberal with the thought that this catching car business was only an excuse for running from defeat. But this last game Westford put on the defiant attitude and resolved to fight it out to a final finish, and that there should be no catching car, tie games in this final struggle for supremacy. The Westford boys stuck to their batting and catching and running and decoying, and one of the crack teams of New Hampshire got one of the worst whippings they have experienced for a long time when Westford defeated them by a score of 9 to 1.

Now there are those who think that the Westford team is over-estimated. Even thus may it be so, but to all doubters of ordinary caliber, just try the batting capacity of your doubts with the Westford boys, and at the end of the game you will have a more discouraged than doubting look. It looks now like the close of the baseball season.

The park lands. Frank A. Levey of Union Hill, N.J., was in town last week, searching for his real estate located at Brookside park, near Graniteville. The assessors were asked to join in the search. This park being mostly water of the frog-pond variety, and steep precipice, and the balance imagination on paper to help sell the park, it is a difficult task to satisfy the many lot owners that this uninhabitable frog and mosquito headquarters is their property and is identical with that thriving, growing park they bought on paper. A Lowell party when shown her property wished the assessors were all in that hot region where water is not reported to be as abundant as at this park. Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Rhode Island are all represented in ownership in this park and still coming. It is gathering a national reputation like unto Yellowstone and Yosemite. Look for a low rate of taxes from prospective land and water sales.

Center. Rev. and Mrs. C. P. Marshall and daughter Marion returned home to the parsonage Wednesday after a delightful vacation spent at Dover and Gorham, N.H. While at Gorham Mr. Marshall was joined by Chas. O. Prescott and John P. Wright, and this trio of friends enjoyed a tramping trip of several days through the White mountains. They were fortunate in having the bright, bracing weather of last week, and are enthusiastic enough over their experience to hope to repeat it another season. Wm. A. Perkins was to have joined the party, but the recent moving of his family and getting settled in a new home was undertaking enough before the commencement of his school duties.

Mrs. Wm. L. Woods and Mrs. Lizzie Hamlin, with their children, enjoyed a day’s outing at Nantasket beach Tuesday.

The regular church services will be resumed at the Congregational church on Sunday, Sept. 5. At the close of the morning service the communion will be observed.

Pleasant word comes to the Westford friends from the Perkins family in Grafton, where they are pleasantly settled.

Dr. O. V. Wells assumed charge of the practice of the late Dr. Sleeper the first of September. In the two years that Dr. Wells has been here he has made many warm friends who wish him much success.

Miss S. W. Loker conducted a well attended missionary meeting Sunday evening at the Congregational church. The subject was Dr. Cyrus Hamlin and his work in Constantinople. Dr. Hamlin was related to the Westford Hamlins and had spoken during his life a number of times at this church. Miss Mary Bunce and John A. Taylor gave well-prepared outlines of his work and Mrs. Wheeler read a description of the city of Constantinople where Roberts college that he founded and where he labored so long was situated.

The W.C.T.U. met with Mrs. Nellie Carkin at her home on Main st., Wednesday afternoon. There was a good attendance of members present and one visitor. Miss May E. Day was added to the list of members. Various business of importance was transacted, among which was the appointment of Mrs. Frank C. Hildreth and Mrs. H. G. Osgood as delegates to the state convention, to be held in Lowell the last of this month.

Work progresses well on Frank Drew’s new house on Main st. Warren Carkin, Bert Hildreth and Pearl Harmon are the men behind the hammers and saws.

The appointment of a trustee of the J. V. Fletcher library was made necessary by the resignation of Wm. A. Perkins. At a meeting of the remaining trustees and the selectmen, Julian A. Cameron was chosen to serve until the next town meeting.

Miss Mary E. Moran is spending a few days with Misses Carrie E. and Florence Reed at Barre.

Miss Alice L. Davis has been a recent guest of Miss Emily F. Fletcher. Miss Davis’s early home was in Westford and she was a graduate of the academy, after which she taught at Minot’s corner and Stony Brook, and later at the Center. She is now the principal assistant at the Belle school in Somerville. It is after a lapse of eleven years that Miss Davis visited here, and she expressed much pleasure at so many changes all along the line of improvement in our village, but also with it the inevitable undercurrent of sadness that the years bring in changes among families through death and removals.

Graniteville. The members of A. R. Choate hose company, No. 2, under the direction of Capt. J. A. Healy, were out for practice duty last Monday evening and flushed out many of the hydrants in the village. Considerable of the work was done by the light of lanterns, but that did not interfere with the members to any extent. The regular meeting of the company will be held in its room on Monday evening, Sept. 7, at seven o’clock.

Mr. and Mrs. W. K. Putney and little son Alfred C. of Needham are visiting in this village for a few days.

The Brimstone baseball club will cross bats with the Littleton club at Littleton on Saturday afternoon, and a good, warm game is expected. The Brimstones have been very successful during the season and hope to finish the season with a clean slate.

Wm. A. Nickerson, a former principal in the Graniteville grammar school, has recently been appointed to [a] similar position in Westwood. Mr. Nickerson made many warm friends during his brief stay here, and they will be pleased to hear of his success.

Jack Frost has been getting in his fine work of late. On last Saturday morning ice had formed on a water pail that had been left out over night at the Blodgett Bros.’ farm on the Millstone road.

Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Robarge of Willimantic, Conn., with their daughter Lillian, were recent visitors at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Provost.

Outing. Cameron circle, C.F.A., held a gala day at Hillside park, this village, last Saturday afternoon, that proved to be a success in every way. The principal attraction for the afternoon was the baseball game between the Brimstones and the All-stars. The game was closely contested for the full nine innings, when the Brimstones finally won by a score of 5 to 3. Batteries—Tom McCarthy and Ledwith for the Brimstones, Bob McCarthy and Hemen for the All-stars; umpire, J. W. Harrington.

After the ballgame the time was pleasantly spent in visiting the other attractions, the “dodger” act as performed by Dorrie DeLorenzo making a decided hit. Frank Loftus was manager of this event, and as the original fakir was all to the good. The tonic, icecream and candy tables did a flourishing business during the afternoon. At 5:30 an excellent, old-fashioned supper was served under the pines and all who partook of the spread certainly got their money’s worth.

In the evening a social dancing party was held in Healy’s hall from 7:30 till 11:30 that was largely attended. Many were present from out of town. Smiley’s orchestra of Acton furnished excellent music, and at intermission refreshments were served. A late car for North Chelmsford and Ayer conveyed the visiting people to their homes after the dance. The affair was in charge of the following committee:

General manager, Mrs. Daniel W. Harrington; dance committee, Mary J. Sullivan, Annie Healy, Dora LeDuc, Flora Stuart; refreshment committee, Mrs. Peter Healy and Mrs. Joe Wall; reception committee, Rebecca Leduc, Mrs. T. A. Riney, Mrs. P. H. Harrington, Mrs. W. Welsh, Mrs. C. Couture, Catherine O’Hara, Della B. Blodgett, Elizabeth McCarthy, Catherine Rafferty, Edith Brooks, Catherine Darling, Mary Harrington, Grace Ledwith, Julia Rafferty, Cora Shattuck, Engla Mattson, Amy Ellison, Ella M. Caunter.

Forge. Mr. and Mrs. John Shackelton held a birthday reception at the home of Mrs. Dinah McMurray Saturday evening, it also being the latter’s birthday. It was a very social and pleasant gathering. Many friends were present and all was fun and mirth when supper was announced. The table was laden with an abundance of good things, while the decorations of goldenrod and asters lent an added charm not only to the table but to the rooms. Many tokens of kindly remembrance were received. The party broke up at a late hour, with best wishes for many happy returns of the day.

Miss Sophie Wamaroneka and Adam Sylvesa were married last Saturday at the Polish church in Lowell, but will reside here [1].

Mrs. Wilson, who was taken ill in Lowell and removed to the hospital, has returned home and is slowly improving.

Misses Edith and Hilda Normington, formerly of this village but now of Worcester, have returned from their trip to England and have brought many beautiful souvenirs from the land of their birth.

Rev. B. H. Carey, the Baptist minister of Littleton, held an open-air service on the shore of Forge pond last Sunday afternoon, which was well attended, especially by the summer visitors at the cottages. A duet rendered by Mr. and Mrs. Carey was very effective. The weather permitting, there will be another service Sunday afternoon.

The ladies sewing circle met with Mrs. Burnett Thursday afternoon, the first time after a long vacation.

Death. John Connell died at the home of his son John, jr., of this village on Tuesday, at the advanced age of eighty-seven years [2].  He was born in Ireland and married Miss Bridget O’Hare there. Soon after he married they came to Lowell, but for the last forty years they resided in Groton. A few weeks ago, owing to the infirmities of age, Mr. Connell and his wife came to live with his son. The immediate cause of death was a paralytic shock. Six children, four boys and two girls, survive him; also, twenty-one grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Funeral services were held at St. Catherine’s church, Graniteville, Friday morning, and burial was at St. Mary’s cemetery, in the town of Ayer.

Graniteville. About the Schools. At a meeting of the Westford board of education, held at the Centre on last week Friday night, it was decided by the committee to rescind the vote previously made in relation to the closing of certain schools, and for the coming school year all the schools will be opened as heretofore. There will be some change in the staff of teachers in the Graniteville schools during the opening of the fall term. Gerald Decatur, who formerly taught at the Nabnassett school, will be the new principal, a position formerly held by William A. Nickerson. Miss Mary A. Dunn of West Chelmsford, a graduate of the Lowell Normal school, will teach the first grade, Miss Ruth Tuttle having been transferred to the Centre school in Westford proper. There will also be a new teacher in the Cameron school at Forge Village, Miss Mary E. Garney of North Chelmsford, having been recently appointed to the position. Charles N. Edwards of Brookside will teach the Nabnassett school at the opening of the fall term.

[1] Adam Szylivian, 28, and Zofia Wajnovowska, 20, were married Aug. 29, 1908, per the 1908 Westford Town Report.

[2] John O’Connell, son of John & Mary (Sullivan), aged 87 years 2 months 21 days, died Aug. 25, 1908, per the 1908 Westford Town Report.

Saturday, September 12, 1908

About Town. Lorenzo Fletcher of Kansas City is visiting his brothers, J. Alton Fletcher on Groton road, and Hon. Herbert E. and Henry A. Fletcher on Oak Hill.

A large contract for paving stone for the city of Lowell has been awarded to Lewis P. Palmer of Graniteville, for $1.10 per square yard.

George Philbrick has sold his blacksmith business at North Chelmsford and will reopen the shop at Westford Depot where he formerly carried on the business.

Arthur H. Burnham has been busy the past week cutting corn for the farmers in Stony Brook valley with his three-horse corn-cutting and binding machine. About an acre an hour is what the machine will stand without balking for less work.

The school committee have appointed John A. Taylor school census enumerator, and he is preparing to wheel into line.

Mr. and Mrs. John Bernhard of Newark, N.J., were guests of Mr. and Mrs. David Greig last Saturday and Sunday.

Alfred W. Hartford and Wm. R. Taylor represented the republican town committee Wednesday evening at the American house, Lowell, at a meeting of chairmen and secretaries of the town committees for this senatorial district. Mr. Taylor was a substitute for Hon. H. E. Fletcher, chairman of the town committee, who was unable to be present.

On Saturday several members of Westford ballteam played with the Pepperell team against the Nashua card company team, and others played with the Marlboro team. The Westford team has a reputation and demand, either in single or consolidated form.

Mrs. Johnson from New York and Mrs. Smith from New Jersey have been spending the week at the hospitable farm residence of F. W. Banister.

Labor day was observed generally after the predetermined temperament of the individuals who were mostly swayed to the exciting auto race on the Merrimack Valley track at Lowell and Tyngsboro, where the contestants endeavored to run close to the danger limit at Hairpin curve and not upset [1]. Some who didn’t care to labor with their eyes in this way stayed at home and picked blackberries.

H. V. Hildreth and wife and Harold Hildreth of Westford, Mrs. E. C. Allen and Miss Pearl Richardson of Malden attended the automobile race on Labor day at Tyngsboro.

Fred A. Hildreth and wife occupied the home of their son while they were at camp on Labor day.

Supper. Apropos of the season of the year, there was a fine corn supper in the supper-room of the Congregational church last week Friday evening, and everything “Cornish,” if one might be permitted such an expression, was served. First and foremost there were the tender ears of the succulent sweet corn, then corn cakes, corn bread, corn fritters, even corn beef and corn coffee. Mrs. L. W. Wheeler, Mrs. Knight and Mrs. Banister, who had charge of the supper, did their best in giving a hospitable welcome and serving the refreshments. The tables were especially beautiful with large bouquets of spicy nasturtiums and other bright flowers, which had come from the gardens.

Later in the auditorium there was a stereopticon entertainment, Mrs. Arthur E. Day throwing upon a screen a series of pictures illustrating songs that were sung as the slides were exposed, and poems that were read. In this way there were brought before one scenes depicting that fine poem “The Cotter’s Saturday night” by Burns, or the familiar song, “Tenting tonight.” [2]

Cheap living. Our well-known townsman, Cornelius Freeman Keyes, has made a public statement [3] of how he lives on twenty-five cents a week, and offers to give a farm to any man, woman or child who will live as he lives for ten years. He is in the seventies and has never called a doctor. “How do I manage to live on twenty-five cents a week?” says Mr. Keyes. “Well, for one thing, I eat but very little meat and I discard altogether tobacco and rum. I live on graham crackers and milk and I do not know what it is to be ill. Out-of-door exercise is more than food. There is a great deal of truth in the sun worshippers’ statement that much of our sustenance is drawn from the air and sunshine. I was much interested in the ‘bread line’ in New York city some time ago, and I wrote to the papers offering to give a farm to any hungry man or woman who would live as I live for ten years, but no one took up with the offer. It doesn’t cost much to live the simple life, but one must let tobacco and rum alone and cling close to nature.”

Now while there is a reasonable element of truth in this method of living, yet carried out all along the complex line of living, a twenty-five cents a week simplicity would send us all back to the Darwinian starting point of existence, from which we have all so slowly and tenderly been evolved, bringing with us churches, schools, libraries, friendships and culture. These are wholesome preventives against any retrograde tendency. There is a sort of chewing-the-cud simplicity that belongs to the animal creation; we do well to warn ourselves against it. A twenty-five cents a week schedule, as a basis of simplicity, would very likely if long continued in result in producing a twenty-five cent man.

Centre. Alonzo H. Sutherland met with an unfortunate and painful accident while at his work at the pumping station last week. Three fingers of his right hand were badly hurt in the machinery. As soon as it happened Mr. Sutherland saw that it was a case for medical aid and although in great pain unhitched his horse and started for the village. When he got as far as the willows he fainted and fell out of the wagon, causing bruises and a bad shaking up. Dr. Wells has been caring for the injuries and at first it was feared amputation of one or more of the fingers would be necessary, but at this writing it is not thought this will have to be done. It will be two or three weeks before Mr. Sutherland will be able to work to advantage. With his little family depending upon him our energetic and popular “Lon” has the ready sympathy of his host of friends.

Mrs. Homer M. Seavey’s mother, Mrs. M. E. Mitchell, her aunt, Mrs. Sarah A. Pear, and nephew, Kenneth Mitchell, have been spending a week at the Seavy home. Mrs. Hixon, Mrs. Ames and Master Willis Ames have also been recent guests.

Mr. and Mrs. Charles A. Hildreth spent Sunday and labor day with relatives in New Ipswich, N.H.

Mr. and Mrs. L. W. Wheeler entertained a group of friends at Paradise Spring Tuesday afternoon. The weather was perfect for the occasion, and merry sociability and a picnic supper were enjoyed. Miss Nellie Fletcher added to the pleasure of those present by supplying music from her graphophone.

Among our young people leaving to teach in other towns are Miss May Balch to South Hadley, Miss Edna Ferguson to South Dartmouth, Miss Jennie Ferguson to Presque Isle, Me., Miss Jennie Chandler to Boston, Miss Edith Wright to Ayer, Miss Edith Bicknell to South Royalston, Miss Stella Hartford to East Hampstead, N.H., Miss Effie Bennett to South Tamworth, N.H., and Archie Hartford to Washington, Conn.

May E. Day, who graduated from the academy in June, enters Mt. Holyoke, and Helen Burnham expects to enter Lowell Normal. Elizabeth Kittredge of Concord, N.H., formerly of this village, goes to Vassar. Blanche Waller goes back to Bates college for her senior year.

Owing to an accident to the new lighting system at the town hall the first meeting of the grange for September was postponed for one week.

Mrs. J. B. Felch entertained her sister, Mrs. Hannah Cheever, and niece Miss L. A. Cheever, and Miss G. S. Cushing over Sunday and Monday.

Mr. and Mrs. G. W. Goode, who have been staying at camp since Mrs. Goode returned from abroad, closed camp Tuesday and returned to their village home. Mrs. Litchfield will remain with Mr. and Mrs. Goode for the present.

Mr. and Mrs. E. J. Whitney, who have been moving from Littleton by degrees to their pleasant new home in this village, had their last load of goods come Tuesday and are installed in their new home. Westford is Mrs. Whitney’s [nee Caroline Maria Hutchins] native town and many friends welcome them back again and hope they will enjoy the new home so tastefully remodeled to such a degree of comfort and convenience.

Miss Lillian Deaves returned to New York, Wednesday, after a month’s stay with Mrs. J. Henry Colburn.

Mrs. E. J. Meecham of Holyoke, who will be readily remembered as Miss Millie Smith, a popular teacher at the centre primary a few seasons’ ago, is visiting in town at Miss Eva E. Fletcher’s and Mrs. Homer M. Seavy’s.

Mrs. A. E. Leavitt and son Roydon and niece, Dorothy Wright, have returned to their home in Gorham, N.H., after a week’s visit at the Congregational parsonage.

Schools started in Tuesday morning, Principal Woodworth at the academy, assisted by Miss Bartlett and Miss Babbitt. These latter were here last year, but Mr. Woodworth starts in new, succeeding Mr. Perkins. He comes from Milford, N.H., where he was principal of the high school.

The pretty new four-room schoolhouse built by the town last year was put to its intended uses, with Miss Ruth Fisher as principal and Misses Ruth Tuttle and Elizabeth Cushing in the other rooms. The fourth room, owing to the recent decision not to transfer pupils from Stony Brook and Minot’s corner, will not be used. An initial ceremony at this building was the running up of the fine new flag on the flagpole erected for the purpose, with three hearty cheers from the children. The enrollment of pupils at the academy is fifty and at the other building eighty.

Edwin N. C. Barnes is again supervisor of music in the schools.

Graniteville. Albert Reeves, who recently had the front part of his residence made into a store, celebrated the event last Saturday night by running a dancing party, which was very largely attended. Many were present from Lowell, North Chelmsford and Ayer. During the evening dancing was enjoyed to music furnished by a Lowell orchestra, after which numerous games were played, which proved to be very enjoyable to all present. Refreshments were served during the evening, and the merry party broke up at 11:30 o’clock, after voting “Albe’s” opening night a grand social success.

All the places of business closed here on Labor day and a great many of the village people took in the great automobile race on the Lowell boulevard.

All the schools opened here on Tuesday morning, Sept. 8, at the usual hour.

Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Wall of Lynn spent the holiday with relatives in this village.

Mr. and Mrs. Harry Quinn of Boston have been recent guests of Mr. and Mrs. F. L. Furbush.

Miss Edith Normington, who has charge of the office of C. G. Sargent & Sons, has recently returned from a very enjoyable trip abroad.

Fred Defoe of this village, who is station agent at East Littleton, is now enjoying his annual vacation, which is being spent with friends in Sherbrooke, P.Q. On his return trip he will visit points of interest in northern New York.

Miss Dora LeDuc of this village attended the dedication ceremonies at the new French church in Lowell on last Sunday.

The staff of teachers in the Graniteville schools at the opening of the school year is as follows: Gerald Decatur, principal and upper grammar; Miss Issie Parker, lower grammar; Miss Frances Bannister, upper primary; Miss Mary A. Dunn, lower primary.

Baseball. The Brimstone baseball club visited Littleton last Saturday afternoon and in a game that was replete with numerous misplays and heavy batting on both sides, met with defeat at the hands of the West Ends of that town by a score of 14 to 12. For the Brimstones Buckingham was the star of the game, getting two double-sackers at the bat and making some fine catches in the field. Loftus, Gilson and Defoe also performed well. For the West Ends, Beach and Fulton led with the stick, while the fielding of R. Canney and the back stop work of Hurst was all to the good. The grounds were very uneven, making good plays practically impossible, it being a case of the team having the best luck winning out. The crowd present were very impartial in the matter of applause, and from the spectators’ standpoint the game was interesting. The West Ends will play a return game here on Sept. 19. Following is the line-up and the score by innings:

Littleton—Fulton s.s., Crane 1b., L. Prouty l.f., Hurst c., Beach 2b., Brown 3b., H. Prouty r.f., Piper p., R. Canney c.f. Brimstones—Ledwith c., Loftus 3b., Moran p., Riney 1b., Defoe, c.f., Hughes s.s., Gilson 2b., Gower r.f., Buckingham l.f.

.	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
Littleton,	4	3	0	0	2	2	0	3	0—14
Brimstones,	0	1	1	0	0	0	6	0	4—12

Umpire, J. B. Riney.

Forge Village. The many friends of Miss Annie Catchpole will be surprised to learn of her marriage to Joseph Mason of Lowell, Thursday afternoon. It was understood that the wedding would take place late in the fall, but Miss Catchpole stole a march on her friends. She is a daughter of Henry and the late Fanny Catchpole and she is one of the most popular young ladies of the village. Her many friends wish Mr. and Mrs. Mason a happy wedded life.

Joseph Edwards of Melrose, and Miss Eckhart of Medford, were weekend guests of Mr. and Mrs. Whieldon at Tanglewood.

Mrs. Wilson is reported a very little better.

Mr. and Mrs. Miles Collins held a whist party at their home last week Friday evening. After the game was over, music was enjoyed and refreshment served.

Among the summer visitors who returned Tuesday were Mr. and Mrs. Tyzzer and family of Sunrise cottage, Charles Nichols and family of Everett, Mr. and Mrs. Thos. Curley and daughter, Henry Corkery and Miss Celeste Dunn of Malden.

Mr. Marshall and family returned to Everett, Tuesday, having spent five weeks at the Woodlands.

Mr. and Mrs. Louis Caisse and son Raymond were the guests of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. A. W. Carkin last Monday.

John A. Newcombe, well known in the musical circles in Worcester, with his wife, were guests of Mr. and Mrs. William C. Precious last Monday.

[1] The Labor Day automobile race in Lowell was a 250-mile road race along Pawtucket Blvd., Dunbar Ave., and Varnum Ave., in Lowell, into Tyngsboro, turning near the Tyngsboro Bridge. The seven entrants, all “big” cars, were a Fiat, Isotta, Buick, Berliet, Simplex and two Knox’s. The racers were started at 1-minute intervals for the 24-lap race. The winner, in a 4-cylinder Isotta, finished in 4 hours, 42 minutes and 34 seconds, averaging 53 miles per hour. The second place car was well over an hour behind, finishing in 6 hours, 14 minutes and 58 seconds. Only four cars finished. The winner was running on Michelin tires and was its third straight race on Michelins without a blow-out. Apparently the other cars had tire problems. Grandstands were erected along Pawtucket Blvd., where speeds up to 75 miles per hour were achieved. An estimated 100,000 persons saw the race, including Andrew Carnegie, William K. Vanderbilt, and Marshal Field, Jr. See the Boston Daily Globe and the Lowell papers Sept. 3-8, 1908.

[2] “Tenting Tonight,” written about 1863 by Walter Kittredge (1834-1905), was a popular Civil War song sung by both sides.

[3]

How Keyes Lives on 25 Cents a Week

In the town of Graniteville, Mass., resides Cornelius Keyes, 74 years old, who never called a doctor. He lives on an expenditure of 25 cents a week, and offers to give a farm to any man, woman or child who will promise to live as he lives for the next 10 years.

“How do I manage to exist on 25 cents a week?” says Mr. Keyes. “Well, for one thing I eat very little meat, and I discard altogether tobacco and intoxicants. I live on graham crackers and cereals and milk mostly, and I do not know what it is to be ill.

“Out-of-door exercise is more than food. There is a great deal of truth in the sun-worshippers’ statement that much of our sustenance is drawn from the air and sunshine. I live out-of doors when the weather permits.

“I was interested in reading an account of the ‘bread line’ in New York city some time ago, and I wrote to the papers offering to give a farm to any hungry man or woman who would live as I live for 10 years. No one took up my offer, and yet I live well and am well. It doesn’t cost much to live the simple life, but one must let tobacco and drink alone and cling close to nature.”

Photograph: Cornelius Keyes

Boston Daily Globe, Aug. 30, 1908, p. SM11.

Saturday, September 19, 1908

About Town. Rev. B. H. Bailey is again on the list of those incapacitated by illness. He was unable to conduct the service at the Unitarian church Sunday, and Edward Fisher, esq., led the opening service in a very profitable manner, reading a sermon of James Freeman Clark on “Homes on earth and homes in heaven.” [1]

Mrs. Geo. A. Kimball of Parkerville, who is ill with pneumonia, is surely advancing toward that rosy, robust health that was her natural heritage before the present illness.

Hon. James Wilson Grimes of Reading and George W. Poore, esq., of Lowell called on S. L. Taylor last Monday. Of course their mainstay errand was to know how the potatoes turn out. Thank you, gentlemen, for your curiosities, but the potato has been treated to several diversions this year that have made it averse to “good measure, pressed down and running over”—flood-mud in the spring, drouth in the summer, and worm, bug and grub in the autumn.

The dance given by the Westford A.A. last week Friday evening yielded the usual results. Hibbard’s orchestra of Lowell furnished excellent music, to which you can’t help dancing unless you put your feet in solitary confinement. About thirty-five couples got away with a good time, besides many more who were not a couple.

The Taylor brothers, W. R. and J. A., played tennis last Saturday afternoon with Joseph Marshall and Chas. M. Trull, two star players of West Chelmsford, on the court at the corner of Lowell and Stony Brook road. The first-named co-partnership brotherhood combine won.

Ex-senator William Taylor McAlpine of Lawrence, with his family and his sister, Mrs. Jennie M. Hopkins, made a little visit upon their cousin, S. L. Taylor, this week.

Hon. H. E. Fletcher went up in the special train with the Lowell guests of Mr. and Mrs. A. G. Pollard last Saturday to the dedication of the soldiers’ monument which A. G. Pollard gave to Plaistow, N.H. The granite for the base and shafts of the monument came from Mr. Fletcher’s quarries.

Rev. Seth W. Walker has returned from Keene, N.H., where he was sent by this conference eight weeks ago to lead the meetings. He is living now at Chelmsford Center and preaching at Lowell.

Death. John J. Sheehan died at his home on Stony Brook road Tuesday morning, aged forty-nine years. He was born in Chelmsford, but when quite young his father moved to Westford and bought the farm on the Stony Brook road, it being the birthplace of Hon. Geo. J. Burns of Ayer. Soon after becoming of age he spent several years in California; returning, he worked in various places in New England, the last being Brattleboro, Vt.

About seven months ago on account of ill health Mr. Sheehan’s physician advised a trip to Colorado. This did not prove recuperative and he gradually failed. He returned east, arriving home on Labor day. Dr. Varney was called and pronounced his condition hopeless, he being unable to speak above a whisper. Eight days after arriving home he died of tuberculosis.

Mr. Sheehan’s education was acquired at the Stony Brook school. He was a genial and companionable associate, friend and neighbor. He leaves two brothers, Daniel H. of Westford and Charles of Lowell; also, two sisters, Mrs. Kate Howard and Miss Mary Sheehan of Lowell.

The funeral took place from the undertaking rooms of J. J. Higgins of Lowell on Wednesday. Burial in St. Patrick’s cemetery.

John A. Healy has been awarded the contract for improvements on Main st., from the intersection of the Graniteville road to the house of Ai Bicknell [2 Main St.]. The contract calls for the expenditure of $5000. This is part of the decree of the county commissioners, and the county engineer is laying out the work. There have been numerous inquiries as to the meaning of the order of the county commissioners, whereby the town has been ordered to expend $5000 on Main st. within two years. The interpretation of this order will soon be visible, in part at least, in this recent contract. In a hasty first view $5000 looks like a large and uncalled-for sum to lay out on Main st.; yet when the facts are arranged in order, which will show that the inhabitants of Westford Center pay over half the taxes of the town, and that of the $4000 annually raised and expended on the roads, less than one-eighth of it is expended on an average on the roads in the center of the town, why then $5000 expended as a special appropriation once in a century seems to loose the flavor of extravagance. Besides, there was a publicly advertised hearing for all remonstrants. Thou wert not there; and so thou art given leave to withdraw they murmurings.

The school committee gave another of those school-closing hearings at town hall last Saturday evening, the question involved being the closing of Minot’s corner school. Every family but one in the district was present at the hearing, and for real flinging personal encounter at summer heat temperature, with all sorts of bo-peep side plays, the neighboring town of Billerica with its horse-show, town meetings couldn’t compete with these southerners of Westford. Of course the school committee were threatened with being reduced to the ranks, salary and all.

But why so hot, my little fellows, and froth over evils that exist only in the distorted view of considering the question. Why not talk less and prove more. Why not cite statistics to show that farm property depreciates in value by the closing of a school and transportation to superior advantages; why not cite statistics to prove that it is a physical injury to transport scholars to school as compared with allowing each scholar to paddle his own canoe afoot through mud and snowdrifts. These seem to be the two main strings on the harp on which the remonstrants are reciting their piece to the school committee.

The fact is the remonstrants are unable to prove these two points by statistics. Not to go outside the town, has farm property depreciated in those portions of the town where transportation has been tried for several years? If so, the assessors have not been appealed to for pecuniary relief. Have any of these remonstrants heard of a general, universal depreciation? If so, raise the right hand. Has anyone heard of serious illness—headache, toothache, St. Vitus’ dance, or the rickets as the result of transportation? If so, notify the society for cruelty to animals—the school committee. Is a cold dinner any colder if carried to school in a warm barge than under the old-fashioned individual trudge-to-school method? Are the children so tender at the Minot’s corner school that they can’t be transported a shorter distance on better roads than the children of the north pole region? Why stand up on thy hind legs and attempt to belittle the judgment of the school committee by the argument that half of their number only pay a polltax? Are the school committees in the surrounding towns where the principle of transportation has had a well-nigh universal application, and the legislature that passed the bill, and the governor that signed it all a sort of cheap, polltax combination? Is a man’s sense and judgment warped and cheapened in proportion to the taxes he pays?

The school committee of Westford have followed a progressive policy that the intelligence of the state sanctions, and voted to close Minot’s corner school, and appointed James D. Wilson to transport the scholars, and George Brown for the same labor for Nashoba.

Center. John P. Wright has moved from the house on Boston road to the one on Hildreth st., recently vacated by the Wm. A. Perkins family. Mr. and Mrs. Chas. L. Hildreth, 2d, are making ready to move into the house vacated by the Wrights. Fred Laduc, who has been employed by A. H. Foss, is moving from the Frank Fletcher house to Littleton, where he is to work for Fred C. Hartwell. Mr. Woodward, the new teacher at the academy, has temporary quarters in the house with Mrs. Isles while looking for a more permanent home.

Warren E. Carkin is the contractor for the new house being build by F. C. Drew.

Samuel H. Balch, mail carrier for route two, has been having the two weeks’ vacation allowed by the government. His son, George Balch, has been substituting for his father.

Among the teachers omitted from the list of our young people starting in the fall term in this and other places, were Miss Eva Pyne, who returns to Forge Village, and Miss Frances Banister to Graniteville. These are two of our Westford girls who have become successful teachers in their own town.

About a dozen from this village enjoyed the performance of “The red mill,” at the Lowell opera house Monday evening. [2]

Grange. At the last meeting of the grange, which was postponed one week owing to an accident to the new lighting system [at Town Hall], there was a good attendance and much routine business was transacted. Applications for a good-sized class for the October initiations were received. The feasibility of running a course of lectures and entertainments for the coming winter was discussed, but no definite action taken until the next meeting. Owing to the ill health of the lecturer, Mrs. C. A. Reid, Mrs. L. W. Wheeler was appointed to carry out the literary programs for the remaining meetings of the year, and Mr. and Mrs. E. G. Boynton to have charge of the musical features of the meetings. The grange voted not to enter an exhibit this year at the Dracut grange fair. At the lecturer’s hour there were readings and some good music by the grange orchestra. After this came the auction of the boxes for the box party that the sisters had prepared, and the contents of these were very much enjoyed and seasoned with the best of condiments, pleasant sociability.

Party. One of the pleasant social affairs of last week was a delightful outdoor supper party given on the grounds between the houses of Mrs. John Feeney [10 Depot St.] and Mrs. A. W. Hartford, who were the joint hostesses. The weather of the afternoon was admirably adapted to the occasion. A long table was spread under the trees, filled with good things. Steamed clams were the feature of the spread. Mrs. Feeney prepared these juicy bivalves for the guests, which is equivalent to saying they were just exactly right. These were accompanied with corn, potato chips and olives, followed by icecream, cake and coffee. There were about fifteen present of neighbors and friends who did full justice to the repast and thoroughly enjoyed a social hour. Mrs. Wm. L. Woods and Mrs. Edward Fisher assisted Mrs. Hartford and Mrs. Feeney with the supper.

Forge. Mr. and Mrs. Harry Quinn of Boston stood sponsors for the little son of Mr. and Mrs. Freeman Palmer of Ayer last week. Mrs. Palmer is Mr. Quinn’s only sister. After the christening service Mr. and Mrs. Quinn were guests of his aunt, Mrs. Ellen Flynn, of this village.

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Whidden of Melrose celebrated the eleventh anniversary of their marriage at Tanglewood last week.

Theresa Lowther and Rachel Cherry have recently returned from a very enjoyable visit with friends in Worcester.

Mr. and Mrs. J. Martin of Roslindale have been spending their honeymoon at Idealwood. They returned home on Tuesday.

Rev. Dr. Miller of St. Thomas’s Episcopal church, Philadelphia, was a visitor at Forge mission Sunday. Communion services will be held at the mission house on Sunday at 10:30. The afternoon service will be omitted.

The ladies’ sewing circle met at the mission house Thursday afternoon.

Fred Morris of Cambridge was the guest of Mr. and Mrs. William Burnett Sunday.

The infant son of Mr. and Mrs. John del Favro passed away last week Thursday and was buried in the Catholic cemetery at Graniteville Saturday afternoon. Mr. del Favro is in Italy. [3]

Mr. and Mrs. Harrison Sargent, with their little granddaughter, Arline Farmer of Somerville, spent this week with their friends, Mr. and Mrs. David Lord.

A. S. Bennett of Weyanwego, Wis., is visiting his brother, Alvin Bennett, and his sisters, Mrs. Drake and Mrs. Reed.

Mrs. Eunice Murphy of Lowell, who has just returned from a trip abroad, was the guest of Mrs. M. A. Lowther Sunday.

Mrs. Pratt of Rochester, N.Y., formerly Miss Kate Connelly of this village, was the guest of Mrs. Elmer Nutting this week. [Mrs.] Pratt came to Lowell to visit her father, who is quite an old man and very infirm. Mr. Connelly and family were residents of this village for some years.

We are glad to report that the little son of Mr. and Mrs. William Blodgett, who has been so very sick, is now much better.

Graniteville. P. Henry Harrington, the local contractor and builder, has the batters up for the new parochial residence for the Catholic church in Groton, and is also to make extensive repairs to the church building. Mr. Harrington’s men are also making extensive repairs on the Methodist church here. The work includes the building of steps, fixing up the belfry and other minor repairs.

The mills of the Abbot Worsted Co. will close for stock-taking during the last week of September.

Fred Defoe of this village has returned from a very pleasant visit with friends in Canada.

Mrs. W. C. Wright has taken up her duties as assistant postmaster, after spending a very pleasant vacation in Bethlehem, N.H.

The Brimstone baseball team will play the last game of the season on the home grounds this Saturday afternoon, when they will have the strong West-ends of Littleton for their opponents. Game at three o’clock.

Cameron circle, C.F.A., held a very interesting meeting in its rooms on Tuesday evening, and for the good of the order appointed a committee of four members to have charge of the social hour after each meeting, during which entertainments will be given, followed by general dancing. The following committee was appointed for the current quarter: Miss Flora Stuart, Miss Mary J. Sullivan, Miss Dora LeDuc, Miss Lena J. Healy.

The overtime work in the machine shop of C. G. Sargent has been discontinued for the present, and the plant is running on its regular schedule time.

Miss Alice L. Prescott, teacher, returned to Ashland, N.H., Monday. She has been promoted to the fifth and sixth grade school, with quite an increase in salary.

The members of the Holy Name society of St. Catherine’s church have received an invitation to participate in the big parade in Boston in November, which will mark the close of the ceremonies commemorative of the one hundredth anniversary of the establishment of the diocese of Boston. The local branch will unite with division twelve, which includes Lowell and vicinity, and plans are now under way for the coming event. The Holy Name society of St. Catherine’s church is composed of prominent men of the parish, and as the coming ceremony is something unusual in church annals, it is thought that the full membership of the local society will be represented on this occasion.

F. O. Stiles, a former resident of this village, but now proprietor of the Littleton house, and one of the largest fruit dealers in this section of the state, is slowly recovering from a severe injury to his right leg sustained in a runaway accident a short time ago. The accident is particularly unfortunate at this time, owing to the fact that it comes right in Mr. Stiles’s busiest season and when his large apple interests demand his constant attention. He estimates his own apple crop this season at 1800 barrels, aside from what he will handle for different growers in the surrounding towns. His many friends in this village take pride in his success and are hoping for his speedy and complete recovery.

[1] James Freeman Clarke (1810-1888) was a nationally known Unitarian minister, author, editor, and a member of the Transcendental Club.

[2] The Red Mill was an operetta written by Victor Herbert, with a libretto by Henry Blossom, that premiered at the Knickerbocker Theater on Broadway in 1906. The producer, Charles Dillingham, placed a revolving windmill, powered by electricity, in front of the theater – believed to be Broadway’s first moving illuminated sign. The Red Mill was made into a silent movie in 1927, directed by Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle and starring Marion Davies. It was successfully revived in 1945 at the Ziegfield Theater on Broadway.

[3] Celestion Giovani “John” died Sept. 11, 1908. He was born in Westford April 23, 1908, son of Bertolo & Gertrude (DeLotto) Del Favero.

Saturday, September 26, 1908

About Town. At the republican caucus Tuesday evening Hon. H. E. Fletcher, chairman of the town committee, read the call and was chosen chairman of the caucus, and Alfred Hartford secretary. The following delegates were elected to the several conventions:

State, Capt. S. H. Fletcher, G. H. Hartford; congressional, G. T. Day, A. H. Burnham; councilor, H. E. Fletcher, T. A. E. Wilson; senatorial, A. W. Hartford, W. R. Taylor; county, W. O. Hawkes, J. A. Cameron; representative, Fred Sweatt, Thomas Danio, W. A. Whidden, S. L. Taylor. Town committee, H. E. Fletcher, A. W. Hartford, J. A. Cameron, E. M. Abbot, A. H. Burnham, T. A. E. Wilson, Fred Sweatt, John Edwards, W. O. Hawkes, John Danio, J. A. Healy, W. F. Sargent, W. A. Whidden, S. L. Taylor, C. M. Trull.

A motion of W. R. Taylor to instruct the delegates to the state convention to vote for Luce was voted down.

Mary Flynn is seriously ill at her home on the Stony Brook road.

The Westford A.A., which has had such a successful year in making other athletic associations unsuccessful, will hold a barn dance jollification time at town hall, Friday evening, Oct. 2. Music by Hibbard’s orchestra of Lowell. All who have ever attended these barn dance annuals know they are. Let all lovers of this type of sociability come and be taken again.

The Curtis Gilman family of Methuen, former residents of the town, were visitors at S. L. Taylor’s last Sunday.

Middlesex North will hold its annual agricultural fair at Dracut in connection with Dracut grange, on Wednesday and Thursday, Sept. 30 and Oct. 1. It was a great attraction and success last year, and is planned on a basis of more so this year. Go and see it fulfilled.

The next meeting of Westford grange will be held Thursday evening, Oct. 1, at which time a large class will be initiated.

The next meeting of Middlesex North Pomona grange will be held at Oddfellows’ hall, Bridge st., Lowell, Friday, Oct. 2.

The milk now being carried to West Littleton has been sold to Herman Decatur of Lowell, and Fred C. Smith will collect and deliver, he being the same Smith with the same previous experience.

Allusion was made in a recent article in the Westford Wardsman to a cozy, homelike gathering at Paradise spring, which has led to several inquiries as to the location of said spring. There is Cathead spring in the southwest part of the town, where the boundaries of Acton, Carlisle, Littleton and Westford all guard territorial rights; Mysterious spring, on the westerly edge of Tadmuck swamp; Nashoba spring, noted for its medicinal qualifications to unseat disease, on the Foster farm; Cold spring, near Stony Brook and Westford stations, after which farms, roads and postoffices are named, and the licensed spring at Forge Village, which sprang up as a spring last spring. But Paradise spring seems to be without either latitude, longitude or equator. There is no doubt of its existence, but dense ignorance doesn’t know the points of the compass that lead to it. Haven’t been to Forge Village to lose the points of the compass, either. Now perhaps someone well versed in natural history will just suggest a few of the roads, bridges, lakes and mountains that are traveled over in going to Paradise spring. Make it quite clear, as there is now and then a stupid person.

Center. There are to be some changes in the train service of our Stony Brook railroad. Station agent Whidden has not been notified of just what the new schedule is to be, but rumor has it that the first train down and the last rain up at night, familiarly known as Conductor Bixby’s train, is to be discontinued, and to offset this the train of the American Express Co. that goes through in the morning from Worcester and Ayer will have a passenger coach attached and stop here for passengers. This would be later and would not accommodate business men so well in the morning and less well at night. A protesting petition is in circulation.

A marriage of interest to many Westford people is that of Miss Josephine L. Bright to Rev. Frank W. Baker, at the home of the bride in South Royalton, Vt., Monday, Sept. 21. Miss Bright is a sister of Mrs. John P. Wright, and has spent various periods of time here with her sister, making many friends who extend many good wishes for her happiness and prosperity. Mr. and Mrs. Baker are spending a part of the honeymoon with Mr. and Mrs. Wright.

We sincerely hope the serious drouth will be a thing of the past before this item reaches the reader, but never was the fine new water supply installed last year more appreciated by the users than now.

Miss Grace L. Fletcher, eldest daughter of J. Willard Fletcher, and Edward M. Saben of Augusta, Me., were united in marriage at Lynn, Sept. 3. Mr. Saben holds a responsible position at the insane hospital at Danvers, and Miss Fletcher, who is a trained nurse, is also employed at the same institution. Her many Westford friends extend their good wishes for her happiness and prosperity.

Grange. There was a good attendance of the members at the regular meeting on Thursday evening, Sept. 17. Balloting on the large class of candidates to be admitted to the order next month took up considerable time. This class will bring the membership up to about 175. It has been decided to run a course of lectures and entertainments the coming season. At the lecturer’s hour S. L. Taylor gave a recitation in his original way which was so much enjoyed that he recited a second time. The grange orchestra gave two selections that were much appreciated, and Frank Chandler read an article on mountain climbing. State deputy, Leslie B. Smith, who was scheduled for a previous meeting, was present and gave a talk on industrial education. The hour was late, but Mr. Smith gave an interesting talk on the subject.

The members are busy with plans to go to Groton to neighbors’ night, Oct. 27, and to Carlisle Oct. 14, contributing their share of the entertainment. Billerica is the invited grange here on neighbors’ night, Oct. 15. The ladies’ degree staff perform the work of the third degree on that evening.

Graniteville. In spite of the excellent water service now being extended by the Westford Water Co., and with the main pipe running within thirty feet of the town farm in West Graniteville, the town authorities have not installed a system of running water in the town farm buildings for the use of both man and beast. The people at the farm are very much in need of water at the present time owing to the extended dry spell.

Court Graniteville, F. of A., will hold its annual dance in Westford town hall on Friday evening, Oct. 9.

Mr. and Mrs. O. W. Sherman of Damariscotta, Me., have been recent guests of Dr. and Mrs. W. H. Sherman in this village.

Mrs. William Willis and son Samuel of Lowell visited friends in this village recently.

Cameron circle, C.F.A., held a very interesting meeting in its rooms on Tuesday evening. Considerable business of importance was transacted and after the meeting closed a social hour was enjoyed during which dancing was indulged in by members and their gentlemen friends. Excellent music was furnished on the piano by Miss Ruth Furbush, and Omer LeDuc violin. It is the intention of the circle to have these social affairs every two weeks.

The town men who are working on Broadway in this village have taken a sudden brace of late and have made a better showing during the past few days than they had for the previous two weeks. The citizens here understand that $600 is to be expended for streets in this locality.

Miss Mary L. Shea of Wilton, N.H., is spending a few days in this village as the guest of Mr. and Mrs. D. W. Harrington.

J. B. Healy, the local contractor, has commenced operations on the repairing of a certain portion on Main st., in Westford Center. This particular part of the street is composed principally of ledges, and considerable blasting will have to be done.

Baseball. The West-ends of Littleton visited here last Saturday afternoon and in a closely-contested baseball game defeated the Brimstones by a score of 15 to 13. It took ten innings to decide the game and during that time the crowd was constantly on its feet and the rooters on both sides made things interesting from start to finish. The Brimstones outbatted their opponents, but the Littleton boys had the happy faculty of hitting the ball when runs were needed, and aided by the costly errors of the Brimstones at critical stages of the game managed to land a victory. Loftus, the local catcher, turned on his ankle in the seventh inning, but pluckily went behind the bat once more and remained until the ninth, when he exchanged places with Ledwith, who finished the game. The features of the game were the heavy stick work of Ledwith, Healy, Moran, and Gower for the Brimstones, the pitching of H. Canney and the all-round work of R. Canney for the West-ends. Following is the line-up and the score by innings:

West-ends—Fulton s.s., Crane 1b., Hurst c. and 3b., H. Canney p., Lawton r.f., Prouty l.f., Brown 3b and c., Piper c.f., Canney 2b. Brimstones—McTeague 1b., Moran p., Ledwith 3b. and c., Loftus c. and 3b., Hughes s.s., Buckingham l.f., Gilson 2b., Healy c.f.

.	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
West-ends,	0	3	0	0	3	0	3	0	4	2—15
Brimstones,	2	0	1	0	2	2	1	4	1	0—13

Umpire, J. B. Riney.

This winds up the baseball season in Graniteville for 1908.

Forge. The ladies’ sewing circle held its first supper and dance of the season at Recreation hall Saturday evening. Among the out-of-town guests who attended were Rev. Dr. Miller of Philadelphia, and Miss Shaw, niece of Rev. Medville McLaughlin. After supper dancing was enjoyed by a large number. Miss Sarah Precious and James Brown of this village and Mr. Brewster of Ellwood, Ind., furnished music. The proceeds will go for the benefit of the mission house. The sewing circle met at the mission house Wednesday afternoon.

Rev. Medville McLaughlin will preach his farewell sermon at the mission house, Sunday, Sept. 27, at 4:30 p.m. Sunday school will also commence.

At the meeting of the M.U.O.F. Dr. Cyril Blaney was the successful candidate for the lodge physician, in place of the late Dr. Sleeper.

Among the visitors in town during the past week were Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Cockroft of Ware at her brother’s William Hunt; Mr. and Mrs. Albert Bailey of Lowell at Mr. and Mrs. Miles Collins’s.

Mrs. Buckshorn and son Fisher of Concord, N.H., are at her cottage, the Tadmuck.

Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Murphy of Lowell entertained a large party of school teachers for the week-end at Crow’s Nest. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Fisher and Mr. and Mrs. Knowles of Lowell were at the Birches; Mrs. McGuane and daughter of South Lowell at Mr. and Mrs. James Sullivan’s.

Allan Carkin of Gardner is spending his vacation at his father’s A. W. Carkin.

Mr. and Mrs. Goode entertained Mr. and Mrs. Woodward at their cottage for a few days. Mr. Woodward is principal of the Westford academy.

The Forge Village Lions defeated the Burnsides of Lowell Saturday afternoon, 22 to 13. The Lions play the Zolas of Lowell on the home grounds this Saturday.