The Westford Wardsman, September, 1910
Saturday, September 3, 1910
Centre. Mrs. Laura D. Stone has been a recent guest at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Wallace, at the Congregational parsonage.
Miss Blanche Waller goes to Guilford, Me., to teach this year.
The academy and the William E. Frost schools have been thoroughly cleaned and made ready for the beginning of school next Tuesday. At the academy some minor repairs have been made. Schools open throughout the town next Tuesday morning. Mr. Coggshall, who has formerly taught in Stow, will be the new academy principal and his assistants will be Miss Bertha A. Norris and Miss Edith Lawrence. At the Frost school, Miss Ruth Fisher, principal, will have for assistants in the other three rooms, Miss Grant, Miss Burnham and Miss Crocker in place of Miss Cushing, retired.
Westford friends have been interested in the pleasant trip Mrs. Helen R. Leighton has been taking with a party of friends in Canada. During her mother’s absence Miss Frances has been staying with the Westford and Littleton relatives. Mrs. Leighton has resigned her school at Hollis and accepted a desirable school at Amherst and her daughter enters the high school at Milford, three miles distant and will live with her mother at Amherst.
Roy B. Wheeler in Denver, Col., is enjoying a visit at his boyhood home after an absence of six years.
Mrs. Julia Fletcher and Miss Maria Chamberlain of Billerica are staying at the Read farm [164 Main St.] and enjoying meeting old friends in their native town.
Walter J. Merritt has finished building a silo and a garage and work on the new house he is having built is progressing well.
The Westford fire laddies and their friends had a good time at Graniteville on last Saturday even though they did not win the trophy and the hospitality of the Graniteville company is much appreciated.
About Town. The idle on the Brookside mills is off and the mill running on sun time, which is the idol the unemployed have been searching after for some time.
Services at the Unitarian church will not be resumed until the second Sunday in September, owing to the incompleteness of repairs.
Two of the substantials in the Fortnightly club, Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Gould, are playing vacation. They will take in Mt. Wachusett to the extent of their eye capacity, thence northward to Mason, N.H., where Mrs. Gould taught school.
Rev. Seth M. Walker of Worcester is having success with his tent camp-meetings as preacher of the Second Advent denomination. He has a fine personal appearance and is eloquently equipped to edify.
Mrs. Frank W. Banister has just returned from visiting in the market garden paradise of Arlington.
John A. Taylor leaves next Tuesday for Grand Forks, North Dakota, as teacher of debating and elocution in the state university which is coeducational.
The wheat belt in the Stony Brook valley looks more western since Amos Polley [76 Lowell Rd.] and C. R. P. Decatur [54 Lowell Rd.] have since added to the acreage of winter wheat sown. There are some rear end men who also contemplate adding by wheat fields to western appearances.
John Flynn on [Stony Brook Rd. on] the sunny slopes of Pigeon hill is making environments dual and durable by painting his barn red.
Of the eight ponds in Westford, one is not because of lack of rain and dew and Grassy pond one-quarter of a mile north of Westford station has quit business and any vessel drawing more than four and one-half inches of water had better not leave the harbor.
The selectmen have appointed C. L. Watt special officer for Brookside. The appointment is a good one, but may be defective by the rules of technical law, as Mr. Watt lacks twenty-five miles of being a citizen, that being the distance to Boston, where the court of naturalization makes Yankees of Scotchmen.
Andrew G. Anderson on the Lowell road has the material on hand and the skill in his head for extensive repairs on his barn, which in its infancy was a part of the old Levi T. Fletcher farm barn buildings [120 Lowell Rd.].
Miss Luanna Decatur with other school teacher friends has just returned from invigorating vacation ramblings among the mountain forests and cascades of that close by Switzerland of America our own New England New Hampshire.
Death. The funeral of Mrs. Mary Tower Smith, who died in Portland, Me., was held from the residence of Oscar R. Spalding, Friday afternoon, August 26. Rev. David Wallace conducted the services. The bearers were relatives—Judge Frederick A. Fisher, Alec Fisher, Robert Prescott, Edward Hamlin. Burial in Fairview cemetery in charge of Undertaker David L. Greig. The beauty and fragrance of the flowers were appropriate for the character of the life they wreathed on this occasion. As Miss Tower she will be remembered by the people of Westford of her time and especially in the old Stony Brook school district, where she was born [Nov. 28, 1856 at 46 Lowell Rd.] and was both scholar and teacher in this old historic school district.
She was the youngest of the daughters of Eli and Mary (Fletcher) Tower and will ever be remembered by her old Stony Brook associates and friends as the bright scholar and the cheerful, unruffled spirit that was always contagious. She leaves two sons and a daughter.
Forge Village. Mrs. Mary Dupres, wife of Victor Dupres, died early Thursday morning, August 25, at her home at the Ridges after a long and painful illness, aged 24 yrs., 20 days. Besides her husband she leaves two small children, Victor L. and Eva Irene; her father, Lawrence Duffy, two brothers and two sisters. The funeral took place last Saturday morning. A high mass was celebrated in the church in Groton, Rev. C. A. Finnegan officiating. Burial was in St. Mary’s cemetery, Ayer. The bearers were Lawrence Duffy, Lewis Leclerc, Fred Murry and Henry Dupres.
The Berkshire club of Cambridge enjoyed excellent weather last week, which they spent at Camp Idle Hour, on the shore of Forge pond. Much credit is due the efforts of Robert Cabana and Herbert Sprague in managing affairs, besides being good cooks. The club entertained last week Mordecai Brown, Fred Cabana, Ned Coughlin, John Keefe, Joe Hayes, William Lee and several others from Lowell. The boys enjoyed camp-life at the lake so well that they have arrangements made to spend several weeks there next summer.
Mr. and Mrs. William Kirk of Worcester are enjoying two weeks at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Catchpole.
Miss Theresa O’Brien of Clinton was the guest Saturday and Sunday of Miss Christina Lowther.
Mr. and Mrs. Guy Rockwell and three boys of Lowell are at Hollingside cottage on the shore of Forge pond for two weeks.
Mrs. Henry Byron and three children of Marlboro are at her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Felix Leclerc, for a few weeks.
Mrs. Ernest Longbottom and son William A., of Arlington, has returned home after a pleasant visit with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. William Bennett.
Edward T. Hanley and friend of Marlboro are enjoying this week at the beach at Hull. They will visit other places of interest before returning home.
Miss Abbie M. Blaisdell of Wamesit is spending this week as the guest of Mr. and Mrs. James Wilson.
Mrs. Joseph Bennett, jr., and two children are spending a month’s vacation with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. E. Vicars of Stafford Springs, Conn.
Mrs. Elizabeth Splaine and her daughter, Mrs. Elmer E. Nutting, are guests of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Rose of Belmont. The Misses Marjorie and Lillian Rose, who have been spending the summer here will return to Belmont the last of the week to take up their school studies.
Miss Lottie and Miss Mildren Parrott have returned home from North Adams where they went the first of the summer.
Cameron school will reopen for the fall term on Tuesday, September 6.
A number of young ladies who have been spending the summer at Forge pond are to hold a reception which will be followed by a dance in Abbot hall on Saturday evening. Music for the occasion will be furnished by Miss Sarah Precious, piano; James H. Brown, violin, and Norman Nicholls, drums. Admission will be by invitation.
Firemen’s Muster. Saturday proved to be a red letter day here, when the John Edwards hose company won the silver cup at the firemen’s muster at Graniteville. The rules at the try-out were that each company should carry one hundred feet of hose, run one hundred yards, connect it to hydrants, couple the two lengths of hose and start water. The company making the best time to take the silver trophy. The E. M. Abbot hose company of Westford; A. R. Choate hose company of Graniteville and the John Edwards hose company of this village were the contestants. The John Edwards hose was the only team to make three connections in 29 1/5 seconds, without a leak.
The flag was hoisted over the hose house and everything was in readiness to receive the victorious firemen on their return home, when they came into view mounted on the large fire-wagon with their trainer, Finnemore Morton, holding the silver cup, the people went wild for a few minutes. Cheer after cheer rent the air. Everyone turned out, flags were flying, hats were thrown up into the air, and it was impossible for the firemen to proceed. At postoffice square the men marched behind the wagon two by two until the hose house was reached. Here they saluted the flag. Cheers again burst forth and at night the people walked the streets and not until midnight did the cheers die away. Hanley & Company presented the firemen a box of cigars; Victor Pigeon also contributed a box of cigars and the other stores sent refreshments. It was indeed the firemen’s day.
Thursday evening at Abbot hall the firemen observed ladies’ night in honor of the event. Dancing was enjoyed from 7:30 until a late hour. Refreshments of ice cream, cake and coffee was served during the evening.
By special request, Capt. Richard D. Prescott, who sent in his resignation, to take effect September 1, has decided to remain captain of the hose company. Capt. Prescott is a valued member of the hose company and has given his services freely and the use of his horses when needed. The firemen specially requested him to remain with the team some time longer.
Saturday, September 10, 1910
Centre. Miss Lila Fisher closes her camp, The Birches, where she has spent the summer and returns this week to her teaching in Boston.
Master Thornton Gill of Waltham has been a guest at Mrs. J. Herbert Fletcher’s this past week.
Miss Clyde Carpenter has been visiting her grandmother, Mrs. Abbie Hamlin.
Mrs. H. N. Jaques and daughter Dorothy, who have been spending the summer with Mr. and Mrs. William Sutherland, return this week to their home in Malden.
Leon F. Hildreth enters the Lowell high school at the beginning of the fall term next Monday.
Mrs. William Seifer is ill at her home and our village nurse, Miss Mary Morin, is in attendance.
Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Marden and son Everett and Mr. and Mrs. John Copeland of Woburn were Labor day guests at Mr. and Mrs. A. H. Sutherland’s.
Henry Beneault is seriously sick with typhoid fever. A trained nurse is in attendance.
Fourteen were represented from this town at the C. E. convention at Littleton on Labor day. They report a profitable session and a good time.
The Unitarian church, which has been undergoing extensive repairs and improvements, will reopen for services on Sunday, September 18.
The Parkerville school will open next Monday. This postponement was due to the prevalence of the whooping cough in the neighborhood.
The town safe in the town hall has been fitted this week with steel shelves in place of the wooden ones that have been in use so long.
Among our young people going to teach in other towns are Miss Edna Ferguson to Beverly, Miss Jennie Ferguson to Presque Isle, Me., Miss Edith Bicknell to Royalton, Miss Edith A. Wright to Ayer, Miss Stella Hartford to Carlisle, Archie Hartford to Norfolk, Miss Ruth Tuttle to Winthrop, and Misses Jennie Chandler and Lila Fisher to Boston.
Mrs. A. W. Hartford went last week to attend the funeral of a relative in Deerfield.
Obituary. Gilmer Stone died at his home in this village late Wednesday evening. His death was not wholly unexpected for he had been a sufferer for several years with heart trouble and death came as a release from a prison house of pain. Mr. Stone was born in Saco, Me., seventy-one years and six months ago. His family removed to Lowell when he was three years old and later he came to Westford where he has made his home for fifty-three years. His home, the later years of his life, has been in the house directly opposite the town hall.
He married in early life to Miss Elvira M. Leighton, eldest daughter of the late Amos Leighton. A son born to them died in infancy. Besides his widow, he is survived by a sister, Mrs. Baxter B. Kimball of Norwich, Conn.
Mr. Stone was a veteran of the civil war having served three years in Company G, 33rd regiment. Funeral services will be held at his late home on Saturday, at two p.m.
Grange. Westford grange held its regular meeting at the town hall, Thursday evening of last week. After the transaction of routine business a miscellaneous program was given. Recitations by Mrs. Perley E. Wright were much enjoyed. There were also readings by Mrs. Sutherland, duet by Mrs. Greig and Mrs. Sutherland, piano solo by Miss Grace Robbinson [sic], and a song by Mrs. S. B. Wright. This grange has received an invitation to Chelmsford grange on September 22, for their annual neighbors night and preparations are under way to present a good program.
At the Middlesex North Pomona grange meeting at Lowell, Friday, Westford grange was represented by eight members. It was a good session, the time in the morning being occupied by an experience meeting on spraying. Tewksbury grange had charge of the dinner, and in the afternoon the large audience enjoyed the good program prepared by the versatile lecturer.
Auto Race. The pony auto race which has been engrossing the youthful attention of the participants in the way of preparation for some time came off as scheduled on Tuesday afternoon at three o’clock. The cars showed much ingenuity in construction and the course was the same as in previous years, beginning at the top of the Graniteville hill road.
There were seven cars in the race driven by the following boys: Alfred Sutherland, Edward Blodgett, Harry Sears, Bertram Sutherland, Joseph Perkins, Fletcher Abbot and Daniel Maloney. Each driver was accompanied by his mechanician. Fletcher Abbot covered the course in the shortest time and received the trophy, which was a silver loving cup, and his mechanician, Clifford Woods, also received a like memento. After the race, Mrs. John C. Abbot served ice cream and cake to the participants of the day’s events.
About Town. The regular monthly meeting of the W.C.T.U. was held with Mrs. Seavey on Wednesday afternoon. The following delegates to the County convention to be held at Marlboro, September 20, were chosen: Mrs. Frank C. Hildreth, Mrs. Homer M. Seavey, Mrs. Jeanette Wright, Mrs. Emery J. Whitney, Mrs. Ada Day and Mrs. John Warren Day. Voted, a sum of money for the benefit of the literary bureau. After making our reports for the county and having the usual inflow and outgo of hospitality, the meeting adjourned.
Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Spalding, Charlotte Prescott, Gertrude Fletcher, Mrs. William Edwards and Reuben Taylor leave Monday on the grand tour, including Niagara Falls, Toronto, St. Lawrence River, Thousand islands, Long Sault and Lachine Rapids and Montreal, thence to Brookside.
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Graves of the Cold Spring farm are vacationists at the Provinces.
Col. Edwin D. Metcalf has added liberally to his already liberal gifts in beautifying the interior of the Unitarian church, by the gift of a mahogany pulpit and colonial rail in front of the choir. In consequence of the newness and incompleteness of the situation the church will be closed next Sunday.
Pearl Harmon has sold the Oak Knoll farm of five acres on Hildreth street to Lowell ladies.
Charles W. Whitney and C. R. P. Decatur are the only farmers in eastern Westford that can properly be classified as successful in raising watermelons.
Perry Taylor Snow celebrated the fourth anniversary of birthday remembrances and experimental living Tuesday with other youths and sweets and greys of older years.
Miss Sarah Page, just north of Westford station, while under the influence of partial unconsciousness fell, striking on the stove, causing a bad scalp wound, tearing the scalp back without respect to the laws of surgery. Dr. Blaney was called.
Forge Village. A very pretty dancing party was held in Abbot hall on Saturday evening by the summer residents who have been enjoying camp life on the shore of Forge pond. The affair was in charge of Mr. and Mrs. Freeman and Mr. and Mrs. Bailey, and guests were present from Everett, Malden, Melrose and Cambridge. Music was furnished by Miss Sarah Precious and James H. Brown of this village and Norman Nicolls and Miss E. Nicolls of Everett. Miss Nicolls is a talented musician and like her brother, also plays several instruments.
Mr. and Mrs. Everell Nicolls and family returned to their home in Everett on Tuesday, after spending the summer in their cozy cottage on the shore of Forge pond.
Mr. and Mrs. John Sullivan have returned home after a pleasant trip to Boston and New York city. While at Boston they made arrangements for their son Daniel to enter Harvard preparatory school. He will commence his school term on September 14.
The flower garden of Mrs. M. A. Louther was visited Monday by person or persons on mischief bent. Blossoms were torn from the plants and destroyed, others were cut down and carried away. They were not content with destroying the flower garden that has given much pleasure to its owners, but the lawn swing was turned upside down and this could not have been done by small children. If the persons are caught they will be severely dealt with as a fine of ten dollars can be imposed upon those stealing flowers.
Mr. and Mrs. William Weaver entertained a house party over the holidays. The guests were Mr. and Mrs. Walter Curtis and two children, Mr. and Mrs. George Dobbins, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Tyler and daughter, Elsie, all of Worcester; Thomas Finch, Mr. and Mrs. John McQuade of North Chelmsford. The affair was in the nature of a reunion, as they were friends in Kidderminster, England, many years ago.
Mr. and Mrs. George Rainesford and daughter, Clara, of Worcester spent the holidays as guests of Mr. and Mrs. James Smith.
Miss Theresa Lowther and Miss Rachel H. Cherry have returned from a delightful outing at Revere and Nantasket beach. They also enjoyed an automobile ride to the principle places of interest in and around Boston.
Mr. and Mrs. Henry Catchpole spent the last of the summer holidays at Old Orchard beach, Me., and other interesting places along the Maine coast.
Mr. and Mrs. Davis have returned to Lowell with their family after spending several weeks at Oak Grove cottage on the shore of Forge pond.
Mr. and Mrs. John Carmichael were entertained over the holidays by Mr. and Mrs. Alvin Bicknell of Somerville.
Joseph Bennett, sr., has been confined to his home the past two weeks by illness. His daughter, Mrs. Ellsworth of Providence, R.I., and his son-in-law, August Myers of Boston, spent the holidays with him.
Mrs. Frank Gardes and Miss Mildred McDonald of East Boston, who spent several weeks here in the season, returned here for the holidays, as guests of Mr. and Mrs. James Wilson.
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Coley of Worcester returned home on Monday after a pleasant visit spent with Mr. and Mrs. John Edwards.
Miss Hattie Northrup has returned home from Portland, Me., where she attended the deaf mutes’ convention, over three hundred being in attendance. The mayor of Portland chartered two special cars and entertained the members at Old Orchard beach. The convention will be held next year in Halifax, N.S.
Harry Morton of Bridgeport, Conn., was a recent visitor of Mr. and Mrs. Fennimore Morton.
A little daughter [Mary Laura Juliette Benoit] was born on Saturday, September 3 [Sept. 2, per Mass. Vital Records], to Mr. and Mrs. James Benoit of Central street.
Miss Stella B. Carkin of this village and Miss Alice Barton of Lowell, both popular employees of the Fred C. Church insurance office, left Saturday morning on a trip to the White Mountains, the principle point of interest being Bethlehem, N.H., where they will be registered at the Central House for the next two weeks.
Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Hill of Leominster and Miss Mary Dufort of Lowell were visitors at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Daly over the holidays. Miss Mary Madden of New York city will spend the month of September with them.
Joseph Connell, while at work at the Daniel Gage ice houses on Wednesday, had the misfortune to cut his foot with an ice hook, cutting a gash quite deep and narrowly missing an artery. Dr. Blaney attended him.
The wash room and dryer room of the Abbot Worsted Company of this village shut down on Wednesday and Thursday of this week to make necessary changes from steam power to electricity.
Wilbert E. Parsons has sold all of his real estate and will dispose of his household and personal effects at auction on Saturday afternoon.
Graniteville. Miss Ruth M. Furbush, pianist, played with the American orchestra of Ayer on Labor day morning and evening.
Fred Parker, janitor of the Sargent school here, has given the school building an entire over-hauling and thorough cleaning and everything including the fixing of the grounds has been done before the opening of the schools, which commenced on Tuesday morning, September 6. Owing to the resignation of the principal, Gerald Decatur, there has been a change in the corps of teachers, Miss Issie Parker as principal; Miss Genevieve Jantzen of Lowell has taken the room formerly taught by Miss Parker. Miss Banister and Miss Dunn still have the same rooms as before.
Miss Lillian Hughes, the eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Hughes, former residents of this village, but now located in Warwick, R. I., is now visiting relatives in this village.
Edward Defoe has been visiting in Canada and while there attended the Sherbrook, P.Q., fair.
Court Graniteville, F. of A., held a very interesting meeting in its rooms on Thursday evening. Considerable business of importance was transacted, and the following committee appointed to have charge of the anniversary dance that will be held in October: R. J. McCarthy, A. R. Wall, J. B. Riney, Edward Spinner, G. E. Denio. It is expected that the dance will be held in Westford as formerly.
Rev. L. F. Havermale, pastor of the M.E. church here, who has been spending the last few weeks at his boyhood home in Canton, Ill., has returned and services were resumed Sunday at the usual hour.
Miss Maud Robinson of Westford has been a recent visitor in this village for a few years.
The funeral of Mildred Edna, the seven months old baby of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Brooks, took place on Sunday afternoon at three o’clock. The services that were held at the home were conducted by Rev. L. T. [F.] Havermale of the M.E. church and were largely attended. Burial was in Fairview cemetery, Westford. For a child so young the floral tributes were unusually numerous, which testified to the high esteem in which the family is held in the village.
The Ladies’ Aid society of the M.E. church held an interesting meeting at the home of Mrs. H. N. Fletcher’s Thursday afternoon, September 8.
Mrs. W. C. Wright is now enjoying a brief vacation at Provincetown.
Cameron circle, C.F. of A., held a social dance in Healy’s hall last Saturday night. The Imperial orchestra furnished music for dancing and at intermission refreshments were served.
W. O. Hawkes, the genial station agent of the Boston and Maine line, has a swarm of bees that are always on the job, and so far this season he has obtained 115 pounds of honey from his hives. Although Mr. Hawkes sprained his ankle recently he remarked that in spite of the pain he could not help but feel sweet tempered when he thought of those bees.
A merry party, composed of William Sargent, O. A. Nelson, Thomas Denio, Andrew Johnson and Fred Reed visited the farm of Charles and Fred Blodgett a few days ago, the trip being made in Mr. Sargent’s automobile. The time was pleasantly spent in an interesting ball game, followed by croquet and other games, after which Mrs. Blodgett, mother of the boys, furnished refreshments. The whole affair was very enjoyable and all returned at a seasonable hour, after having a very good time.
Work has been resumed here on Tuesday morning in both mill and shop after Labor day. The mill was stopped a week before for necessary repairs.
Mr. and Mrs. Harry Dunin and baby from Boston spent Labor day with Mr. and Mrs. Frank Forbush.
Mr. and Mrs. J. V. Downing left here today for a brief vacation to be spent in Vermont.
Mr. and Mrs. Frank Riney and Miss Etta and Miss Alice C. Sheahan were recent guests during the holiday.
Mrs. Alec McDonald of Westford is visiting at the home of her father, T. A. Riney, and at the present time is suffering from malaria.
Mrs. W. O. Hawkes and her daughter, Mrs. Alfred Hartford of Westford, left here last week to attend the funeral of Mr. Hawkes’ nephew, who died in Amherst.
Baseball. The North Chelmsford baseball club visited here on Labor day morning, and in their postponed game with the Granitevilles met defeat at the hands of the locals by the score of 7 to 3. In spite of the threatening weather there was a goodly number present and the game proved to be interesting from start to finish. For the home team the hitting of Hughes and Gilson and the battery work of McCarty and Ledwith were features. Tommy held the heavy hitting North Chelmsfords safely at all stages of the game. Curtin, formerly of the Richmonds, who pitched for North Chelmsford, did good work in the box and led his team in batting. In the fourth inning the opposing team pulled off a pretty fielding stunt that drew applause from the rooters on both sides. Healy, the first man up for Graniteville, drew a pass. On a Texas leaguer by Hanson, he was advanced to second. Two men on bases. With Ledwith at the bat the hit and run signal was given. Ledwith met the ball and sent it on a line over Curtin’s head. Curtin knocked it down, juggled it an instant and shot it to Donnelly, doubling up Hanson. Donnelly then threw it to Thatcher at second putting out Healy, thereby completing as pretty a triple play as has been seen on the ground for a long time. It was certainly fast work. The two teams will meet again in North Chelmsford next Saturday in what will be the last game of the Stony Brook league.
Saturday, September 17, 1910
Centre. Miss Mary E. Drew is at home again after a three weeks’ sojourn at Annisquam.
Miss Raynes will be the supervisor of music in the schools of this town this year and Mrs. Brackett of drawing, the same as last year.
Mrs. Nellie E. Carkin recently entertained her son, William E. Carkin of Marlborough, N.H. Mr. Carkin took particular pleasure in visiting at the Congregational parsonage. Rev. Mr. Wallace was a former pastor at Marlborough and Mr. Carkin an attendant at his church.
Miss Mary E. Drew is at home again after a three weeks’ sojourn at Annisquam.
Miss Raynes will be the supervisor of music in the schools of this town this year and Mrs. Brackett of drawing, the same as last year.
Mrs. Elizabeth Nesmith, wife of George W. Nesmith, died at her home in Parkerville, on the Concord road, last week Thursday morning. The funeral took place Sunday forenoon, Rev. David Wallace conducting the services. The bearers were George W. Nesmith, Harry L. Nesmith, W. H. Kent and Wayland F. Balch. Burial was in the family lot in Burlington.
The Unitarian church, after a vacation of sixty-three days, lengthened several times for church repairs, will resume Sunday services tomorrow. The newness of the interior, a rested choir, a minister fresh with an observing attitude, should welcome a large congregation who are sleepless.
Lawyer James Stuart Murphy and children from Lowell have been delving for health the past week from the cool depths where hangs the “Old oaken bucket,” neath the pine tree shades of Francis Hill.
The prosperous and progressive that hold farming up to a high key at “Fairview,” (not the cemetery), where the Greigs hold the earth to its promises, have been busy these hot September days putting in steam heat. It will be ready when the mosquito gets his bites all in and the frost bites take the place in the play.
The first arrival was a Miss Fitt and a Parfitt, and for further bill of particulars inquire of Mr. and Mrs. William Parfitt, Chamberlain corner.
There was a large non-sectarian clambake camp meeting exercises held at Nabnasset pond last Sunday.
A light frost was reported by pumpkin vines and other tender conductors of low temperature on Thursday morning, along the banks of the crooked Stony Brook.
Mrs. Alfred Hartford was also one of the party not previously reported with the Oscar R. Spalding touring expedition.
Has Arrived. John A. Taylor arrived at Grand Forks, N.D., last Saturday. He passed through eleven states, but saw no scenery that compared with the old Berkshire hills, which he saw directly after a terrific thunder shower on the first day out. Made a stop off at Minneapolis to take in the Minnesota State Fair with its one hundred exhibition buildings, acres of hogs, horses, colts, sheep and other large ox creatures. In this respect they beat Middlesex-North, but for fruit and vegetables, dear old New England, of rocky hill history, has got the flavor and the finished goods. Visited one of the small flour mills of the capacity of 11,000 barrels per day, part of which was being branded for Wright & Fletcher and J. Herbert Fletcher of Westford. The State fair averaged selling 60,000 tickets per day. Grand Forks is clean, modern, progressive, with 15,000 inhabitants and no stand patters except the Roosevelt brand.
Forge Village. Services were resumed at St. Andrew’s mission last Sunday afternoon, and Rev. Endicott Peabody of Groton School conducted the services. Next Sunday afternoon Rev. Mr. Birckhead of Groton School will occupy the pulpit, services commencing at 3:30. Sunday school will reopen September 25.
Joseph A., son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph A. Bourassa, their only child, died last week Friday morning, after a severe illness of cholera infantum, aged six months and four days. Funeral services were held Saturday afternoon. Burial in St. Catherine’s cemetery, Graniteville. This is the second child Mr. and Mrs. Bourassa have lost with the same complaint.
Wilbert E. Parsons disposed of his household effects last Saturday afternoon and will return to Vancouver, Wash., shortly, where he intends to settle.
Miss Theresa Lowther will entertain the members of her Sunday school class next Saturday afternoon at a picnic which will be held at Hollingside cottage on the shore of Forge pond.
Mrs. Joseph Bennett, jr., and two children have returned home after a visit of several weeks spent with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. E. Vicar of Stafford Springs, Conn.
A daughter [Hannah McKniff] was born Saturday, September 10, to Mr. and Mrs. John McNiff.
Mrs. Lewis [Maud Eva] Caisse, and two children, of Leominster is visiting with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. A. W. Carkin.
John Edwards has been confined to his home the past four weeks with a poisoned hand. He cut the little finger of his right hand while at work at the Chandler planer company at Ayer, and blood poisoning set in. It is feared that he may lose his finger.
It is said that Joseph McDonald has purchased the Bradley farm.
Miss Lillian Rose is attending the Lowell normal school, where she is in the graduating class, going to and from school on the electrics, returning to her home in Belmont Saturdays.
Miss Gladys Daly is attending Fitchburg high and Miss Mabel Sanborn is a pupil at Ayer high. Miss Evelyn Fernald returns to Vassar college next week.
Graniteville. The Graniteville baseball club visited North Chelmsford on Saturday afternoon and in a hard fought game in which everything was in doubt until the ninth inning, met with defeat at the hands of the North Chelmsfords, the final score being 8 to 7. The loss of the game was due mainly to the costly errors made by the local club at critical stages of the contest, but even at that the Graniteville club came near winning out and threw a great scare into the North Chelmsford fans by their fast work in the final inning.
Mr. and Mrs. O. [Oliver] W. Sherman of Damariscotta, Me., have been recent guests of Dr. and Mrs. W. H. Sherman of this village.
Mr. and Mrs. Frederick M. Defoe are now taking in the sights at Montreal and they intend to be absent for several days.
Miss Margaret E. Horan of Charlestown has recently returned home after having spent a brief vacation here as the guest of Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Healey.
The date for the Foresters’ anniversary dance has been set for October 14, in town hall, Westford.
The local fire company was called out on Sunday afternoon to subdue a brush fire on land owned by Benjamin Caunter, back of the ball grounds. Between three and four acres were burned over before the fire was gotten under control.
Mrs. John J. Dunn of West Chelmsford has been a recent visitor here.
The Ladies’ Aid society of the M.E. church had a very successful food sale in the church vestry last week Thursday evening.
Saturday, September 24, 1910
Centre. Henry Beneault, who has been so critically ill with typhoid fever, is holding his own, with sincere hopes of his ultimate recovery.
Miss Louise Crosby, who has been spending the summer with her home people at Prince Edward Island, has returned to Mrs. Edward Prescott’s.
Mr. and Mrs. Walter Cutter are entertaining a little son [Newell Irving Cutter ] born to them last week Thursday [Sept. 15]. This makes their fifth son, three that are living, and two who have died.
Nahum H. Wright quietly observed the seventy-ninth anniversary of his birth last week [Sept. 15]. His long-time friend and townsman, George Heywood, paid him a visit that day.
Mr. and Mrs. Will E. Carver are receiving congratulations at the advent into their home of a little daughter.
Mrs. Quincy W. Day is ill at her home and under the doctor’s care with an attack of bronchitis.
Rev. and Mrs. David Wallace and Mr. and Mrs. Emory J. Whitney attended the recognition service held by the Littleton Congregational parish for their new minister, Rev. Mr. Packard, last Wednesday evening.
Mrs. J. T. Colburn is seriously ill at her home with asthma and complications.
Mrs. Abby Garvin Wright passed her seventy-seventh milestone of life’s journey last week Thursday. A pleasant birthday reception was arranged for her by her nieces, Mrs. Lewis and Miss Newcomb. Neighbors and friends came to call bringing gifts and felicitous greetings. The rooms were prettily decorated with flowers and refreshments were served.
The club program for the Tadmuck club for the season 1910-11 has been issued to the members. Without they are attractive in their pretty, modest, gray covers with ribbon to match and within there is much of promise for instruction and entertainment and the arrangement for the season reflects the greatest credit upon the executive board and also indicates that the resources of the membership are not exhausted. The topic for special study is, “Spanish North America,” and this is interspersed with other timely topics.
A good representation of the Edward M. Abbot hose company attended the thirty-first convention of the Massachusetts State Firemen’s association in Lowell this past week.
The ladies’ degree staff of the grange is at work with rehearsals for the third degree work for the coming fall initiation. Mrs. Fred A. Snow is the newly-chosen master of the staff in place of Mrs. F. C. Wright, who did not feel able to continue with the office.
About Town. Two of the children of August Nelson at Mill’s corner, Lowell road, have typhoid, and not the family of Nelse Nelson at Brookside corner.
The republican caucus will be held at the town hall, Wednesday evening, September 28, to choose delegates to the several conventions and a town committee to serve from January 1911 to January 1912.
C. R. P. Decatur is champion for potato yield in this town, having raised over forty bushels from half a bushel seed, the “Pride of Bethel.”
John O. Sunberg is preparing for winter, a new house for himself and other small Sunbergs. This at Brookside on the Lowell road, and P. Henry Harrington of Graniteville has the contract for this cozy cottage.
The Oscar R. Spalding and others grand tour, returned home on Monday evening, much refreshed in behavior and beauty. They reported an epidemic of typhoid fever in Montreal, Canada, and over one hundred deaths. The water was the suspected cause, hence the Westford party took other fluids, but came home straight.
Westford was well represented at the Middlesex North agricultural fair at Billerica last week. The display of fruit and vegetables was large, both in size and quantity.
J. Everett Woods has been reappointed by the selectmen a member of the board of registrars of voters. The board held a meeting last week Friday evening at the selectmen’s room. J. Everett Woods was elected chairman, and the following dates were fixed for future meetings: Brookside, Friday evening, October 21, from 7:45 to 8:45; Graniteville on Monday evening, October 24, from 7:30 to nine, at Healey’s hall; Forge Village on Wednesday evening, October 26, from 7:30 to nine, at Abbot’s hall; Westford Centre, at town hall, on Saturday, October 29, from noon until ten o’clock in the evening.
Of the two sick children of August Nelson, one died Tuesday of typhoid fever and burial was on Wednesday, at West Chelmsford.
Forge Village. Services at St. Andrew’s mission were conducted last Sunday by Rev. Mr. Birckhead of Groton school, who preached an interesting and forceful sermon on “Religion of today.” At the close of the service Mr. Birckhead announced that a parish meeting of great importance would be held in the parish house at Ayer on Thursday evening.
Albert Gurney, Misses Stella and Blanche Gurney of Lowell spend Sunday at the Gurney cottage on the shore of Forge pond.
Miss Theresa Lowther entertained the members of her Sunday school class on Saturday afternoon at Hollingside cottage on the shore of Forge pond. The afternoon was pleasantly spent and light refreshments were served in the open air dining room. Everyone received as a souvenir a dainty box of chocolates. Those who attended were Gertrude, Hazel and Blanch Comey, Annie and Mary Cherry, Carolyn E. Precious, Lottie and Mildred Parrott, Annie and Ida Reed, Edith Spinner and Edith Hunt.
Charles Flanagan, who had an excellent position with the Groton school for boys, who have been in camp at Belgrade, Maine, throughout the summer months, has arrived home and has taken up his duties as flagman at the Boston and Maine crossing here.
Miss Stella Carkin of this village and Miss May Barton of Lowell have returned home after two weeks’ outing at the White Mountains.
Frank Bennett of Worcester, and Walter Bennett of West Townsend, spent last Sunday as the guests of Mrs. Harriet E. Randall. Miss Rovy Bennett of Worcester arrived on Tuesday and was her guest the rest of this week.
Miss Sarah J. Precious and Miss Emily Collins visited Saturday and Sunday at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Keefe.
Interesting Meeting. Loyal Self Help lodge, I.O.O.F., M.U., held a very interesting meeting in Abbot hall on Monday evening. A delegation from Loyal Nashoba lodge of Littleton attended and gave a brief but interesting account of Odd Fellowship. William Burnett, one of the oldest members of Self Help lodge, read a report on Odd Fellowship which was greatly enjoyed. A short musical program was given as follows: Song, “My big brother,” Charles Flanagan, responding to an encore with “Lilly dale”; piano solo, John Shackelton; song and dance, William Baker. John Shackelton was the accompanist of the evening. A full attendance is requested at the next meeting, which will be held on October 3. All arrangements have been made for the dance which will be held in honor of the one hundredth anniversary of the order.
Death. Joseph Bennett, an old and highly respected resident of this village for many years, passed away on Sunday evening, September 18, at his late home on Pleasant street [in Forge Village], aged 72 yrs., 8 mos., 24 days. Although Mr. Bennett had been confined to his home by illness the past three weeks, his death was not expected and it came as a great shock to his family and numerous friends. His daughter, Mrs. August Meyer of Boston, had come to spend a few days with her father and was preparing to return home when the end came. Another daughter, Mrs. Theophilus Jones and her husband of North Chelmsford, also came to spend the afternoon and only arrived a short time before his death.
Joseph Bennett was born December 25, 1837, at Staffordshire, England, and at the age of twenty-one, he married Miss Elizabeth Hutchinson of Bradford, England. To them thirteen children were born and eight of them are now living. In 1887 he came with his family to this village and was among the early English immigrants to settle here. A few years later he purchased his home, where with his late wife, who had been his faithful companion through life’s journey over fifty years, he had spent his declining days. Mrs. Elizabeth Bennett died March 22, 1908 [1909].
He leaves to mourn his loss, eight children—William Bennett and Mrs. Silas Ellsworth of Providence, R.I.; Daniel Bennett of Worcester; Mrs. August [Elizabeth] Meyer of Boston; Mrs. Theophilus [Emily] Jones of North Chelmsford; Mrs. William [Jennie H.] Hosmer, Miss Priscilla Bennett and Joseph Bennett of this village; also, twenty-seven grandchildren.
Funeral services were conducted at the home on Wednesday afternoon at two o’clock. Rev. Sherrand Billings of Groton School read the impressive service of the Episcopal church and the committal prayers at the grave. There was no singing. The bearers were Silas Ellsworth, William Hosmer and August Meyer, sons-in-law, and William Orange, grandson of deceased.
There were many beautiful flowers, the offerings of loving friends and neighbors, who had gathered to pay their final respects to one whom they had esteemed and respected through life. Burial was in the family lot in Fairview cemetery.
Mrs. W. Vicars of Stafford Falls, Conn., and William Bennett, quartermaster on the U.S.S. Vermont, were among those from out-of-town, who attended the funeral.
Graniteville. Notices have been posted about town for the democratic caucus to be held in the town hall, Westford, Tuesday evening, September 27, for the purpose of choosing delegates to the democratic state, councilor, congressional, county, district attorney, senatorial, and representative conventions of 1910.
Mr. and Mrs. Levi Grant and Mr. and Mrs. Harry Ingalls of Beverly were recent visitors in this village, coming over the road in Mr. Grant’s touring car.
The regular meeting of Court Westford 170, M.C.O.F., was held in their rooms on Thursday night.
Harry Hartford of Westford and Alfred Hughes of this village put up a great game with Townsend in their game with Greenville at West Townsend on last Saturday. Hartford covered second base in a creditable manner and got in three nice hits. Hughes accepted all of his six chances at short without an error and got in his customary two hits, one of them coming in a critical stage of the game when there were two men on bases. Young Hughes is certainly a coming ball player all right and his good work of the past two seasons makes him eligible for faster company.
Harry Folland of the Manchester Union with his sister, Miss Lavina Folland of Manchester, N.H., have been recent guests at the home of Samuel Willis in this village.
A Pleasing Service. “Old home day,” was fittingly observed in the M.E. church here last Sunday, when special services with appropriate music was held both in the morning and evening. At the morning service the sermon was preached by Rev. Miner H. A. Evans of South Boston, a former pastor of the M.E. church. A pleasing feature of the service was the singing by the male quartet from the Men’s club, composed of Henry Smith, L. F. Havermale, Frank Caunter, O. A. Nelson. The choir was also augmented for the occasion and the whole service was very pleasing.
At the evening service, the pastor, Rev. Lewis F. Havermale, preached an eloquent sermon from the theme, “The great home coming.” The male quartet also ably assisted at this service. Both the morning and evening services were largely attended, many out-of-town visitors and former parishioners being present. The “Old home day” observance was somewhat new to the members of the M.E. church and the pastor, Rev. L. F. Havermale, is to be commended for introducing such a pleasing service.
Football. Many of the sports in this village are now thinking of forming a football club to represent Graniteville on the gridiron during the fall season. This village is well equipped with material for a first-class football team, and the only thing lacking at the present time is the services of a hustling manager, who will take full charge and get things moving along. A meeting will be held in the near future for the purpose of electing a manager and getting a list of players who will give their full attention to football for the next few weeks. It is understood that Forge Village and Westford are getting rapidly into trim, so Graniteville will have to get busy if it wants to be considered a live one.