The Westford Wardsman, September, 1911
Saturday, September 2, 1911
Center. Mr. and Mrs. O. R. Spalding have returned from a pleasant vacation, going first to Old Orchard Beach and later to Portland, making from the latter place various shorter trips.
Miss May Day has been assisting Miss Bunce at the library during college vacation days.
Miss Mary E. Drew is at her Westford home after spending several months in Lowell and Cambridge.
Joseph E. Knight passed his seventy-third milestone of life’s journey on Saturday of last week. On that day Mr. and Mrs. Knight entertained a group of friends and relatives in honor of the occasion. A few years ago Mr. Knight had a long, serious illness, but is comfortably well now. Best wishes for a continuance of the same from his friends.
Mrs. Homer M. Seavey has been entertaining her mother and aunt, Mrs. Mitchell and Miss Pear of Cambridge, for a week’s visit.
State supervisor of assessors, Robert G. Patten, with headquarters at the statehouse, Boston, had his annual conference with our board of assessors at the town hall on Thursday of last week.
The annual meeting of the W.C.T.U. will be held with Mrs. Homer M. Seavey on Wednesday afternoon of next week. There will be business of importance, including the election of officers, and a full attendance of the members is urged.
Sherman H. Fletcher, in company with Fred A. Hildreth of Malden, has been enjoying several days’ vacation on a trip to western Massachusetts.
About twenty-five members of Westford grange attended the field day of the North Middlesex Pomona grange last week Thursday at the Frank Foss farm in Dracut. Good weather, a well managed clam bake dinner at noon and a well balanced program afterward of good speakers, readers and singers made the outing a most successful one.
The poles for the new electric lights are being distributed about the village, and a good number of our residents are having their houses wired for lighting.
The regular services at the Congregational church will be resumed on Sunday after the three-weeks’ vacation.
Miss Mary Morin has gone to Providence, R.I., for several weeks in her professional capacity.
George E. H. Abbot, whose death took place in Groton last week, formerly lived in Westford, the family home being where W. J. Merritt now lives. The body was brought to Westford for interment in the family lot at Fairview. Mr. Abbot’s father, Ephraim Abbot, was preceptor of Westford academy for a number of years.
The schools in town open next Tuesday morning. The Frost school and the academy have been thoroughly put in order and some minor repairs made, preparatory to the opening of school.
About Town. Services at the Unitarian church will commence on Sunday, September 3. A letter from Rev. B. H. Bailey confirms the report of his resignation. He will continue with the parish until after the conference, which will be held with the First Parish on October 19. His resignation is to take effect the following Sunday, which will make eight and one-half years of ministry with the First Parish, Westford, and fifty years of loyal devotion to the faith of his father since his ordination at Dedham on March 14, 1861.
David L. Greig, the early sunrise farmer, who makes the tree and vine to blow and abundance of grass to mow, has just returned from a vacation in rural New York.
Mr. and Mrs. Abiel J. Abbot are touring in Maine and the Provinces with their new safety speed automobile.
Business on Oak hill at the stone quarry of H. E. Fletcher & Co. is about resuming old time activities, having fallen heir to several contracts which will make stone chips more numerous than at any time this season.
At the Banister [farm] they are raising turkeys and the weasels are also raising them with much profit.
Mrs. Prescott died on Thursday at the home of her son, George E. Prescott, at the John H. Decatur farm on the Lowell road. A full account will be given next week.
The writer received a letter from an old-time neighbor now farming in South Dakota, stating that he sowed 260 acres of wheat last spring and the drought harvested it all. That beats the Prairie farm drought.
The edge is still all off business at the Brookside mills, nothing stirring, not even smoke out of the chimney.
Miss Luanna Decatur, who has been enjoying a two-months’ vacation in California, and visiting her uncle, Walter Decatur, and her sister, Miss Alma Decatur, has started on the return trip, arriving at the time of writing at Casco Bay, Me.
J. A. and W. R. Taylor were ushers at a church wedding in Cohasset last week Friday. It was the marriage of their friend, Prof. J. O. Sallee, to Miss Mary Ellen Clapp.
The Prairie farm has just finished harvesting a field of potatoes and reports about two-thirds of a crop as compared with previous years on the same field.
The forty varieties of California roses sent last spring by Alma Decatur to her Westford home on the Lowell road are all in bloom and make fragrant the air and adorn the landscape of the Stony Brook valley. The writer acknowledges the friendly remembrances in these roses.
In this paper’s issue of August 19 appeared a communication with a series of questions bearing upon socialism which the correspondent of this column was invited to answer. When the writer arrived at the leisure time for answering, with pen and ideas on hand, he was unable to find the paper with said questions in it, but has sent for a copy of the paper and will endeavor to reply next week.
Mrs. Banister has been enjoying the sea breezes of Massachusetts coast and the inland breezes of Arlington with her sister, Mrs. Crosby.
Death. The following item will be interesting to all who are interested in the history of Westford academy:
“Dr. George Faulkner of Boston, who died on Sunday, was born in Billerica on July 14, 1819. His father, who died in 1843, at the age of eighty-two years, is believed to be the earliest manufacturer of woolens in this country. Dr. Faulkner was educated at the academies in Billerica and Westford. At the age of fifteen, he entered a store in Boston. He devoted himself to study, spent a year and a quarter at Leicester, and one year at Phillips-Exeter academy, then he entered Harvard. Upon his graduation he went to Keene, N.H., and spent a year with the famous surgeon, Dr. Amos Twitchell.
“The day he received his degree in medicine, August 25, 1847, he was married to Miss Mary A. Spalding of Billerica, and he immediately took up his residence in Jamaica Plain. His wife died in 1869, and in November of the following year, he married for his second wife, Miss Abby Adams. She died eleven years ago, and it was through liberal provision in her will, being a woman of ample means in her own right, that the Faulkner hospital in Jamaica Plain was founded.”
Graniteville. All the schools in this village will reopen for the fall term on Tuesday September 5. There have been much needed improvements made at the Sargent school here and workmen have been kept busy for several days getting it in readiness for the beginning of the school year. The entire sanitary system has been changed and modern plumbing installed, the work being done by the Brownville Mason Co., of Fitchburg. P. Henry Harrington has done the woodwork. Fred Parker, who is the janitor of the building, is now having the different rooms thoroughly cleaned and necessary repairs made so that the interior will present a spick and span appearance.
Owing to the rain on Tuesday, the work of fixing up the grounds at St. Catherine’s church could not be done, but was done on Thursday. Many of the men of the parish worked hard to have the place fixed up.
Mr. and Mrs. Dwight H. Wolf of Kansas City, Mo., who are now doing an 8,000-mile walking stunt, passed through this village from Lowell on their way to Fitchburg on Tuesday afternoon at about 12:30 o’clock. It was raining slightly at the time, but the couple with their pony and cart marched sturdily on and didn’t appear to mid the weather in the least. Their cart with its numerous tags and postals attracted considerable attention, but no stop was made.
Mrs. A. R. Wall and little daughter Mary of this village are visiting in Beachmont and other beaches.
Mrs. Edward Lefore and son Gerald of this village will leave here today for a trip to Canada.
Gideon P. LeDuc, wife and son, have returned from Canada whence they were called on account of the death of Mrs. LeDuc’s father.
Forge Village. Holy communion services will be held at St. Andrew’s mission tomorrow morning at 8:15. Evening prayer at 4:30 o’clock.
Miss Abbie M. Blaisdell is the guest this week of Mr. and Mrs. James Wilson.
Mrs. Frank Camplin of Lawrence was the guest of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Hunt at their home on last Sunday.
Mr. and Mrs. James May have just returned from a visit with relatives in East Boston.
Daniel Sullivan of Boston is visiting at the home of Mr. and Mrs. John Sullivan.
Mrs. John Daly has returned from New York, where she has been the guest of her sister, Mrs. Donald Holt.
Oliver Byron has purchased the property of A. Carkin located on Story street.
Miss Stella B. Carkin is enjoying her vacation of two weeks. She is entertaining her friend, Miss Millie Brazell, of Gardner, this week.
Gerald Daly of Fitchburg has returned after a most pleasant visit with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Daly.
Mr. and Mrs. William Murphy of Lowell, who have spent the summer at their camp on the shores of Forge pond, entertained their friends at a dance in Abbot hall on Saturday evening. Music for dancing was furnished by the Manhattan orchestra of Lowell. Among those present were many from Lowell, Lawrence, Belmont, Malden, Concord, Acton, Boston and this village.
Mrs. Kerry, together with Mr. and Mrs. Watson, are spending a few weeks camping on the shores of Forge pond.
Martin Shannon and Miss Hildreth of Cambridge are the guests of Mr. and Mrs. James Wilson. They are also entertaining James, Joseph, Timothy, Francis and John Sullivan of Nashua, N.H.
Miss Gertrude Dawson of Lowell has returned home after a very pleasant vacation of three months at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Wilson.
The Misses Agnes and Ella Donovan and Mary Ward of Roxbury return home the latter part of the week after a vacation of three weeks.
Mr. and Mrs. Dwight H. Wolf of Kansas City, Mo., who are on an 8,000-mile walk for the benefit of Mr. Wolf’s health, passed through this village at one o’clock on Tuesday on their way to Fitchburg. At the center the travelers stopped for refreshments and also offered a number of post cards for sale. Their pony and cart, with its numerous tags and postals, attracted considerable attention, as also did their faithful dog.
Cameron school will reopen Tuesday, September 5.
John Spinner has returned home after a visit of two months with relatives in England.
Miss Della Drake spent Wednesday visiting relatives in Lowell.
Mrs. George Sanborn and daughter Mabel spent Tuesday in Boston.
While fishing Monday afternoon John W. Catchpole met with a very painful injury, the hook becoming embedded in Mr. Catchpole’s finger. He was attended by Dr. Cyril A. Blaney of Westford.
Robert McArdell of Manchester, N.H., was the guest over Sunday of his daughter and son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. John E. Burnett.
Abbot Worsted Co.’s mill will resume operation on Tuesday morning, September 5.
Groton
Obituary. George E. H. Abbot, for forty years a resident of this town, died at his home on Main street Thursday evening, August 24, after a long period of gradually failing health, although his final illness was of only a week’s duration. Mr. Abbot was the last survivor of his father’s family. He was the son of Rev. Ephraim and Abigail Whiting (Bancroft) Abbot, and was born at Westford on February 15, 1838. He was educated at Westford academy and Harvard college, entering the latter institution in his sophomore year in 1857, and graduated with the “war cries” of 1860.
His father was a graduate of Harvard in the class of 1806, and his grandfather, Dr. Amos Bancroft, of this town, in the class of 1791. His father’s first wife, Mary Holyoke Pearson, was a daughter of Rev. Eliphalet Pearson, the first principal of Phillips academy, Andover, Hancock professor of Hebrew and Oriental languages at Harvard from 1804 to 1806, and a granddaughter of Edward Holyoke, president of Harvard for forty years before his death in 1769.
From his step-mother, Mr. Abbot had inherited a large and valuable library, from which he derived much pleasure and recreation, and among his books most of his life was passed in quiet retirement, although he has at times done some land surveying and tutoring, and for one year after graduating from college, taught school at Westford.
In 1870, after his father’s death, he, with his mother and two sisters, removed from Westford to Groton, which has since been his home. His mother died in 1886, and his sisters, both unmarried, died in 1908, since which, Mr. Abbot has lived alone and been cared for by a housekeeper. He never married.
The funeral services, held at his late home at two o’clock on Sunday afternoon, were conducted by Rev. Pemberton H. Cressey of Groton, and the burial was in the family lot in Westford cemetery.
Saturday, September 9, 1911
Center. Mrs. C. C. P. Hiller of Everett was a guest for a few days last week at the Misses Atwood.
Mrs. Annie Barnard and Miss Florence Barnard of Brookline have been recent visitors at Willis Hildreth’s.
Workmen are busy building a bay window on the southwest side of W. J. Merritt’s house.
Pomona Grange. The day for the meeting of the North Middlesex Pomona grange on Friday, September 1, came out clear and beautiful after the week of rain. This Pomona, consisting of members of Billerica, Dracut, Tewksbury, Tyngsboro, Chelmsford, North Reading and Wilmington, has for some years had a central place of meeting in Lowell, but recently voted to hold its sessions with the different granges with a view of being beneficial to the local grange. Westford came first in this new schedule, and there was a good representation at Friday’s meeting.
After the opening of the session and reports from different granges, the subject for the morning discussion was taken up, namely, “What has proved the most profitable crop on the farm for you?” This was well sustained and interesting. Among those who gave experiences were Mrs. Sherberne of Tyngsboro, S. L. Taylor of Westford, G. W. Trull of Tewksbury, DeLacey Corkum of Billerica, Mr. Howe and Mr. Milliken of Dracut, and Mr. Davis of North Reading. Dairying, poultry keeping and fruit and vegetable raising, all had their exponents. While perhaps much that was brought out might not be strictly new, the main thought that what the individual was best adapted for plus determination, ability, energy and good old-fashioned “hustle” was well emphasized.
The cost of labor and the cleaning up of some of the sordid conditions of slum city life as well as our country barn were sub-topics well treated. The second subject for the morning, “Resolved, that the automobile is a benefit rather than a detriment to the farmer,” claimed the remainder of the morning session with sentiment toward the affirmative.
An excellent dinner was served at noon by the entertaining grange in charge of Mrs. Arthur Blodgett, after which many of the visitors took the opportunity to inspect our pretty village.
The afternoon session was open to the public and was reinforced by a number from outside. The address of welcome was given by S. L. Taylor, with characteristic, cordial wit and wisdom. J. S. Anthony, master of the Pomona, responded and was followed with a skillful piano duet by Mrs. C. A. Blaney and Miss Lillian Sutherland. Mrs. W. A. Sherberne, lecturer pro tem of Tyngsboro, gave dialect selections after which a trio of maidens gave a charming feature as follows: Song, Miss Lillian Sutherland; violin obbligato, Miss Evelyn Hamlin, accompaniment, Miss Hazel Hartford. There was also singing by Miss Rachael Wall, Miss Ruth Furbush, accompanist, and piano solo by Miss Grace Robinson.
The speaker of the afternoon was J. C. Warren of the State Board of Education. Mr. Warren was followed with close attention and later answered many questions. He endorsed the introduction of industrial education into the school curriculum and gave some account of its practical workings in the little town of Peru in the western part of the state. Cooking, agriculture and store keeping were the branches told of.
The meeting closed at 4:30. There were guests present from Groton, Littleton, Pepperell and Nashua. The next meeting will be held with the North Reading grange, the first Friday in October.
To the Editor. In this paper of August 19 there appeared a series of questions by Daniel Dailey, who is a stranger to the writer of this article. The questions evidently are prompted by a desire for truth and to improve the terms of living. The writer is equally desirous in the same direction, and we only differ as to facts, and the best method of procedure. Now to answer these questions properly would require the whole space of this paper, for which I have not time to occupy—and someone suggests, nor ability. Thank you, I was going to mention the latter.
The first questions reads: “Does the system of capitalism under which we are now living make it impossible for man to live an honest, moral, upright life, and do unto others as he would be done by?”
The writer can only emphasize what was expressed in a previous article, that the doors are wide open in all directions for intellectual and moral improvement; the present system has opened these doors. These paths have never been crowded, scarcely any one has fully utilized opportunities. “Every one should have an opportunity for moral and intellectual improvement.” Don’t lay it onto “the system,” and when it comes to living an honest life, if only poor people were dishonest, it might look a little shady for the system, but wealth is in it much more than poverty. More only in the source of the extent of damages, not more as relates to numbers.
If a sharp man cheats you in trade, can he excuse himself by saying “the system?” Would he suddenly become honest under “socialism”? Two neighbors living closely on opposite sides of the road are not on speaking terms and have not been for years, would socialism make them speak?
If friend Dailey were out some dark night and suddenly a robber should spring at him with a revolver and demand money and should get it and depart, and should afterwards be arrested and tried at Ayer before Judge Atwood and the robber should make the plea “the system,” and the plea should be accepted, what would Daniel say to such justice as that? What would society say? Highway robbers would be more plentiful than flies and bacteria in milk, and furthermore would said robber suddenly become a quitter under “socialism?”
The writer does not know of any laws or “systems” that prevents man or woman from loving their neighbor as themselves, and more too, go right out in the field and get your neighbor’s hay in and let your own stay out and get wet. “He that would take away thy coat, give him thy cloak also.” [Matthew 5:40; also Luke 6:29.]
It is wholly a question of the overthrow by the law of love. Both are personal qualities and government or “systems” do not prevent action by selfishness or love. Representative James N. Carey said at the meeting at Westford: “Socialism will remove all poverty and evil.” If that is true then the converse of it must also be true, that the present “system” is responsible for poverty and evil. Now to set at naught personal responsibility for conduct and substitute the responsibility of the “system” under which we live, is entering dangerously deep waters, and the ship of life in which we are all sailing will have to have added “lighthouses to keep from shipwreck on the dangerous rocks of personal irresponsibility.”
The second question reads: “If the system of capitalism were destroyed, would not the system of cooperation (socialism) naturally follow? If not, what would follow?”
The present system of capitalism is the system of individual capacity, a large capacity gives us a [J. P.] Morgan. The little fellow couldn’t be a Morgan though the doors were wide open and his friends pushed him into the large arena. Were we all equal in capacity and started with equal capital and make equal foolish and wise movements, then at the end of life the credit and debt of every one would be alike. But nature will not countenance any two being alike, hence results are not alike. Two persons start in the same business with equal capital, both have an equal amount of domestic misfortune at the end of a term of years. One retires with a small fortune, the other settles in bankruptcy. These two opposite results is the measurement of the difference in individual capacity. Should we change to socialism, you would not have changed the law of individual capacity and unequalities [sic] would still be a troublesome quantity to settle with.
Cooperation differs from socialism in that it selects its company with reference to individual capacity for the work to be performed and weeds out all else. Socialism attempts to make uncongenial, ill-fitting personalities harmonize. What would follow the present system might depend on how the present system was got rid of.
–S. L. Taylor
About Town. Henry B. Read has been listed on the sick list, but now he is listed on the well list.
John A. Taylor starts on Tuesday for North Dakota.
The Middlesex North Agricultural society will hold its annual fair at Billerica on September 14 and 15, in connection with Billerica grange.
The funeral of Mrs. Ingerson took place from the home of her son-in-law, George E. Prescott, Saturday afternoon of last week. Rev. David Wallace conducted the services. Burial in Fairview cemetery under the direction of David L. Greig, undertaker.
Forge Village. Cameron school re-opened on Tuesday morning. There has been no change in the teaching staff.
The fall term of Sunday school will begin tomorrow afternoon at St. Andrew’s mission at 3:30 o’clock.
Mr. and Mrs. William Burnett visited in Worcester during the week.
Robert McArdell and William Franz of Manchester, N.H., spent several days during the week as guests of Mr. and Mrs. John E. Burnett. The gentlemen enjoyed a most pleasant fishing trip and returned home with a long string of fish, among which was three prize pickerel.
Mr. George Jackson is visiting with relatives in Maine.
Two airships passed over the village on Monday afternoon, which attracted great attention.
Mr. and Mrs. John McNiff entertained at their home on the holiday, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Emmott and family and William Mitchell of Lawrence.
James Walsh of Lawrence was the guest of Miss Alice Walsh over Sunday.
Mr. and Mrs. Ephraim Vickers of Providence, R.I., visited relatives here on Labor day.
William DeRoehn spent last week visiting his aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Tyler of Worcester.
Alvin S. Bennett, Mrs. Mary J. Drake and Mrs. Lucretia Reed attended the Bennett family reunion held at the home of John Bennett of Worcester on Labor day.
Miss Gladys Daly has recently been entertaining Miss Florence Lundigan of Leominster.
J. B. Carmichael, Russell Furbush, James Sargent and friends spent a few days last week enjoying camp life at Beaver cottage.
Misses Lottie and Mildred Parrott have returned from their summer vacation spent in North Adams.
Miss Agnes Milligan and little brother, Master Frank Milligan, of East Boston, spent last week visiting at the home of Mr. and Mrs. James May.
Misses Annie and Mary Leclerc spent the holiday as guests of their sister, Mrs. John Paquette of Nashua, N.H.
Miss Luella Prescott has returned to her duties as teacher in the public school in Andover.
Joseph Bannister, Bert Comey and B. Griffiths spent the holiday at the Nashua fair.
Groton
The Aëroplanes. Crowds of Groton people were out Monday watching for the aviators. They chose hill tops, high buildings and open fields for their vantage grounds. At about two o’clock some caught sight in the dim distance towards the east the first flight. It was tiresome watching and not a few began to get discouraged. It was something like watching for “the comet.” But about three o’clock a shout went up, the hens and chickens frightened, scurried to cover as a birdman came sailing plainly in sight. Those living in the direction of Champney and North Main streets had a fine view, as he passed directly over their houses and fields going towards the railroad track and south to Ayer.
According to the time and maps it was Lieut. Milling flying smoothly and beautifully along and rather low, the noise of the machinery being distinctly heard. It was indeed a fine sight and the spectators felt well repaid for their long waiting.
Ayer
Labor Day. Labor day was quietly observed here, the only unusual event was the passing of the airships over town in the much heralded tri-state flight, the prizes for which were given by the Boston Globe through its editor, Col. Charles H. Taylor. By previous arrangement with the manager of the telephone company, J. J. Barry, and chief engineer P. H. Hooley of the local fire department, the fire alarm was sounded when the first aviator left Nashua. In anticipation of witnessing the novel sight, large numbers of people gathered on the higher elevations, principally on the hill at the reservoir, and upper Washington and Pleasant streets.
At precisely 1:17 o’clock, the two blasts of the fire alarm notified the expectant crowds that the first airship was headed this way on its journey to Worcester. Sixteen minutes later a machine was sighted in the east and was so far away that it was hardly visible without the aid of field glasses. It remained in sight for nearly half an hour.
About this time another machine was seen in the same direction and it was thought it was the first one which had lost its course and was going higher in order to escape the high currents in the upper air. This proved to be incorrect as there were two separate machines.
The first airship was the [Bleriot and Queen] monoplane operated by [Earle L.] Ovington, which was ahead of the second [Burgess-Wright biplane] operated by Lieutenant [T. DeWitt] Milling, who was delayed on the route from Squantum to Nashua.
After waiting some time to get a better view of the flying machines some of the crowd left, but those who waited were well repaid for doing so, as Lieut. Milling’s ship came along on its way to Worcester and sailed over town at an altitude that it could be plainly seen and the noise of the motor heard.
Of the four entrants, the above named finished the flight, [Harry N.] Atwood [in a Burgess-Wright] and [Arthur B.] Stone [in a Queen monoplane] being obliged to stop at Medford. There were objections by several who proposed to enter the contest because they considered the route between Nashua and Worcester too dangerous and wished to have this part of the journey changed. A hearing was given them by the committee in charge last Saturday, and their objections heard, when the committee announced that the original plans would be adhered to. A final inspection of the route was made last Sunday in automobiles and as a result [Claude] Graham-White and [Thomas O. M.] Sopwith, the English aviators, refused to enter.
Saturday, September 16, 1911
Graniteville. The members of A. R. Choate hose company held their regular meeting in Healy’s hall on Monday evening with Capt. J. A. Healy presiding. The meeting was well attended. Considerable business of a routine order was transacted, after which the members enjoyed a social hour.
The experiment of oiling the streets was tried for the first time on Tuesday afternoon, where that portion of Main street between Greig’s Corner and the Boston and Maine depot were given a covering of the oily mixture. A subscription paper has also been presented to the people along Broadway street to see if they will contribute something toward defraying the expense of having Broadway street oiled. Capt. S. H. Fletcher of the Westford board of selectmen was down here on Tuesday and was deeply interested in the work. It is thought that the required sum will soon be subscribed and the work will be continued at once.
Frank L. Furbush is now spending his vacation at his boyhood home at Farmington, Me., and before he returns he will make a visit to Rangely lakes. He will be absent two weeks.
Mr. and Mrs. Edward Defoe and son Gerald, who have recently returned from a pleasure trip to Victoriaville, Canada, report a very pleasant time while away.
Center. Fred A. Naylor of Forge Village, who has been a regular attendant at the Congregational church for the last two years, has not been coming alone since the reopening of church services after the vacation. In attendance with him is his young English bride of a few weeks.
Mrs. O. R. Spalding entertained the Thimble club and a few other guests at camp on Wednesday of this week. The guests were transferred to and from in Mr. Blaisdell’s comfortable barge. Many were the contributing causes to make the event one of Mrs. Spalding’s pleasantest camp reunions. There were eighteen guests present.
At the Congregational church on Sunday morning, it was “Labor Sunday.” Rev. David Wallace in his sermon gave an intelligent presentation of many phases of both sides of complicated labor problems and what the attitude of the churches thereto. In the evening John Adams Taylor presented two of Henry Van Dyke’s The writer has tasted them with his eyes in the distance and a satisfied close by distance. Since tasting them in that way and distance he has been successful in a nearer and more satisfactory taste than by a mere passing-by curiosity look. They have got the real Francis hill flavor to them.
Rev. James Danforth of Tyngsboro conducted the services at the Unitarian church on Sunday in place of Rev. N. H. Hoagland, who fell from an apple tree, receiving injuries that incapacitated him from keeping his exchange with Rev. B. H. Bailey.
Mrs. Claude Travis of Natick and daughter Ruth are well entertained guests at the old-time hospitality Walker homestead on Main street.
The town hall had ample spare room for the joint caucus on Tuesday evening, only about 115 votes being cast out of a total of 450 registered voters. The vote rounded up thus: Governor, Frothingham 75, Walker 12, White 8, Foss 18; register of deeds, Bacon 66, Hibbard 23, Thompson 8, Burns 2, Purcell 23; representative, Fisher 24, Taylor 79. The following were appointed by the selectmen as guardians of the peace, safety and honesty of the caucus voting: Frank A. Healy, T. Arthur E. Wilson, John M. Fletcher, Walter J. Merritt.
The selectmen have drawn Ernest H. Dane and Warren P. Sweetser to serve on the jury.
Suicide. Dr. John Scott Mason, a dentist, of Saco, Me., ended his life on last week Friday morning in the University club, Beacon street, Boston, by swallowing cyanide of potassium. Death was almost instantaneous.
Dr. Mason, who was a Harvard graduate, was fifty years of age. He was a non-resident member of the club where he ended his life.
After the body was discovered Medical Examiner Magrath was notified. The report of the suicide was suppressed from the police until noon, when the medical examiner notified headquarters of the death. The body was claimed by relatives.
Dr. Mason was the son of the late Dr. Jeremiah Mason, a noted dentist of Saco. As a young man he received a good education, graduating from the Harvard Dental school. He practiced near Boston for a time, then removed to the Old Saco Ferry, where he purchased “Ferry Farm.” Later this place was sold and Dr. Mason bought a house at Beach and Winter streets, in Saco, selling this in turn and removing to Kittery Point, where he built a bungalow. His winter home was at Westford.
Dr. Mason was a man of private means. He had not practiced for some years. On Thursday, Frank C. Deering, a friend in Saco, received a letter from Dr. Mason. It was cheerful and expressed thanks for past favors. The letter also referred to plans at Westford. There was reason to believe the writer was happy.
Dr. Mason is survived by one sister, Lucy Hight, of Andover, a cousin in Saco and several nephews and nieces.
Graniteville. The members of Court Graniteville, F. of A., held a largely attended and interesting meeting in their rooms on last week Thursday evening. It was decided to hold the annual ball in the town hall, Westford, Friday, October 13. A committee was appointed and the hall and music have already been engaged.
Rev. M. E. Doherty celebrated masses in St. Catherine’s church last Sunday morning and delivered an eloquent sermon from the subject, “What profiteth a man if he gain the whole world and loses his own soul!” [Matthew 16:26 and Mark 8:36] Rev. Doherty’s remarks were followed with keen interest and made a deep impression on the large congregation that was present.
Mr. and Mrs. O. A. Nelson and Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Wall attended the debate given under the direction of the Chelmsford grange in Chelmsford Center on Thursday night, the trip being made in Mr. Nelson’s automobile. They report a very pleasant evening.
The local baseball season is over for 1911, and Graniteville wins the pennant in the Stony Brook league for the second time in the last three years, with a record of thirteen victories and only one defeat. The Pawtucket Blues of Lowell, who took second money in the league race, were the only club in the league able to win a game from Graniteville.
A son [Clarence] was born to Mr. and Mrs. Clarence H. McLenna of Harrisville, N.H., on Thursday of last week. Mr. McLenna was a former resident of this village and is now employed as telegraph operator in the above-named town.
Many people of this town attended the Groton fair, which was held in Groton on Thursday.
Miss Annette Cantara of Nashua, N.H., has been visiting friends in this village the past week.
Mrs. Wesley O. Hawkes, with her daughter, Mrs. Alfred Hartford, of Westford, are visiting relatives in Deerfield at present.
Mrs. Lillian McLenna is visiting at the home of her son, Clarence McLenna, of Harrisville, N.H.
John Boyd is spending his vacation with relatives in Malone, N.Y.
Mr. and Mrs. O. W. Sherman of Damariscotta, Me., who have been spending a few days with Dr. and Mrs. W. H. Sherman, have returned to their home.
Bert DeRohen of Lowell, formerly of this village, was a visitor in town over Sunday.
Mr. and Mrs. Frank D. Riney of Lowell visited with friends here on Sunday.
Mr. and Mrs. John Roach of Haverhill were visitors at Mr. and Mrs. John Healy’s over Sunday.
Mrs. Sylvester McEnnany [McEnaney], with her daughter of Chelmsford, spent the last two weeks at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. David Shattuck.
The electric lights that are being installed in this village are about in readiness and expect to have them lighted on Sunday night, October 1, for the first time.
The electric car tracks at Greig’s Corner has been torn up and the curve in the track at that place being straightened, people will be able to retain their seats now, instead of being thrown out of them when the car has been going pretty fast.
Forge Village. Until further notice, services will be held at St. Andrew’s mission on Sunday evenings at 7:30 o’clock, beginning tomorrow. Sunday school will be held at the usual hour.
Mr. and Mrs. William Burnett entertained at their home on Tuesday the Mrs. Chester, Charles and William Blodgett children, as also Mrs. Johnson and daughter of Lowell. Mrs. Johnson is camping at Knopp’s pond, Groton, and returns to Lowell with her husband after the hunting season is at end.
The storm on Monday afternoon played havoc with electric wires here, the village being in total darkness, except for a few glimmers from kerosene lamps.
Many people from this village are planning to attend the formal opening of St. Catherine’s church, West Graniteville, on Sunday evening, October 1. The services will commence at 4:30 p.m.
The Ladies’ Sewing Circle held their regular meeting in Recreation hall on Wednesday afternoon. Rev. A. L. Bumpus was their guest.
Stephen Keefe, his sister, Miss Anna V. Keeve, and Miss Dorothy Barnes were the guests of Mr. and Mrs. John Carmichael on Sunday.
John Foster and daughter of Worcester were entertained at the weekend at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Catchpole.
Mrs. Harriet E. Randall entertained a number of friends on Saturday and Sunday at her home. Among the visitors were Walter Brooks of Brockton, Mr. and Mrs. John Bennett and family of Worcester, Andrew Cavanaugh and Miss Roxie Bennett, also of Worcester, and Miss Clara Hammond of Somerville. Miss Hammond formerly taught at Cameron school and is to be married in the near future to Mr. Roberts of Somerville.
John Bowker of Arlington Heights visited at William Burnett’s home on Tuesday.
Mr. and Mrs. William Burnett attended the Groton fair on Thursday.
Mrs. E. Oldham held a party on Saturday evening in honor of D. Craven, who is an accomplished musician, being a graduate of the Victoria college of music in London, Eng., is in this county on a business trip. Besides several selections rendered by Mr. Craven, there were piano solos by Miss Mary F. Hanley and vocal selections by Miss Rachael H. Cherry and James Byrnes.
Archie S. Bennett, manager of the National Arts Company of Boston, spent Saturday and Sunday at the home of his grandfather, Alvin S. Bennett.
Miss Ruth Crain of Detroit, Mich., is the guest of Mr. and Mrs. James Smith.
Note for September 9, 1911 Wardsman Forge Village section:
These two airplanes were the only two entries remaining in the Tri-State Race held on Labor Day, Sept. 4, as part of the second Harvard-Boston Aero Meet. The race started at Squantum Airfield in Quincy, thence to Nashua, N.H., Worcester, and Providence, R.I., before returning to Squantum. Participants were required to land at each of these sites along the 174-mile course, and at towns along the way throngs gathered on hills to look for the planes. Two well-known English pilots, Claude Grahame-White (1879-1959) and Thomas O. M. Sopwith (1888-1989), refused to fly saying the course was too dangerous, probably because so much of it was over hilly forests with few places to land safely if there was trouble. Four pilots took off sequentially from Squantum shortly after 11 a.m. o'clock: Earle L. Ovington (1879-1936) of Newton in a Bleriot and Queen monoplane named “Dragonfly” (which it resembled) with a “13” painted on his vertical stabilizer, Lt. T. DeWitt Milling (1887-1960) of the U.S. Army in a Burgess-Wright biplane, Harry N. Atwood (1884-1967) in a Burgess-Wright biplane, and Arthur B. Stone (1874-1943) in a Queen monoplane.
Stone flew ten miles before landing in Medford with a leaky fuel tank. Atwood came down in Winchester twelve miles from the start with engine trouble. Their failures only magnified the success of the remaining two fliers.
Milling, who was unfamiliar with the area, got lost and landed in Concord, Mass., to get directions. Ovington, who was the first pilot to fly over Boston on June 5, 1911, and on Sept. 23, 1911, would be the first pilot to carry the U.S. mail in an airplane, won the race with a time of “186 minutes 22 1-5 seconds,” per the New York Times of Sept. 5, while Milling's time was “322 minutes 37 seconds.” These times were air flight times between the four way points. Ovington didn't land back in Squantum until sunset, and Milling landed well after the sun had set. The race was sponsored by The Boston Globe, and Ovington received $10,000 for his victory, and Milling received $7,500 for winning the biplane class.
Airplanes were in their infancy in 1911 and few people had seen them in flight. The excitement of the day was captured by Ovington's wife, Adelaide Ovington, in her book, An Aviator's Wife (1920). She was at the Squantum airfield during this race, and Ovington telegraphed his progress to her at each stop. Here is her description of the end of the race:
“After he left Nashua, Ovie continued on to Worcester [following the Worcester, Nashua & Portland Railroad] and then to Providence, stopping at each point as required by the rules. At last the telegraph instrument told me that he had left Providence and was on his way to Boston. When the report came that he had been sighted from Blue Hill, a few miles from the field, I could scarcely contain myself for joy. A little while, and he would be home and safe!
“I forsook the tent and ran out into the centre of the aerodrome. The Mayor of Boston [John F. 'Honey Fitz' Fitzgerald (1863-1950)] gave me his field glasses and I held them to my straining eyes.
“At last came the word that Ovie was above Blue Hill.
“It was growing dark. The sun was trailing low in the western sky, painting the clouds with wonderful tones of red and orange.
“A speck appeared in the gathering darkness.
“A lone cry arose, ‘There he is!'
“The crowd stood at the cry. The field was quiet. No one thought of cheering. With a feeling almost like awe, the people waited.
“Way off, black against a cloud bank, was the speck. It grew larger and larger. I saw it through the mayor's fieldglasses, and smiled for the first time in hours.
“'It's Ovie!' I cried.
“An answering shout burst from twenty thousand throats, 'It's Ovington!'
“A moment later we could see the outline of a monoplane, sharp against the gathering gloom. It was the Dragonfly.
“The mass of people, a moment before so still, was changed into a mob of yelling maniacs. They jumped up on the benches, and flung their hats into the air, waving their arms and cheering. Their shouts echoed back from the surrounding hills, together with the din of honking auto horns and shrieking boat whistles. The bedlam they made must have reached the airman, even through the roar of his engine.
“A few seconds later he shot across the finish line, then he alighted—and a hero was on the field. Hand in hand with the Mayor of Boston, I raced after the Bleriot. Behind us followed a shouting mob—reporters, aviators, officials, mechanicians—all gone mad in the excitement of the moment.
“Ovie barely had time to lean over and kiss me before he was lifted from the machine and borne off on the shoulders of his fellow aviators, ably assisted by the mayor. And pandemonium reigned.
“The strains of 'The Star-Spangled Banner' filled the air.
“'Three cheers for Boston's aviator!' someone cried, and they were given with a will.
“And all the time I kept as close to him as I could, wholly unmindful of the crush about me. Near the same spot, where, tense with apprehension I had stood a few minutes before, I now stood again, as though waking from a dream, to hear my husband cheered to the very echo by the enthusiastic multitude.
“For a long time the people sat waiting for news of Lieutenant Milling. It grew darker and darker. Twilight gave way to evening. The moon rose and cast a soft light over the aviation field. A bonfire was started so that its glare would guide the pilot home.
“Off to the southwest appeared a little blot, barely discernible. As it came nearer and nearer, an indistinct blur against the dark background of the heavens, a shaft of moonlight flashed across the whirring propeller, and we knew it must be Milling.
“Several red torches flared in the crowd. The stillness of the night was broken by the cry of a multitude welcoming an airman who had returned from a brave voyage. The glare of the bonfire lighted the biplane and every strut stood out against the darkness.
“The machine had no sooner come to earth than it was surrounded by a frenzied mob striving to reach the other hero of the day. Ovie was the first to welcome him, and there beneath the light of the moon, whose mellow rays were broken by the glare of the bonfire and the torches of the crowd, the two stood silhouetted against the night.”