The Westford Wardsman, September, 1914
Saturday, September 5, 1914
Center. Senator and Mrs. Edward Fisher and two little daughters are enjoying a vacation at Lincolnville, Me.
Mr. and Mrs. Oscar R. Spalding have been spending a vacation in Portland, Me., and other points of interest in that vicinity.
We are glad to change the amount given in last week’s issue resulting from the Tadmuck club’s out-door play and lawn party from forty dollars to $60.23. The club programs for the season of 1914-15 will be distributed in about two weeks and the result of the faithful and efficient work of the program committee promises an interesting and varied season’s work. The opening meeting of the club will be on Tuesday, October 6.
Rev. Frank M. Baker and two children have been visitors at Mr. and Mrs. John P. Wright’s for a week.
William Sutherland is away for a two-weeks’ absence visiting relatives in Nova Scotia.
Frank C. Wright, of R.F.D. route No. 1 is having his annual vacation and William E. Green is substituting for him.
A son [Robert J. Cutler, born Aug. 27, 1914] was born on Thursday of last week to Mr. and Mrs. Walter L. Cutler, come to join a family of three other boys.
Word has been received from Miss Mary Morin and her mother of their safe arrival in California and a pleasant trip across the continent.
The A. H. Sutherlands have been enjoying camp life at Forge pond the past week.
The pleasant home occupied by Mrs. Ella Langley has been sold to a Mr. Burland and family, of Boston. Mr. and Mrs. Burland have a family of four young people, the youngest being fourteen. They expect to take possession in the near future. Mrs. Langley goes to Nashua, N.H., where she has a married daughter.
The Edward M. Abbot hose company held their regular monthly meeting and try-out on Tuesday evening, opening hydrants in front of the Unitarian church, Wright & Fletcher’s and Mrs. Alma M. Richardson’s.
Miss Florence Roys and Miss Mary Smith, of Clifton Springs, N.Y., and Miss Ruby Stoutenburg, of New York city, were guests this week of Mrs. William C Roudenbush. Mrs. Roudenbush and her friends have recently spent a week at Naples and Ocean Park, Me.
Timothy Sullivan, who had some young stock out to pasture recently lost one of his calves. The animal was found sick and afterwards died. Nearby some grass had been thrown over the wall where the calf could get at it upon which were evidence of paris green.
William C. Roudenbush on last Monday took a sixty-mile circuit on his bicycle, going and coming by the way of Concord and passing through the towns of Maynard, Stow, Gleasondale, Hudson, Marlboro and Sudbury.
Arthur Manchester, of Newport, R.I., joined his wife and daughter who have been visiting at Mr. and Mrs. L. W. Wheeler’s for the week-end and returned with them the first of the week to their home in Newport.
The Boy Scouts camp at Long-Sought-for pond was a success, everybody apparently being satisfied with the fun they got out of the ten days. Even three or four days of rain did not dampen the ardor of the boys who found plenty to amuse them whatever the weather. On Thursday of last week, visitors’ day, fifteen Westford people came to the camp and hardly a day passed without some one coming from town. Seventeen boys took advantage of the outing, although not all were present at any one time, the average attendance being twelve. Three tents furnished ample accommodations for everybody, the boys constructing their bunks of burlap and poles which they cut from the woods near the camp.
Mrs. Sydney B. Wright and Mrs. Sarah Harris have recently enjoyed trips to Whalom pond and to Canobie Lake Park.
Rev. Howard M. Bridgman will preach at the Congregational church on Sunday morning. The Westford people are fortunate to have so able a man as Dr. Bridgman for one day. He has just returned from abroad, where he went to attend an important conference and like many other Americans travelling abroad was seriously inconvenienced by the war and glad to get back to his native America. Dr. Bridgman is a member of the editorial staff of the Congregationalist and has a summer home in Shirley, where he is staying at the present time. Regular church services were resumed last Sunday after four Sundays of vacation. There was a good attendance morning and evening and especially good music. In the evening Mrs. Grace Lumbert Kenney presided at the piano.
A good number of residents have attended the Rockingham fair this week, going by auto truck, in single automobiles and by train or electrics.
Schools. Schools open the day after Labor day. Both the academy and William E. Frost buildings have been cleaned thoroughly and put into good shape for the opening of school. At the Frost building the halls have been newly painted and some changes made in the doors for more ready exit in case of fire, these latter changes ordered by the state inspector of buildings. The teaching staff in this school remains the same as last year, namely Miss Clara A. Smith, Miss Edith Forster, Miss Edith A. Wright, Miss Martha Grant and Miss Mattie Crocker. At the academy Principal Roudenbush has two new assistants, Miss Marguerite Young and Miss Marion C. Moreland. Miss Young is a graduate of Smith college, with a year’s special work at Simmons, and she will have charge of the commercial department. Miss Moreland will teach English, science and mathematics. She is a graduate of Radcliffe college and has taken a year at Boston Normal school. Besides this she has taught several seasons in a summer school in Waltham. These out-of-town young ladies will board at Mrs. Walker’s.
About Town. The valuation of the town will be increased next year by so much as a small new house will rise too, which is being built on the Littleton road about twenty rods east of the Littleton-Westford town line boundary stone. This house is being built by Italians on land purchased of E. N. Robinson of Littleton. The land is being cleared of stone, bushes and other unprofitable native crops, and corn, cabbages and other civilized crops are substituting.
The selectmen have appointed Harry Saxon special police for Whidden’s Corner and Nabnassett. Complaints are made of thieving of the farm produce, presumably by the under-fed and under-paid. Now what is needed is not more police but more holidays, more Saturdays and Sundays in a week.
Charles Byard, on the Groton and Oak Hill road, is adding a modern extension to his house, including modern sky roof sleeping quarters.
Henry O. Keyes is building a modern house on Cold Spring road on the Leland lot.
Services at the Unitarian church will be held on Sunday. Rev. Julian R. Pennington will assume the duties of the parish, having received such invitation at a meeting of the parishioners in May.
Another old landmark elm has succumbed to the infirmities of old age, or the infirmities due to the elm beetle. This old elm is a few rods west of Stony Brook schoolhouse on land of the Old Oaken Bucket farm.
The Y.M.C.A. boys broke camp at Nabnassett last week Thursday. It has been a camp of sports, study and nature for Lowell and the youth of Westford and other civilizations.
A deer of youth and beauty was seen in the forest and open around Nabnassett pond recently.
Mrs. Elmer E. Trull and infant are visiting for rest and social change at Mr. Trull’s mother, Mrs. George H. McGregor, at Westford Corner.
Some folks still persist in cooking potatoes they never owned, by a fire from wood they never owned, on land they never owned. “Reaping where you have not sown and gathering where thou hast not strewn,” is very much involved in this system of self-helpfulness. [Mathew 25:24. Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed;]
Martha Taylor Howard and George Taylor Howard in the role of kid son are now a part of the social reservation of the Old Oaken Bucket farm.
Mr. and Mrs. W. R. Taylor will do Saturday, Sunday and Monday at Framingham.
The electric cars were stalled to a standstill at Brookside about the sundown hours on Tuesday on account of a shortage of current power.
The Frank C. Drew farm has a large acreage of newly seeded grass and one of the best eared cornfields that shades the Stony Brook valley.
Graniteville. The Sargent school will open here for the fall term on Tuesday with the following staff of teachers: Miss Issie Parker, principal, Miss Mary A. Dunn, Miss Esther L. Smith, Miss Lillian Wright.
Nellie Healy is spending her vacation with relatives in Charlestown.
The mills of the Abbot Worsted Company will close Labor day week, starting up again on September 14.
Graniteville A.A. will play the strong Manhattan baseball team of Lowell on the home grounds Saturday and a great game is expected. The Sullivan brothers battery will perform for Graniteville. Game called at three o’clock.
Many people from here attended the Rockingham fair this week.
Picnic. The disagreeable weather of last Saturday caused the management of St. Catherine’s picnic that was to have been held that day at Cameron Park, Forge Village, to alter its plans to a great extent. Of course, under the rainy conditions that prevailed at that time, all out-door sports, ball game and other attractions were considered out of the question, and Rev. Edward C. Mitchell, who as the prime mover in this enterprise, suggested that inasmuch as everything was in readiness that the scene of action be transferred to Abbot hall, Forge Village, and the original picnic plans be followed out as nearly as possible. This met with the hearty approval of J. Omer LeDuc, general manager, and the other members of the committee, with the result that the Middlesex Training School band came for the afternoon and under the direction of James P. Larkin gave a fine concert program that was thoroughly enjoyed by all.
During this time the different booths, including the candy and ice cream tables, were doing a flourishing business, while the fishing pond and tonic stand drew liberal patronage from the large number present who braved the elements.
On one side of the hall a miniature “midway” was in progress and those in charge of the cane stand, fishing rings, toss the hoop and candy game were kept busy at all times.
At five o’clock an excellent old-fashioned supper was served in the dining hall and it surely lost none of its flavor by not being served under the trees as originally planned. Everything was first-class and the service left nothing to be desired. Mrs. Ellen Healy was matron, assisted by Mrs. Catherine Daley and a large number of waitresses.
Promptly at 7:30 in the evening Hibbard’s orchestra of Lowell started the first waltz and from then until 11:30 dancing was enjoyed to the fullest extent. The dance, as well as the affair in the afternoon, was largely attended, many be present from out-of-town.
The whole affair was given under the direction of Rev. Edward C. Mitchell; with J. Omer LeDuc, general manager; A. R. Wall, sec., and Edward T. Hanley, treas., with the various committees in charge of the sports, etc.
Forge Village. Mr. and Mrs. John Babb, of Shirley, were entertained at the home of Mrs. H. E. Randall the last of the week.
Miss Grace Lawrence and Miss E. M. Plummer, who have been spending a vacation at Hampton Beach, have returned.
Mr. and Mrs. Henry Catchpole have returned from a two-weeks’ visit spent with Mr. and Mrs. H. C. Dege, of Greenville and Norwich, Conn. They were also the guests of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Kitchen, of Willimantic, Conn.
Mr. and Mrs. Frank Collins have returned from their wedding trip and are now settled in their new home.
Mr. and Mrs. Percy Hargreaves, of Beverly, and nephew, Master Cecil Alderson, of Somerville, with Miss Lottie Hargreaves, of Keighley, Eng., have returned home after a very pleasant visit with Mrs. M. A. Lowther.
Mr. and Mrs. Peter Delaney have received word from their son, James Delaney, of Keighley, Eng., that he has joined his regiment, the Third Battalion of the King’s Royal Rifles. He is now in France. Mr. Delaney has served in the English army three years and is a reserve. He has a wife and three children in England, and his parents and three sisters reside here.
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Blodgett, Mr. and Mrs. Chester Blodgett and Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Blodgett, of Groton Ridges, took in the Fitchburg fair on Wednesday.
Saturday, September 12, 1914
Center. Miss Lillian Sutherland, who graduated from Lowell Normal school in June, has gone to West Swanzey, N.H., to fill her first teacher’s position, and Margaret Sullivan, who also graduated at the same time and place, goes to East Hampton.
Mrs. Harry N. Jaques and daughter Dorothy have been spending a week with their Westford relatives.
Mr. and Mrs. Henry M. Wright, of Quincy, came up for over the weekend and this week. Mr. Wright takes up his teaching in the Boys’ Latin high school, Boston, after a year’s vacation of rest and travel. Livingston Wright is enrolled as a student at the Thayer academy, Braintree.
Miss Jennie M. Chandler, of Boston, spent the weekend with Miss Clara Fisher at the latter’s camp at Forge pond. Miss Chandler reports a splendid trip abroad until the breaking out of the war, and after that considers that she and the members of her party were much better off than many American tourists in getting a comfortable boat home with no excessive expenses or loss of baggage. One of the regrets was the shortened stay in Paris, the party staying there but two days.
Mrs. Ralph Bridgeford and little son Elmer have been spending a week visiting relatives in Medford.
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Elliott are having good progress made on the pretty and comfortable home being built for them on land recently purchased from Miss Ella F. Hildreth’s estate on the opposite side of the road from Prospect hill. The location is most sightly commanding a pleasing view from all directions. Mr. and Mrs. Elliott hope to get moved into their new home before cold weather. Needham & Fletcher, of Littleton, are the builders.
J. Herbert Fletcher, who assumes his new duties as postmaster on October first, is having his store [8 Lincoln St., now the Edward M. Connolly Insurance Agency] completely remodeled and put in readiness for the business of the office. Partitions have been taken out, new windows, floors and fixtures being put in. The postoffice part will occupy the right hand side of the store with a room for the R.F.D. men at the rear. Needham & Fletcher are also in charge of this work.
Miss Marjory Seavey and Miss Pauline Wallace enter the Boston university as students on September 17. Miss Elizabeth Kimball goes to the Fitchburg Normal school. These three young ladies all graduated from the academy in June. Miss Evelyn Hamlin also resumes studies at Fitchburg Normal and Miss Gertrude Hamlin at Boston university.
Miss Ruth Tuttle resumes her teaching in Winthrop, Miss Edna Ferguson at Beverly, Miss Jennie Ferguson at Springfield, Miss Stella Hartford at Attleboro and Archie Hartford at Lewiston, Me.
Miss Zora Gerald of Windsor, Vt., was a holiday guest at the Congregational parsonage on Monday.
The annual agricultural fair under the auspices of the Congregational society will be held on Wednesday, September 23, and the committee are hard at work to make it the usual success. An excellent entertainment is being planned for the evening.
Miss Smith and Miss Hickey, our former teachers at the academy, were in town last week greeting old friends and in attendance at the Grange meeting on Thursday evening. Miss Hickey goes to an assignment this year in the Chelsea high school.
Mr. and Mrs. Fred A. Hildreth, of Malden, were in town over the holiday. This week Mr. Hildreth is enjoying a trolley trip to Connecticut.
At the last meeting of the Grange Mrs. Rose S. Ladd, lecturer of the State Grange, was the speaker of the evening and gave a practical address on different lines of Grange work that fully invited the close attention that it received. There was a good attendance present. Miss Lillian Sutherland contributed a vocal solo and at the close of the meeting ice cream and cake were served. The next meeting, September 17, will be neighbors’ night and Westford Grange has the honor to entertain that evening the newly-organized Lowell Grange.
Mrs. Annie Barnard was with Mr. and Mrs. Willis Hildreth for a brief visit this week. Miss Florence Barnard teaches in Brookline again this year where mother and daughter make their home.
Mr. and Mrs. L. W. Wheeler, with Mrs. H. V. Hildreth and Miss Eva Fletcher as guests, made a trip to Mt. Monadnock in Fitzwilliam, N.H., on Wednesday of this week.
There was no special observance for Labor day in town. Many households entertained company and a large delegation went up to Townsend in the afternoon to the ball game and witness one of the most closely contested of games and bringing home the honors with a score of 2 to 0. Neither team scored for eight innings. The Westford team has won eleven out of twelve games played this season and has won the series three years out of four from Townsend. William E. Wright took up an auto truck load of passengers and others went in private autos and by train.
Mr. and Mrs. Edward Ames and son Willis were guests of Mr. and Mrs. Homer M. Seavey on Labor day.
Marden Seavey entered Tufts college as a student on September 9.
Interesting Address. At the Congregational church last Sunday morning Rev. Howard A. Bridgman, of Brookline and Shirley, and of the editorial staff of the Congregationalist and Christian World, occupied the pulpit and gave his hearers a timely and most interesting sermon. Mr. Bridgman has recently returned from abroad, where he went as one of the delegates to the international peace conference, having but arrived at his destination two days when war was declared, and while not dwelling upon any personal difficulties in getting back to America, took for his theme the present war crisis in Europe and some of its lessons to thoughtful Americans. Some of the phases of the subject very ably and clearly elucidated by Mr. Bridgman were some effects upon the world at large, for Americans not to congratulate themselves too much, that we were not in the war to mourn its effects upon business and why, and to re-affirm our Christian faith and pointed out some alleviating phases of the horrors of war, closing with a strong plea for a more sympathetic attitude toward alien races and a strengthening of the real bonds of Christianity.
The speaker preceded his address with a winsome message to the children. Mrs. Charles D. Colburn contributed to the service with a finely rendered anthem.
Shower Party. A pleasant social event of last week was the shower party given for Miss Edna Ferguson Saturday afternoon. The whole affair was delightfully carried out and was a thoroughly spontaneous demonstration of Miss Ferguson’s well deserved popularity. The party which numbered about forty-five gathered at Miss Jeanette Sutherland’s and later adjourned to the spacious lawn of Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Merritt. At the right time Miss Ferguson was brought by Mr. Woods in his automobile and while busy greeting her friends the large basket containing the gifts was placed behind her and not until it was cleverly brought to her attention did she realize the meaning of the event. The shower was a miscellaneous one and was a pretty collection of well-chosen gifts, among which were pictures, pieces of linen, glass, china, kitchen utensils, etc., and the opening and inspection of the white wrapped articles was enjoyed by all. The surprise was so complete to the recipient that laughter and tears were pretty close together, but she rose to the occasion beautifully and left no vestige of a doubt in the minds of her friends of her appreciation of so pleasant a manifestation of their friendship for her and all good wishes for her happiness and prosperity in her approaching marriage [to William L. Woods on Nov. 25, 1914]. Not the least factor of the success of the afternoon was the beautiful weather. Ice cream and cake were served before the close of the afternoon.
About Town. Rev. and Mrs. Seth Walker and two children, recently from Virginia, are visiting at the old Walker homestead on Main street, where in serene quietness his brother and sister, Charles E. and Miss Belle Walker, reside. On the arrival of the above, on the same day, their niece, Mrs. Herbert Coffin, and daughter Minnie, of Berwick, Me., arrived at the old homestead. Mr. Walker, as minister of the Second Advent church, has been stationed at Lynchburg, Va., but health conditions compelled him to come back to his native New England. He is a preacher of earnestness and eloquence.
Thursday evening, September 17, will be neighbors’ night with Westford Grange. Lowell Grange has received and accepted an invitation to be present and furnish the entertainment. They are planning to come by auto truck.
The annual fair of Middlesex North Agricultural society will be held with Dracut Grange at Dracut Center by the shade of the old historic Yellow meetinghouse on Thursday and Friday, September 17 and 18. The premium list has been modernized.
Mrs. Elizabeth Dame and daughter, Miss Susan Hartford, Mrs. Nellie Hamilton Taylor and Rev J. D. Sallee were recent visitors at the Old Oaken Bucket farm. The latter who has been teaching in Boston, has accepted a position in the Lowell high school as head of the English department.
Seth Bannister, one of the bright ones of the Stony Brook valley, and Herbert Walkden, another and similar of Chamberlain’s Corner division of the Stony Brook valley, have both returned to Amherst College.
Mrs. Sarah (Reade [Read]) Rose died at her home in Wilton, N.H., Monday evening. She was a native of Westford, the daughter of Benjamin Abbot and Betsey (Hunt) Reade. Her early life was spent on the farm now owned by Perley E. Wright, educated at the district school, Westford Center, and Westford academy 1863, during the period of Luther E. Shepard as teacher. When comparatively late in life she married George Rose, a widower of Lyndeboro, N.H., who died several years ago. The older residents of the town will easily recall her personality as a true type of New England frugality, industry, thrift and righteousness. She leaves one brother, Albert S. Reade, of Chelmsford. A brother and sister, Warren A. Reade and Mrs. Henry [Mary Elizabeth] Chamberlain, died several years since [1875 and 1914, respectively].
Among the recent arrivals home from the camp meeting at Sterling not before listed we quote the familiar names of Mrs. Emma Day and Mrs. Janet Wright.
Mr. and Mrs. Josiah W. Blodgett announce the marriage of their daughter, L. Marguerite Blodgett, to Joseph Merrill Spurr. The wedding took place on Monday evening at the Lowell home of the bride, 366 Westford street, in the presence of immediate relatives. Rev. C. H. Davis, pastor of the Highland Methodist church, performed the ceremony. Mr. Spurr is an active and well-known church worker and the bride is a milliner of decided talent. Mr. and Mrs. Spurr will reside at 370 Westford street and will be at home to their friends after November 1.
At the Unitarian church last Sunday Rev. Julian R. Pennington was ordained as minister. The service of ordination was conducted by Rev. Lewis G. Wilson, secretary of the American Unitarian association, and Rev. Benjamin H. Bailey, a former minister.
The weather bureau clerk of the Stony Brook valley, as pumpkin vines, reported light frosts Tuesday and Wednesday evenings.
At the Middlesex-North Pomona Grange last week Friday Leonard W. Wheeler of Westford, Edward F. Dickinson of Billerica, George W. Trull of Tewksbury and Louis E. McBrayne of Lowell conducted an able discussion of the question “What effect will the European war have on the business of the United States?” In the afternoon Charles A Kimball, of Littleton, gave an address on “Betterment of farm conditions.”
Quite a few went from here to the Rockingham fair last week, going by auto, horse, electric and steam cars. Perley E. Wright took quite a number in his auto truck.
Josiah Crosby, who has been spending school vacation at the F. W. Bannister farm, has returned to his home in Arlington.
W.C.T.U. The W.C.T.U. held their annual meeting and election of officers at Mrs. Homer M. Seavey’s last week Wednesday. Mrs. Janet Wright was re-elected president, Mrs. Homer M. Seavey as treasurer and Mrs. Daisy Colburn secretary. The following were appointed for various phases of temperance work: Mrs. David Wallace, evangelistic; Mrs. Blaney, peace; Mrs. Wallace, agent for the Messenger-Signal and Crusader—it was voted to place these papers in the first four grades of the public school; Mrs. Willard Mills, flower mission. Mrs. Seavey as a committee to supervise sentiment in favor of school savings banks reported a working basis had been started and for the coming year Frank H. Hill, superintendent of schools, will have charge and introduce systematic methods. It was also voted to have printed programs this coming year. A good attendance was present. The W.C.T.U. county convention will be held in Newton on September 29.
Graniteville. The mills of the Abbot Worsted Company were closed all this week, starting up again on Monday, September 14.
Both masses in St. Catherine’s church on Sunday morning were celebrated by Rev. Edward C. Mitchell, who delivered interesting sermons. The Sunday school classes were again resumed after the summer vacation and Rev. E. C. Mitchell announced that the bishop would visit North Chelmsford on Monday, October 19, for the purpose of administering confirmation to all those who had passed the examinations. Out of respect for the late Pope Pius X, On the part of Littleton it is expected that the familiar “V. T. E.” will be one. The date has been arranged for Thursday evening, October 15. The other two debaters are expected to be C. A. Kimball of Littleton and W. J. Rafter of Westford.
The next meeting of Middlesex North Pomona Grange will be held at Odd Fellows’ hall, Bridge street, Lowell, Friday, October 2. The forenoon will be devoted to “Relating of farm experiences” by Grangers of Middlesex North as tried during the last season. It is hoped that everyone assigned on experience will be present and relate it. In the afternoon an address will be given by Charles M. Gardner, past state master, of Westfield, and a reading by Belle Harrington Hall, of Lowell.
The board of registrars held a meeting in the town hall last week Friday evening, when the following persons registered: Albert E. Prescott, Fred Shugrue, Luther Lawton, jr., Edward F. Thompson, Henry O’Brien, Henry L. Drake, Joseph A. Demares, Nels A. Nelson, Oscar Anderson, William M. Murphy, Edward A. Amesbury. The following dates were arranged for future meetings: Brookside, Friday evening, October 16; Graniteville, Monday evening, October 19; Forge Village Wednesday evening, October 21; Westford Center, last meeting Saturday, October 24, from noon until 10:30 in the evening. The other meetings will be from 7:30 to nine in the evening.
The next meeting of the Grange will be held on next week Thursday evening, when the question, “Which is the most benefit to the community, the sewing circle or the whist club?” will be discussed. This will be followed by “Experiments on the farm, 1914.”
At the home of Norman Phillips, near Westford station, gathered sixty-five persons last Saturday evening and proceeded to surprise and farewell Mrs. Phillips’ sister, Miss Whitney, who is soon to go to the Lowell hospital to learn to be a nurse. After music, singing and games, and everybody had said their surprise and farewell, up comes one Smith by name, and Paul at that, and presented Miss Whitney with a nurse’s travelling bag, for which Miss Whitney said some appropriate thanks. The house was decorated with Nature’s flowers and the tables were decorated with ice cream and cake by Mrs. Phillips, Mrs. John Taylor of Lowell, Mrs. Osborne and Mrs. Whitney.
William Pollock, on the Cold Spring road, lost a valuable young cow, her skeleton being found in a clump of bushes in the pasture. In the pasture a quantity of Paris Green in bulk was found. Timothy Sullivan, Boston road, Westford Center, is reported having had a similar experience.
As was expected at the primaries on Tuesday evening there was no rush stampede to vote, but of course there is nothing like giving the plain people a chance to do what they don’t care to do when they have the chance. C. A. Kimball, of Littleton, pulled the highest vote, fifty-three.
Otis Day, one of the bright young farmers of the town, has accepted a position in Ipswich.
William Graves, superintendent of Cold Spring farm, has moved to his farm on the Graniteville road. This farm in the by-gone years was known as the Waldo Cummings farm.
Our worthy townsman, Herbert E. Fletcher, has been in receipt of telegrams of congratulation over the great honor which has come to him, the conferring of the thirty-third degree in the Masonic order. It is an honorary degree which is given to but few and was conferred by the Masons in conclave at Chicago recently. Mr. Fletcher is grand deputy master in Massachusetts and in the absence of the grand master he is the highest in authority in the state.
Miss Hazel Fletcher has returned to her studies at Dana Hall, Wellesley.
Each member of the republican committee has been in receipt of a copy of the famous declaration of independence. These copies were sent by our representative at Washington, John Jacob Rogers. He says that time has dealt so harshly with the original declaration of independence that in order to keep it from becoming entirely illegible the department of the state has found it necessary to seal it in an especially designed and constructed steel cabinet and henceforth it will be filed with the government archives and doubtless will never be on public exhibition again. It was very thoughtful in Mr. Rogers to remember his constituents on the republican town committee with these perfect reproductions.
Forge Village. Mrs. Miller, who for the past few years has conducted the boarding house of the Abbot Worsted Co., has given up her position as such and moved into one of the new cottages on Orchard street. Her former boarders presented her with a beautiful silver teapot on Monday evening.
Mr. and Mrs. James Sullivan attended the funeral of their sister-in-law, Mrs. Timothy Sullivan, in Marlboro, last week.
The following people from Lowell have returned home after spending a short vacation camping in Harty’s cottages: Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Holland, Mrs. J. Shrigly and son, Mr. and Mrs. James B. Romaine, Mr. and Mrs. F. D. Hellowell, Miss Mildred E. Kennedy, Mrs. George Myron, N. Goldrick, J. Sheehan, W. Ashworth, F. Cunningham, Miss Annie Kearns, Miss Jane Thompson of Quincy, Miss Mae Robbins of Boston, Mr. and Mrs. C. O. Robbins of south Chelmsford.
Mr. and Mrs. Albert St. Cyr have bought the Holbrook farm and have moved into it.
Miss Rita Smith and May and Blanche Ripley, of Lowell, were the guests of Mrs. Margaret Wilson Saturday and Sunday.
William Goodall, of Worcester, is visiting friends here.
The Ladies’ Sewing Circle met in Recreation hall on Wednesday afternoon.
Mr. and Mrs. Frank Collins entertained company from Andover Wednesday.
The Sunday school of St. Andrew’s mission opened for the fall and winter term last Sunday. Silver pins were given to all pupils for regular attendance during the past year. Rev. Williston M. Ford conducted the evening prayer after the Sunday school session was over. Sunday services will be held at 4:30 in the afternoon.
Graniteville. Both masses in St. Catherine’s church on Sunday morning were celebrated by Rev. Edward C. Mitchell, who delivered interesting sermons. Between the masses Mr. Mitchell also gave a short sermon of instruction to the Sunday school and those preparing for confirmation.
Many of the baseball fans here took in the South End-T.R. and T. game played in Lowell on last Saturday.
The members of the A. R. Choate hose company did excellent work on last Saturday and as a result the firehouse is now piped with town water. Saturday appeared to be “shovel day” here, for while members of the fire company were doing the excavating preparatory to installing the water in their building many willing hands were doing similar work on the M.E. church grounds. The work is not quite so far advanced, however, but it is expected that the pipe will be laid and the water turned on at the church some time during this week.
Mrs. Julia Raymond, of Lowell, has been a recent visitor here.
Mrs. J. V. Downing, with her daughter Zella, of Montague City, have been spending the past few days at the home of Mr. and Mrs. David Moran.
Owing a great deal to the warm weather a rather light vote was cast at the state primaries here on Tuesday.
Alexander McDonald, superintendent of streets, with the town men and teams, are repairing and putting in shape that part of Broadway commencing from Sargent’s shop and continuing over part of Cross street.
The duck hunters are now having their innings and many of the local sportsmen are having great fun bagging the birds.
Clarence McLenna, with his wife and family, of Clinton, have been recent visitors here, coming over the road in Mr. McLenna’s new 1915 limousine.
W. O. Hawkes has recently returned from a very enjoyable trip spent with old friends in South Deerfield.
The weather for the past few days has been very warm and the people here are hoping for rain.