“Mae Lord became the nurse at the Abbot Worsted Company, a position that she held for the rest of her life. She played a big part in the health of the people in Forge Village and, from what I’ve been told, she didn’t want any recognition. I remember my Uncle Billy (Kelly) telling the story of how the people in Forge once threw a big party for her, and she clearly didn’t like it. Miss Lord also was the Girl Scout troop leader in Forge.” According to Shirley (Kelly) Contreras
On 25 March 1911, the Westford Wardsman announced: “Miss May Lord, one of the village’s popular young ladies, has resigned her position with the Abbot Worsted Company to take up a course in nursing. Miss Lord enters upon her new duties April 1st.” Eva completed her training and then served in World War I in the Army Nursing Corps in France. The Westford Town Report for 1919, page 67, indicated Eva M. Lord served at Base Hospital No. 66, A.E.F.[1] After her return from France, EVA MAE LORD was both the town nurse and the school nurse from 1919 until her resignation in September of 1922. The 1920 census showed her as a “nurse, board of health.” In 1920 her annual salary was $1500.[2] In the 1930 census, she was identified as a graduate nurse, working at the woolen mill. Eva Mae Lord was born in New Hampshire in 1889 and died at Westford, 24 June 1960, age 71, the daughter of David and Ada (Bishop) Lord. Eva had two sisters and a brother born at Westford: Marion E. Lord, born 28 Mar. 1892 who died 4 May 1968, age 76, single; Helen Jennie Lord,[3] born 4 Nov. 1890 and Phillip Lord, born 7 May 1894. Their father, David Lord, born at Manchester, NH, was a granite cutter and their mother, Ada, was born in England.
[1] Base Hospital No. 66 was in Neufchateau, France. A.E.F.,
American Expeditionary Forces.
[2] Annual Report, Town of Westford, year ending 1920. p. 37.
[3] Eva’s sister, Helen J. Lord, graduated from the nursing program at Framingham Union Hospital in 1915. She served in the Navy in WWI and WWII. “Lt. Comdr. Helen J. Lord, USN (NC), Newtown Road, Littleton, Mass. senior Navy nurse in New England rounds out 28 years of service after duty throughout the United States and its possessions in two wars.” (From May 10, 1946 Official Naval photograph)
Marilyn Day: The Physicians of Westford MA 1740-1950 pgs. 150-151 (May 2020)