Turner's Public Spirit, April 16, 1921
A look back in time to a century ago
By Bob Oliphant
“Center. The first honors of the graduating class of the academy fall to boys this year.
Stanley Smith is to be the valedictorian and Francis Daley is to be salutatorian.
“Alfred W. Hartford has a new Ford sedan and Miss Mabel Drew a new Ford touring car.
“Carl Anderson is to be the assistant at J. Herbert Fletcher’s store [6-9 Lincoln St.] this
summer.
“We are told the Abiel J. Abbots return this week from Boston and reopen their house [32
Main St.]. It is pleasant to the all-year residents to have the various travelers return and the
homes reopened.
“The meeting of the Tadmuck club next week is postponed from Tuesday until Wednesday on
account of the [Patriot’s Day] holiday….
“Events have moved rather swiftly with Mrs. Henry M. Kabele within the last two weeks. The
deaths and burials of her husband and father and the sale of his farm within that time have taken
place. She will remove to Lowell and make her home with her daughter, Mrs. Lawrence
Holbrook. The farm is sold to Mr. and Mrs. Frank Hodson of Lowell, who will take possession at
once. We are told that there were others who would have been ready purchasers, which goes to
prove that it is the small, well-kept fruit farm that finds a ready market. The P. G. Collins farm at
Parkerville, which has been occupied recently by O. S. Young, is changing ownership.
“Wednesday the fire observer at Robins [sic] hill, Chelmsford, sent word calling out the fire
department of Westford for a fire which he located as near the Westford pumping station. The
fire proved to be fully two miles further off beyond Forge Village and over the Groton line. A
camp on the further shore of Forge pond was seriously threatened and saved by back-firing.
“Julian A. Cameron has presented the J. V. Fletcher library with a gift of books numbering
about fifty volumes.
“About Town. Ralph P. Cutting, who owns and lives on the Amesbury farm on Main street,
has bought the old Gilbert Parker farm on the Carlisle road, Parkerville, recently owned by Daniel
McLeod. Several years ago the buildings were burned. The only house on the place now is the
enlarged old No. 5 schoolhouse, which was brought on after the buildings were burned. Mr.
Cutting buys largely for pasture on the little Bear hill and the level land for forage crops.
“Amos Polley has set out an acre of early strawberries, having given up raising the usual
acreage of popcorn.
“The Francis W. Banister farm folks had the first asparagus of the season Sunday.
“Ice thick enough to hold up a small boy or a large cat was seen Sunday morning and Tuesday
morning.
“The new dining room at Abbot’s hall at Brookside averages about fifty persons at the dinner
hour.
“Fire on the meadow of William B. Green on upper Tadmuck brook last week got fanned by
the wind and a rapid run towards the peach orchard of David L. Green. The fire alarm sounded at
Westford center and the department responded and prevented any further advance toward the
modern farm buildings on the Greig farm.
“The school committee of Lowell have been in town in search of a summer camp for school
boys and military drill with Hon. Gardner W. Pearson as drill master. After looking over several
sites they find that the site on the shores of Long Sought pond is the most desirable. The using of
it would be for a period of eight weeks beginning with July 8.
“Representative A. W. Harford has been influential in legislation for repairs on Tyngsboro
bridge. The bill has been enacted. The cost is estimated $30,000 to be expended under the
direction of county commissioner.
“Graniteville. The Abbot Worsted Co. soccer football club were defeated for the state
championship by the Fore River team of Quincy at Worcester last Saturday, 4 goals to 0. It was
necessary to play overtime to gain a decision and the Fore River club scored all their goals in the
last twenty minutes of play. On next Saturday the Abbots will play their last game of the season
at Forge Village, when they will have the All Stars, the pick of the Industrial league, for
opponents. This game is attracting wide attention and promises to be largely attended by fans
from Lowell, Lawrence and all the surrounding towns.”
Julian A. Cameron (1866-1949), an MIT graduate, was a member of the building committee of
the J. V. Fletcher Library, erected in 1896, and a longtime library trustee. Courtesy Photo /
“Souvenir of the Dedication of the J. V. Fletcher Library” (1896), p. 18.