Turner's Public Spirit, April 17, 1920
A look back in time to a century ago
By Bob Oliphant
“Center. The road oil ordered by the selectmen has arrived which promises elimination of the
dust nuisance later in the season.
“L. W. Wheeler [Westford tax collector] was in attendance on Tuesday at the gathering of the
Massachusetts State Tax Collectors’ association at the United States hotel, Boston. Some good
speakers followed the dinner and matters of vital interest concerning taxation were discussed.
“Perley E. Wright is making a trip to New York with his large truck, loaded with wool for the
Abbot Worsted Company, being gone about five days.
“While the final papers have not been passed, a real estate transfer of much interest this week
is the sale of the William R. Carver place at the Center to Mr. and Mrs. Harold W. Hildreth.
“[Westford Branch] Alliance [of the First Parish Church]. The members of the Alliance
held their meeting at the home of their president, Mrs. Alma M. Richardson, on Thursday
afternoon of last week…. It was the annual meeting and officers and committees were chosen for
the ensuing year. Mrs. Richardson resigned as president after seven years of efficient service….
“The following officers were chosen: Miss Ruth Tuttle, pres.; Mrs. Alma M. Richardson, v.p.;
Mrs. H. V. Hildreth, treas.; Miss Austrice Flanders, rec. sec.; Miss Eva Fletcher, chairman of the
postoffice mission and cheerful letter work; Mrs. Harold W. Hildreth, religious intelligence; Mrs.
H. V. Hildreth, Miss Alice M. Howard, Mrs. George Lawrence, Mrs. H. W. Hildreth, directors;
Mrs. H. V. Hildreth, Mrs. Eben Prescott, Mrs. J. H. Fletcher, Mrs. Harold W. Hildreth, directors
of the Whitney fund.
“About Town. The Abbot Worsted Company are planning on building several houses on the
highlands of Brookside for the benefit of part of the help at their Brookside mill….
“An average of several autos a week become mired in the apparently bottomless ditch on the
Lowell road between the residences of S. L. Taylor and Amos Polley. In trying to avoid the
rough, frozen ruts in the middle of the road they turn for relief to the unfrozen ditch which looks
like the resort of ‘safety first,’ but which proves to be a deep mud trap clear to the hubs. This
mud hole spring is not large enough to swallow out of sight the whole auto, but as it is enough of
it goes in to make it necessary to couple on a motor to draw it towards the north star. The remedy
for a few rods of this ditch is to dig out the mud and fill it with stones. There are plenty of stones
in the north part of the town and some elsewhere.
“Allister McDougal has a new latest improved power sprayer, which lacks only drawing home
from Westford station to be useful.
“The Drew farm have purchased a carload of materials for bushel boxes. This looks like
apples this year.
“Graniteville. With the arrival of better weather and now that the roads are more passable
Rev. J. Emile Dupont, curate of St. Catherine's church, who has been staying at the home of Mr.
and Mrs. G. P. LeDuc for the past few weeks, has returned to the parish house in North
Chelmsford. The amount of work that Rev. J. E. Dupont was called upon to do during his brief
stay in town should be ample proof of the necessity of having a resident pastor here. If it was not
for the pastor’s foresight in allowing Rev. J. E. Dupont to remain here during the stormy weather
when the cars were out of commission, this part of the parish would surely have been forced to
forego church services. The pastor, Rev. C. P. Heaney, celebrated both masses in St. Catherine’s
church last Sunday for the first time in several weeks….
“Sunday being a fine day, bicycles, autos and baby carriages were out in full force, while
many were out walking and enjoying the spring-like weather.
“Forge Village. Mr. and Mrs. Edward Pendlebury and family will move to Pawtucketville,
Lowell, this week, where Mr. Pendlebury has been working for several months. The family will
be greatly missed from the social life of this village.
“Experience Party. An experience party was held in St. Andrew’s mission on Wednesday
evening. A short concert program opened the party…. After the concert the Misses Adelaide
Hosmer and Gladys Baker … turned in the money collected, and as the name of each member
was called who had earned a dollar she related her experience, or in other words the manner in
which she had earned her share….”
Leonard Winthrop Wheeler (1864-1937) lived in the colonial house at 66 Main St., served as Westford tax collector for many years, was a deacon in the Union Congregational Church, and was active in the Grange and the Masons. He was tragically killed in an automobile accident on Main St.