Turner's Public Spirit, August 7, 1920
A look back in time to a century ago
By Bob Oliphant
“Center. Mrs. J. E. Knight expects her family of teachers … next month—Misses Crocker,
Ranney, Crane and Connors.
“We note with regret the accident that befell Mrs. Helen W. Leighton and her daughter, Miss
Frances Leighton, at Hollis last week. The horse which they were driving became frightened at a
motorcycle and they with Mrs. Leighton’s sister, Mrs. Bell, were thrown out…. Miss Frances
Leighton sustained a broken wrist and all were badly shaken up….
“Good shipments of early apples are being sent to the Boston market…. Shipments of
blackberries are not as heavy as some years. The raspberry harvest is practically over.
“Republican League Meeting. Westford was right on the map last Saturday when the
Republican League representing fourteen towns in this vicinity met on the beautiful grounds of
Whitney playground for its carefully planned program of good speeches, music, luncheon and
sports.
“Fully two thousand people [were] present….
“Westford’s … Abbot Worsted Company band of forty members did themselves great credit,
showing good results of faithful practice, playing their numbers with confidence, rhythm and
expression….
“After the musical program Harry K. White of Pepperell acted as chairman and introduced
Congressman John Jacob Rogers as the principal speaker of the day….
“The committee on sports, W. R. Taylor, Albert Forty and David T. Hanley, had arranged for
a good ball game between the Abbot Worsted Company and the Quincy town team, the latter
getting trimmed to the score of 6 to 0….
“The committee on automobile parking, James Sherlock, C. W. Robinson and A. H.
Sutherland, did some strenuous and efficient work taking care of the hundreds of machines. The
space allotted for parking at the playground was completely taken up and the street in both
directions was lined with autos. No accident of any kind to machines was reported….
“About Town. The Abbot Worsted Co. at Brookside have bought the Michael L.
McGlinchey property on Nabnasset road, Westford Corner. On this property will be developed
the water supply for the Brookside property.
“George C. Moore has given his Nabnasset farm to his daughter, Mrs. Bessie Griffin. As a
result of this change Mr. and Mrs. Earle Jordan and family are to leave…. The family have
actively identified themselves with the social camp-life at Nabnasset, as well as Westford Corner
and West Chelmsford church activities, contributing liberally to rebuilding the church….
“The Abbot Worsted Co. at Brookside have their new cottages and social hall all covered in.
They are well planned and tastefully grouped to avoid the monotony of uniformity and lack of
variety. The new garage is ready for use and adds thrift and beauty to the appearance of the
village.
“Miss Lucinda Prescott picked 107 boxes of raspberries recently in one day and Mrs. Bertha
Prescott Benjamin picked 110 boxes.
“The large clock at the West Chelmsford postoffice registers $7000 raised within two weeks
towards the building fund for the new church and a few thousand has come in since….
“Almon J. Downing has commenced building his new house on the old Walker homestead.
The lumber is from Camp Devens, being a part of the Y.M.C.A. building.
“Two generous contributions were received this week for rebuilding the M. E. church at West
Chelmsford. One check was for $1000 from the Abbot Worsted Co. and another was for $300
from Miss Ella J. Wright in memory of three generations from the Levi J. Fletcher place….
“Forge Village. The following is a report to the Board of Health from the Public Health
nurse, Miss Eva M. Lord, … [for] July. Eight cases of measles, one case of tuberculosis and
three cases of diphtheria reported. One case of diphtheria carried over from June. Seventeen
nose and throat cultures taken from those four cases. Quarantine has been lifted and the home
fumigated. Forty visits were made to communicable diseases, sixty-five child welfare visits,
thirty nursing visits, six prenatal and five postnatal visits, seven of a business and social nature.
One patient taken to Lowell General hospital for removal of tonsils and adenoids.
“A great deal of excitement was caused in this village early Monday morning when the Gage
icehouses were burned to the ground. An alarm was sounded between half-past five and six
o’clock in the morning. The Westford fire department responded promptly and worked
incessantly but the buildings were too far gone before the alarm was given, so that a total loss was
sustained. However, the flames were kept from reaching any of the adjoining property. The loss
will be felt keenly by the city of Lowell, which depended largely for its ice supply on the Gage
Ice Co. at Forge Village….”
Daniel Gage (1828-1901), the “Ice King of Lowell,” willed his profitable ice company to his daughter, Martina, who ran it until 1929. Photo from F. W. Coburn, “History of Lowell and Its People” (1920).