Turner's Public Spirit, December 3, 1921
A look back in time to a century ago
By Bob Oliphant
“Center. There have been no school sessions the most of this week.
“The firemen’s ball on Thanksgiving eve was the usual social success with its fine music and
an attendance of 125 couples. Among these were many at home for the holiday.
“Ice Bound. In common with the other towns around about we have experienced a sorry and
devastating ice storm the past week. Damage to shade and fruit trees has been extensive and for
several days everything has been thrown entirely out of schedule. Postponement of all gatherings
has been the order of the day. Beginning with Monday there have been no electric lights, and
lamps and candles have been pretty acceptable,,,. The serious worry in this connection has been
the town water supply which is pumped by electric power. A large force of twenty-five or thirty
men were sent out from Lowell on Wednesday morning to get this pumping restored.
“The majority of the telephone lines have been affected, thus making many families without
any telephone service, and getting the service back to normal means a large expense of money
and labor. Owing to fallen branches from trees on the wires the latter were wrenched in all sorts
of ways, as well as electric light wires. Some of the latter’s fastenings were pulled from houses,
taking clapboards and all…. At the Legion headquarters [at 20] Boston road glass in the
windows was broken by falling limbs from trees. Our tree shaded streets and common were
badly affected. The tons of ice coating made a pruning of limbs on a large but not asymmetrical
scale. Cherished trees of many years’ growth were ruined and the streets and sidewalks were
strewn with branches and debris. The fine old elm tree near the Unitarian church, whose
interesting history has previously been given in these columns and to which much has been done
for its preservation, was badly demolished.
“Reports of orchardists tell of much damage. One fine young peach orchard had at least
twenty-five of its trees split to the ground. Monday quite a few house bound people got out to see
the extent of the damage and those who got out Tuesday morning, about the time the sun got to
shining on the armor of ice over everything, found it a rarely beautiful sight.
“Obituary. James W. Rafter, who has been an esteemed resident in our community for nine
years, died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. William C. Roudenbush, Wednesday evening of last
week after a period of ill health extending over many months….
“About Town. Amos Polley, on the Tobacco-Morning Glory farm, has bought a new modern
non-skidding, boxed-in, air-tight, non-sinkable, anti-mud Ford touring car, one passenger, more
or less. Don’t be around telling that there is no profit in raising tobacco and morning glories for
here is the affirmative answer.
“Of course there is no news in telling that we have had the most unscientific trimming of fruit
trees and other non-fruit-bearing trees during the recent sleet storm. We won’t say ‘in the
memory of the oldest inhabitant,’ because we haven’t got all the particulars of Noah’s troubles,
but we will put ourselves on the witness stand without cross examination and testify that we
haven’t seen such generous free cutting of firewood since we went sight-seeing seventy-six years
ago Sunday….
“Inquiry has been made as to the reason why the ‘no school’ signals did not sound Monday
and prevent some needless splashing to reach school only to find school not keeping. It need not
require an expert in guessing to study out that when the law of gravitation trimmed the fruit and
shade trees for nothing down came the telephone and electric wires in one common, dangerous
useless, mixup; hence there was no way to transmit orders to give the no school signals….
“Donald M. Cameron was high man in the primary in Lowell for ward councilor. Speaks well
for Donald.
“Graniteville. The Abbot Worsted soccer football team defeated the Gray & Davis team of
Cambridge at the Cooper street grounds in Lynn on last Saturday, 1 to 0, in a contest for the
national cup…. These two teams will meet again, as soon as weather permits, in a contest for the
state cup.
“Owing to [an] independent power and light system the Graniteville mill of the Abbot
Worsted Company were able to run full time during the stormy period and also part of the plant in
the evening during the past week.”
For Westford Wardsman readings see “Bob Oliphant’s Westford Wardsman Podcast” at
youtube.com.
This booklet on the November 1921 ice storm describes the difficulty in restoring power to the
electric pump at Westford Water Co. Courtesy photo / Westford Museum.