Turner's Public Spirit, January 22, 1921
A look back in time to a century ago
By Bob Oliphant
“Center. Two more new periodicals have been added to the reading table at the J. V. Fletcher
library. ‘The open road’ which is a timely magazine for boys and young men. The other is
‘American cookery.’ This was formerly the Boston cooking school magazine and is one of the
best authorities on modern cooking for the housewife.
“The Westford board of trade held a meeting at the town hall Monday evening. Capt.
Sherman H. Fletcher presided and Charles L. Hildreth acted as secretary. A nominating
committee … submitted the following list of officers: W. C. Roudenbush, pres.; H. W. Hildreth,
vice pres.; A. W. Tuttle, sec.; L. W. Wheeler, treas.; F. C. Wright, P. E. Wright, A. R. Wall, E. T.
Hanley and W. R. Taylor, directors. A meeting will be held February 1, at which the articles in
the town warrant will be discussed and a luncheon of doughnuts, sandwiches and coffee will be
provided.
“While it very decidedly favored the prospects of an ice crop for use next summer the cold
snap of the first of the week seemed particularly hard to bear. With its below zero temperature
and the piercing wind that swept over Westford hill Tuesday it was hard for man or beast who
were obliged to be out in it and it required plenty of attention to keep homes comfortable. The
unusually mild weather of the winter thus far made the cold seem worse in comparison.
“A good number from Westford have been in attendance at the Lowell automobile show at
[the] Kasino building this week.
“The cost of high living took another boost Tuesday evening. So many little bills, children of
the acts of the town fathers of the past year, came back to the paternal roof at the end of the year
that the fathers were unable to own so large a family. The children all had labels beginning with
$, and they meant more than the taxes. Therefore a special meeting, where the voters were asked
to appropriate $9000 to equal the hunger of the family of little bills. They did and the children all
went peaceably to bed. Under the third article of the warrant the finance committee and the
selectmen were directed to investigate for some way to prevent such a disturbance in the
household in the future and report at the annual meeting in February….
“About Town. Mrs. Rudolph Haberman of West Chelmsford picked a pansy in her garden
last week Thursday. Symptoms of summer still seem to linger in the lap of winter. Must have
got over lingering Tuesday morning when the thermometer registered 5° below zero.
“The road department used the road drag on the Lowell road last week just prior to a freeze. It
did excellent work, but we soon got one of those return thaws so prevalent this winter and
everything went back to mud and ruts again….
“Dedication. … Since the Abbot Worsted Co. bought the mill property of Geo. C. Moore at
Brookside last spring Contractor P. Henry Harrington has had a large force of men building new
houses, remodeling other buildings, putting in an up-to-date sewerage system, and establishing an
abundant supply of water from the new reservoir. The culmination of these improvements was
the erection of the new recreation hall [now the H. E. Fletcher Social and Athletic Club] to be
used as a gathering place where the people of picturesque Brookside may gather for social
functions….
“The new building is of English type with all the conveniences of modern demands…. The
caretakers are Mr. and Mrs. William J. Healy….
“In the evening to a crowded house the Abbot Worsted Co. band gave a concert that got the
audience in an encore state of mind to which the band replied. This was followed by moving
pictures and this in turn by ice cream and the usual accompaniments. Everybody had a cheer for
the generosity of the Abbot Worsted Co….
“It might be added that the new houses are beautiful for situation, with lawns and graded
walks and each house having an individual style and arranged in colonial style, giving tasteful
variety to their arrangement.
“Graniteville. A strange young man drifted into town here Monday, and his actions when he
stopped at a couple of houses for food caused the women folks to summon help to get rid of him.
A few of the village husky boys were soon on the scene and they tackled the stranger and held
him until Constable Robinson arrived and put him under arrest. He was brought to the district
court in Ayer on Tuesday morning, and by advice of the judge he was sent to an institution for
observation.”
The Fletcher Club, 11 Brookside Road, was built by Abbot Worsted Co. in 1920 and
dedicated January 2, 1921. Courtesy Photo / Westford Historical Society