A look back in time to a century ago
By Bob Oliphant
“About Town. Automobile tire thieves are still working at their trade and are busy. The nearest and latest was at Senator [Herbert E.] Fletcher’s garage on Oak hill, last week Friday evening, when two tires and rims were taken. More were to be had for the taking, but either lack of time or consideration of honor on the part of the thieves prevented them from being taken.
“George C. Moore is laying the foundation for a new barn at his Nabnassett farm. This, with the present barn, is expected to make the largest barn in town. The stone for the foundation is furnished by H. E. Fletcher & Co.
“Town teams are graveling the Lowell road near Brookside.
“Miss Julia Donnelly won first prize of five dollars in the typewriting contest between the senior and junior classes. Miss Donnelly is in the junior class. Miss Gertrude Strandberg won first prize of $2.50 in the sophomore contest in typewriting. Miss Marjorie Bell won second prize of $2.50 in a map-drawing contest between the sophomore and freshmen classes; she is in the sophomore class.
“Center. Miss Mary Morin arrived home last week from Los Angeles, Cal., where she has been for a number of years as a successful nurse. Miss Morin came home especially to see her mother, who has not been well recently.
“George F. White is in attendance this week at the meetings of Ayrshire Cattle Breeders’ association and sale in Springfield. Mr. White has recently added materially to his herd of thoroughbred Ayrshires. Ernest H. Farr also went with Mr. White to Springfield.
“Edward Blodgett, formerly of Westford, has returned home after extensive overseas duty as a soldier. We are told that Frank C. Johnson was transferred to another company, which deferred his starting for home just at present, which was disappointing to him.
“Tennis has been enjoyed at Whitney playground since the good weather set in, some of the long twilight of the daylight saving plan being used.
“The graduation exercises of the academy take place next Wednesday morning at ten o’clock. A reception to the graduating class will take place directly after the graduation exercises when luncheon will be served, at which guests will be welcome, provided they have already secured their tickets. A business meeting of the alumni will be held after the reception and as many of the alumni as possible are urged to be present, as matters of importance will come up. The graduating class consists of four young people, Misses Sargent, Collins and Ripley and Morton Seavey. Reception and dance in the evening with Markham’s orchestra.
“Forge Village. The electric car from North Chelmsford to Ayer which left at 3:15 last Saturday, was derailed a short distance from the town farm. The car was considerably damaged. The motorman, John Sherlock, who was in charge, was thrown backward, but his presence of mind, however, in regaining his feet and bringing the car to a quick stop saved the passengers from serious injury. The ties on the track for some distance were torn up, but the car remained on the track. One or two trips were omitted, owing to the accident. The wrecking crew towed the damaged car to the barn in Ayer later in the day. The car was in charge of Conductor Goddard.
“The Abbot Worsted Company are painting and repairing the women’s bathhouses at Forge pond.
“Graniteville. The Abbot Worsted Company baseball team met and defeated the strong Bellevue club of Lowell on the Forge village grounds last Saturday by the score of 6 to 2. The game was well contested from start to finish, but by playing airtight ball the home club was never headed. The A.W.C. team is meeting the best clubs from Lowell and surrounding towns, and is ready for all comers. The A.W.C. will play the strong Silesia club of North Chelmsford on the Graniteville grounds this Saturday, and a good game is expected.
“The Abbot Worsted Company baseball team has arranged two games with the Townsend A.A. team….
“Ayer
“Camp News. Troop trains on Monday brought 8000 soldiers to camp, all but a few hundred of whom came from the transports President Grant and Winifredian. A large proportion of the troops were engineers, members of the 21st, 23rd, 504th, 510th and 520th engineer regiments.
“The R.O.T.C., now preparing to undertake military training for 700 youths, will be representative of the entire country. The students will be drawn from the largest universities of the east, including Harvard, Yale and Princeton, which together with a score of other colleges and preparatory schools will send their candidates to this camp….”