Turner's Public Spirit, March 6, 1920
A look back in time to a century ago
By Bob Oliphant
“Center. Three more carloads of apples have been shipped this week, one by Perley E. Wright and two from the Drew farm.
“J. Everett Woods, one of Westford’s older residents and a G.A.R. veteran, who has been sick with pneumonia, following influenza, is reported better at his home on Groton road. His faithful physician managed to cover the long distance through the drifts each day to his patient’s home, which in some of the weather last week was an undertaking.
“Mrs. S. B. Watson is ill at her home and under the doctor’s care with influenza.
“Mr. and Mrs. Julian A. Cameron and the Misses Elinor and Marjorie Cameron are enjoying a southern trip of several weeks, going to Porto [sic] Rico.
“Mrs. William C. Roudenbush is able to be out again after a ten-days’ sickness with the prevailing influenza.
“Fred H. Meyer, R.F.D. carrier, and his assistant, A. W. Tuttle, have been able to get over the entire route this week. Last week’s weather, with the amount of snow and drifts made it a physical impossibility to cover the route some days, however plucky and persevering a carrier might be, and forbearance and patience should be the only expected thing from those on the route until conditions improve.
“Much hard work with shovels and picks is being done to dig out the roads and the gutters. The road to Westford depot has had a lot of work done, the drifts being six foot deep in places. The Cummings road is closed to travel. It is estimated that the snows of the past four weeks will cost the town about $2000.
“The morning trains on the Stony Brook have not been able to make schedule time lately….
“About Town. The Brookside branch electric railway, which has its terminal at the postoffice, West Chelmsford as the result of ice blockade for nearly a week, commenced picking their way towards Brookside, where help from the Abbot Worsted Company are out in generous force in an effort to relieve congested Brookside by getting back to the old and nearer terminal.
“The George W. Bussey farm at Brookside has been sold to the Abbot Worsted Co. The farm has about forty acres of land, house and barn. Of the farm about twenty acres is woodland. The house is one of the oldest in town and dates back to the early history of the water power in Brookside, which dates back to 1734. We recall when the house was occupied by Thomas Adams sixty-five years ago, who owned the saw and grist mill, and the railroad station was called Adams’ mill. This old house was remodeled by the late Hiram H. Decatur. Part of the farm was used at one time as a muster field for the old 6th regiment.
“Some of our roads are still closed for travel, being drifted with snow from every blow. The Stony Brook is one of those roads that catches the blow wherever it doth go. We can still see the top of Daniel H. Sheehan’s auto truck amidst the drifts. It has been three weeks since it moved except as the winds flip flap reef the sails.
“The attention of subscribers is called to the fact that the price of this newspaper is $2.00 per year, except to those who pay in advance, when the price will be $1.50. The high cost of everything connected with the publishing of a newspaper makes this action imperative.
“Forge Village. The following is a report to the Westford board of health, showing the amount of work done during the month of February by the public health nurse, Miss Eva M. Lord. There were 59 cases of influenza and 17 cases of chicken-pox reported….
“Graniteville. The ‘movies’ on Monday night attracted the usual large number….
“Although the snow lies deep in all parts of New England, the first signs of spring have come in the departure of the big league baseball clubs for the southern training camps. In a few weeks the snow will have disappeared and the minds of the local fans will turn to baseball. It is expected that the Westford A.A. will put a team on the diamond during the coming season, and with A. W. Hartford again at the head of the sport, and other fast teams in the surrounding towns, the games will surely be lively.
“There is still a great deal of sickness about town.
“Littleton
“News Items. Last Saturday morning was the coldest of the 1919-20 winter in some parts of the town, the mercury falling as low as 28° below zero. This week Tuesday it registered 6° and 8° below.”
Dr. Benjamin Osgood’s house and car were snowbound in 1920 during one of our worst winters. The house was located west of the Town Hall about where the police station is now located. Courtesy Photo/Westford Museum.