Turner's Public Spirit, May 13, 1922
A look back in time to a century ago
By Bob Oliphant
“Center. Dr. Harry R. Coburn is having his newly purchased house generally repaired and the buildings have received a coat of white paint, which adds much to the place and also unites in color scheme with the village.
“‘Best play out!’ This phrase was sounded, echoed and re-echoed by the audience attending the performance of ‘The house next door,’ presented by the senior class of Westford academy. Peals of laughter accompanied every note of humor however lightly touched…. The cast of characters included Rupert Lundberg, Alice Hosmer, Francis Cushing, Raymond Shea, Catherine O’Neil, Eric Anderson, Gordon Seavey, Florence Caunter, Vauner Lundgren, Lawrence Ingalls, Fred Martin.
“The following is the honor list of the second and third grades at the William E. Frost school: Third grade, Carl Foster, Harold Wright, Inez Blaney, Margaret Dane; second grade, Ethel Bell, Eva Johnson.
“Home Economics Clubs. The Home Economics clubs held their last meeting on May 4 at the town hall. Each club gave something toward the entertainment, the Faithful Fourteen giving a mock club meeting, and the Thimble club gave a short paly ‘Setting the table.’ Those who took part were Roger Hildreth, Norman Day, Hamilton Philips, Everett Millis, Wilfred Morin, Gustaf Peterson, Winthrop Sargent, Lillian Dane, Alice Heywood, Ruth Franklin, Elizabeth Wells, Jardine Davis, Viola Day and Elizabeth Hildreth….
“The Jolly Twelve from Forge Village presented ‘The Pin Sisters,’ and also sang ‘Old McDonald had a farm.’ …
“The Graniteville club sang and acted the song, ‘Plant, plant, plant.’ …
“About Town. We observed the tall and venerable form of Rev. E. A. Horton [1843-1931], chaplain of the senate, who, with shovel in hand, was planting trees on Arbor day on Boston common in company with Mayor Curley and others. In his eighties he still maintains his old-time love for the trees, the birds and the flowers.
“Guy Decatur is setting out a small acreage of asparagus on the old Capt. Peletiah Fletcher place [at 54] Lowell road.
“Mrs. John Perkins has sold her milk route in Graniteville to Mr. Whitten, Lowell road.
“Inquiries by certain agricultural papers as to the accrued benefits of daylight saving, a few answered ‘by reading and general mental improvement.’ A few more answered ‘by cultivating our gardens.’ The overwhelming majority answered ‘by loafing.’ The title of the bill is wrong, it should read ‘a bill to increase daylight loafing,’ of which we already have altogether too much.
“The fire on last week Monday on Oak hill, which burned over more than 500 acres, is said to have been caused by setting fire to a pile of brush near the Stone house on the Tyngsboro road, and we have been informed that a fire started at the same place last year. Now for a change, wouldn’t it be better to start the next brush fire in some new approach to Oak hill? Oak hill has been burned over so many times yearly that we don’t see how anything that has green intentions can ever get a start…. Brush fires have got to be safeguarded by something more stringent than a permit to burn. Compulsory guarding of brush fires by a certain number of people at the time they are set should be demanded, then our Oak hills and Pine valleys would oftener escape.
“Two of our Stony Brook valley members write back of speaking at recent gatherings. Miss Luanna Decatur gave a talk before a teachers’ convention in Westchester County, N.Y. John Adams Taylor, vice president of the North Dakota Sons of the American Revolution, gave a talk at their meeting on April 19….
“A number of Westford people took in the wonderful horticultural show in horticultural hall, Boston. Wild flowers from the early spring to the late fall ones were shown in their native habitat…. Among those who attended were our own authoritative botanist, Miss Emily F. Fletcher, Mrs. Wells and children, Mrs. F. A. Snow and sons.
“A forest fire near Cold Spring burned over about ten acres of the Fletcher farm on Tuesday morning.
“Graniteville. The Abbot Worsted baseball club will open the season on Saturday, May 13, with the strong Sharon town team as opponents…. The Abbot club will start with practically the same club as last season, and it is expected that ‘Ernie’ Williams and ‘Chick’ Carrigan will do the battery work on Saturday. The Abbot Worsted Company band will be right on hand to furnish music during the afternoon….
“Saturday will be observed as ‘daisy day’ throughout the town when the Westford members of the American Legion will sell daisies for the benefit of the disabled soldiers. Everybody should wear a daisy on Saturday, for it is for a worthy cause.”
Rev. Edward Augustus Horton (1843-1931), a trustee of Westford Academy, was chosen Chaplain of the Massachusetts Senate in 1904. Courtesy Photo / Wikipedia.com
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