The Westford Wardsman, November 1, 1919
Center. The play “Under cover,” in Ayer on November 5 and 6, promises to be one of the finest dramas given there in years.
William E. Wright and family have moved from the house on Boston road, which they have occupied for a number of years, and recently purchased by William R. Carver, into the John P. Wright house on Depot street.
Robert Prescott has plans ready for the alteration and renovation of the house recently bought by him from the Hamlin heirs, which when completed will make it a most attractive, centrally located home for himself and bride.
Miss Sarah W. Loker is moving from the Hamlin house into the upstairs apartment of Harry Stiles’ house.
Miss Lillian Sutherland, who teaches in Dracut, and who has been going back and forth each day between there and Westford since the beginning of school, is now boarding in Lowell for the winter.
Guests of Mr. and Mrs. L. W. Wheeler over Saturday and Sunday were Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Manchester, Arthur, Jr., and Miss Laure E. Manchester, of Newport, R.I.
There will be an all-day meeting of the Ladies’ Aid at the home of Mrs. George F. White next week Thursday. Members will please take notice that this is one week earlier than the usual time, this being done to make plans for the supper and entertainment that comes the middle of the month, probably Friday evening, November 14.
Wednesday night was the coldest night of the season, with the hardest frost and a morning temperature of 22°.
At the Congregational church Sunday morning the communion service will be observed and there are to be new members admitted into the membership of the church. The pastor will speak on “My church,” and in the evening, at seven o’clock, the subject will be “Moral and spiritual recovery.”
The sudden change of the weather on Tuesday afternoon and evening, accompanied by the high wind, did some remarkable cleaning up of streets, sidewalks and paths. The wind carried the leaves into windows and did a cleaning up almost by magic and that would have taken much hand raking to accomplish.
State Guard. A good contingent of Company H, Westford members of the state guard, were released from duty last Saturday and welcomed to their homes. This completes six weeks of duty and the men are glad to give attention to their own affairs again. This releases most of the town officers with the exception of the town clerk and town auditor. The men remaining on duty in Boston, which represent nearly fifty percent of Company H, are mostly the younger, unmarried members of the company. Since the reorganization the men who remain on duty have, with the Lowell company, been assigned to Stations 4 and 16. Station 4 is in the vicinity of the Hotel Touraine, Lagrange street and Park square. Station 16 is in the Back Bay, covering the section about the public garden and extending into Brookline. Capt. Edward Fisher is in command of the Westford men, who are on duty from four in the afternoon until midnight.
Tadmuck Club. The second meeting of the season of the Tadmuck club proved as profitable and interesting as the first. This, too, was a lecture, given by Miss Blanche A. Cheney of the Lowell Normal school. Her subject was “Americanization,” which was most intelligently treated and carried the sustained interest of her audience. Mrs. F. L. Roberts, also of Lowell, and always a favorite, was the soloist of the afternoon.
The next meeting, November 11, “Armistice day,” which by the way Gov. Coolidge has proclaimed as a legal holiday, has an attractive and suitable program. Miss Eva M. Lord, the public health nurse, will give a lecture on “Overseas experiences,” and there will be patriotic music in charge of the music committee, Mrs. William R. Taylor, chairman.
About Town. Norman Whitten, who bought the William Pollock farm on Cold Spring road about two years ago, has recently bought the Charles Whitney farm on the Lowell road. The Parfitt family, who are living on the place, will move into the Whidden house at Westford station, recently vacated by the Judd family.
Westford Grange will hold its next meeting on Thursday evening, November 6. Groton Grange will share in the evening’s program, besides working the fourth degree on a class of candidates.
The next meeting of Middlesex-North Pomona Grange will be held on Friday, November 7, at Odd Fellows hall, Bridge street, Lowell.
Sergt. Seth W. Banister, who saw practical aviation overseas, has arrived home, where he and his friends are happy in his returning to the comforts of home and the friendships of his old-time neighborhood.
John J. Dunn, of West Chelmsford, has the batters up and the lumber on the ground for a set of farm buildings near Mills’ Corner, close by the Lowell road.
The farm buildings of Bert A. Cluff, Dracut, were totally destroyed by fire on Tuesday evening, with twenty-two head of stock, many hogs, $2000 worth of hay, a Reo touring car and a Reo truck, and farming tools and all else that goes with successful farming. Mr. Cluff is the largest milk producer around Lowell, keeping nearly 100 head of stock. The buildings burned were those of his father, who died several years ago, and Mr. Cluff has been running the place in connection with his own large farm of Marsh Hill. The loss by fire is estimated at $20,000, covered by a partial insurance. He is prominent in Middlesex-North Pomona and Dracut Granges.
The next meeting of the Ladies’ Sewing circle and Branch Alliance of the First Parish church will be held in the vestry on Saturday afternoon, November 8, at 2:30. Subject, “A heap o’ livin’.” Music by high school chorus.
Amos Polley, on the Prairie farm, is cutting the third crop of hay. He has just finished husking eighty-eight bushels of red popcorn on less than an acre of land. This is a large yield for popcorn, however small it may seem beside twelve-inch yellow corn.
Forge Village. The funeral services for Miss Abbie Splaine [sic, Splain], who died last Wednesday, were held in St. Catherine’s church, Graniteville, on Friday morning of last week at nine o’clock, where a funeral mass was celebrated by the pastor, Rev. John Heany of North Chelmsford. Miss Rebecca LeDuc sang the funeral anthem. The funeral was largely attended, owing to the fact the Miss Splaine had been known and loved here for many years. There were also many people from out of town. The bearers were Joseph LeClair, Albert Wall, James Sullivan and Joseph McDonald. The floral offerings were very beautiful.
The local soccer football team played the Andover eleven Saturday afternoon and defeated them 4 to 1. Next Saturday they will play the Lynn Hibernians at Abbot’s park and another good game is looked forward to. The villagers take a lively interest in the local team and the games are always well attended.
Mrs. George Cougle, who has been connected with Abbot’s boarding house for a great many years, is now seriously ill.
Malcolm Weaver, son of Mr. and Mrs. George Weaver, is very ill at his home.
Mrs. Miller is still suffering from the fall, although her condition is slightly improved.
The Ladies’ Sewing Circle of St. Andrew’s mission served a harvest supper Wednesday evening at the Mission House from six o’clock until seven. The tables were prettily decorated and loaded with good things. The following committee had charge of the supper: Mrs. Richard Prescott, Mrs. Wm. Blodgett, Mrs. Charles Blodgett, Mrs. John Spinner, Miss E. Plummer, Mrs. William Baker, Mrs. F. Davis, Mrs. James Wigham, Mrs. Chester Blodgett. Immediately after supper there was a parcel post sale, which furnished a great deal of amusement for the children. Rev. Leslie Wallace added to the evening’s entertainment by showing pictures of ancient Egypt by means of the stereopticon slides.
The third American Red Cross drive is to be launched next week. The local committee will call for your subscriptions. People are asked to give generously. While the war is over there is still a great work to be done. The Red Cross is undertaking it, but cannot succeed without the necessary funds.
Newly Instituted. The Loyal Mattawanakee lodge, I.O.O.L., M.U., was duly instituted on Saturday evening. The initiatory work commenced at eight o’clock in the town hall at Westford. The members from this village were carried to the Center in autos. With a charter membership of 64 the lodge has made a wonderful beginning. Harold J. Wentzell, provincial corresponding secretary of the state district, was present and delivered a short but enlightening lecture to the new members. Mrs. Snow of Brockton, past grand lady, and Mrs. Kay of Leominster, P.C.S., also spoke. The floor work was in charge of the degree staff of Leominster who deserves high praise for the efficient manner in which they did their work. They were clothed uniformly in white caps and gowns and made a very effective picture on the floor as they gave their tableaux and installed the officers.
The list of officers runs as follows: Mrs. Maud Mussey, n.g.l.; Mrs. Oddy, p.i.o.; Annie Orr, v.n.g.; Mrs. Robert Orr, chaplain; Elva Judd, fin. sec.; Bella Hodgeson, treas.; Mrs. Samuel Blowey, elect. and rec. sec.; Mrs. Phillips, cond.; Mrs. Goucher, ward.; Mrs. Hunt, Miss Edith Hunt and Mrs. Whitney, trustees; Mrs. John Baker and Mrs. Albert Comey, aud.; Mrs. Thompson and Mrs. Perkins, s.n.g.l.; Miss Adelaide Hosmer and Gladys Baker, s.v.g.l.; Mrs. Bertha Whitney, i.g.; Edith Spinner, chorister.
After the meeting a bounteous harvest supper was served to the visitors and members. There were 225 seated at the long tables. The visitors came in large trucks from Boston, Brockton, New Bedford, Lawrence, Leominster, Attleboro and Littleton. The following committee was in charge of the supper: Mrs. Goucher, Mrs. Baker, Mrs. Comey, Mrs. Charles Eaton, Mrs. Bridgeford, Mrs. Charles Benson, Mrs. Bertha Whitney and Mrs. Phillips. The supper committee is to be commended for the creditable manner in which it took care of the large number of guests.
Graniteville. Many local people attended the soccer football game at Forge Village on last Saturday when the fast Abbot Worsted Co. eleven pinned defeat on the strong Andover team by the score of 4 to 1. The Forge Village team will meet the Lynn Hibernians in what is termed a cup-tie match on next Saturday. The game will be played in Forge Village.
Mrs. Ida Harrington, the cooking teacher, was at the Abbot clubhouse on Friday afternoon when she gave a practical demonstration on the subject of “Put up lunches.” Many people were present and expressed a deep interest in the lecture.
A big republican rally was held in the Abbot clubhouse here on Friday night. A. W. Hartford was chairman of the meeting. The community singing, led by Edmund Brown, made a decided hit.
Mrs. Minnie Gray of Wilton, N.H., has been spending a few days here as the guest of Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Carmichael.
The men in this vicinity who have been handling the “jumping dominos” or rolling the bones while following the game of “shooting crap,” had better let up on this fascinating pastime before it is too late. Their places of meeting are being watched by the local police and it would be well for them to take a timely warning before they are brought to Ayer court to explain their reason for following the gambling game.
The big Red Cross drive will be staged next week and it is expected
Ayer
News Items. It is announced from YM.C.A. headquarters at Camp Devens that the national war work council of the Y.M.C.A. has purchased the Federation House on West Main street. This sale has been pending for some time, the committee from the Federation house making the final arrangements at a meeting held there on Monday evening. In the near future a Y.M.C.A. hut will be opened in this building to serve soldiers and ex-service men. The building is in excellent condition, but it is planned before opening it for use to make a few alterations and to renovate the bowling alleys. It is also proposed to install a system of steam heat in place of the four furnaces with which the building is at present equipped.
Major General Henry P. McCain, commandant at Camp Devens, formerly the adjutant general of the army and 12 Division leader, has been awarded the decoration of Companion of the Order of St. Michael and St. George by the British government in recognition of his services in the cause of the allies.
The November meeting of the Woman’s Alliance will be held in the vestry of the Unitarian church on Monday afternoon, November 3. Business meeting at 2:30; address at three o’clock by Henry T. Secrist, executive secretary of the Soldiers’ club on West street, who will have for his subject, “Community service after the war.” As the W.C.C.S. is to prolong its activities here for at least three months longer, this subject should prove to be of interest to residents of Ayer. The hostesses, Mrs. Clark, Mrs. Freese, Mrs. W. U. Sherwin, Mrs. Theodore W. Barry and Mrs. Charles E. Sherwin, feel they are very fortunate in securing the speaker of the afternoon. The Alliance members are requested to bring any sewing for the union fair.
There will be a concert and community sing on Sunday evening, November 2, at eight o’clock at the Soldiers’ club on West street, under the direction of W. B. Robinson. There will also be a soloist.
The remount station of Camp Devens located near the Greenville branch railroad tracks is to be closed on November first and the horses from there are now being transferred to the various outfits in camp. Whether the closing of the remount station is to [be] permanent or only for the duration of the winter is not known.
The Pageant. The pageant, “The bow of promise,” presented by the War Camp Community Service at the Soldiers’ club on West street on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings was a tremendous success. On both nights the clubhouse was packed with spectators, probably the largest attendance ever drawn to a pageant in this vicinity. The pageant celebrates the coming of peace and brotherhood, and this production of it is the first which has ever been given. The work has been under the direction of Miss Joy Montgomery Higgins, a worker from the National W.CC.S., and she had enlisted aid which included representatives from all local activities, as well as the various departments at Camp Devens.
The persons of the cast are as follows: …
At the close of the production of the pageant on Wednesday evening George H. Brown presented Miss Higgins with a fine bouquet on behalf of the local W.C.C.S. in appreciation of her fine work. Miss Higgins responded with a few appropriate remarks.
The costumes used in the production of this pageant have been especially worthy of note for their beauty and completeness. On Wednesday evening flashlight photographs were taken of the cast in costumes.
The W.C.C.S. and Miss Higgins wish to express their sincere thanks for the hearty cooperation which they received in this work both from the townspeople and those at Camp Devens. The whole work was accomplished in less than a month and the resulting production was one which of its kind has not been equaled in this vicinity.