Turner's Public Spirit, October 23, 1920
A look back in time to a century ago
By Bob Oliphant
“Center. Frank Comstock has been disabled at his home for the last six weeks as the result of
a fall from a tree.
“Our residents are becoming quite accustomed to the weekly tryout whistle from the firehouse
each Saturday at noon.
“An apple reported brought into the postoffice one day this week weighing 22 ½ ounces, and
coming from the O. K. Spalding orchards.
“Quite inadvertently omitted from the account of the Tadmuck club presidents’ day in last
week’s issue were the names of Mrs. H. V. Hildreth and Mrs. H. E. Fletcher, who rendered the
gracious service of pourers for the social tea at the close of the program.
“Political Meeting. Last week Wednesday evening at the town hall there were fifty town
committeemen of the 11 th Middlesex representative district. The seven towns comprising the
district are Acton, Bedford, Carlisle, Chelmsford, Westford, Tyngsboro and Littleton. Hon.
Herbert E. Fletcher, chairman, called the meeting to order. Charles A. Kimball of Littleton was
elected chairman for the ensuing year and Edward Woodbury secretary and treasurer. Herbert E.
Fletcher and Sherman H. Fletcher, Frank Jacobs and Alfred W. Hartford, candidate for
representative from the 11 th district, addressed the gathering. A luncheon was served at the
conclusion of the meeting by the D. L. Page Co. of Lowell, under the direction of Alfred W.
Hartford.
“Tadmuck Club. The second meeting of the Tadmuck club for October was held Tuesday
evening at the Unitarian church and was attended by a good audience to hear Mrs. Trueworthy
White [nee Martha E. Davis] of Boston lecture on ‘Citizenship.’ Mrs. White gave an intelligent
and timely address to the women present concerning their new duties as citizens, and was also
appreciatively listened to by a representative number of men in the audience….
“Ladies’ Aid. The Ladies’ Aid society of the Congregational church held its October meeting
at the home of the Misses Atwood Thursday of last week, when it was most pleasantly
entertained. There were twenty present at the bountiful social dinner at noon. The Misses Green
were in charge of the sewing for the day. At the business meeting the treasurer, Mrs. White, gave
the proceeds of the recent fair as $399.96 and the remaining four cents was quickly contributed to
make it an even $400. Plans for the November supper were discussed, new pitchers for the
church kitchen and various other matters of business arranged.
“About Town. Matthew F. Downs, the oldest resident in town and fast approaching the
century mark [aged 95], is on a visit to his old home in Vassalboro, Me.
“The steam shovel used for several weeks by the Abbot Worsted Co. in trenching for the water
supply at Brookside has completed its work and landed on a special long car last week Thursday.
“Miss Ella T. Wright [of Cleveland], who has been spending the summer at her Brookside
home, the Elms [120 Lowell Road], has gone to Hot Springs, Ind., in the interest of health.
“Mr. and Mrs. W. R. Taylor motored to Waltham on Monday evening and visited the Grange,
being interested in the working of the third and fourth degrees.
“The W.C.T.U. [Women’s Christian Temperance Union] held a food sale last week Friday at
the home of Mrs. Harold Hildreth. Mrs. Hildreth’s mother, Mrs. George Lawrence, had charge.
Results were satisfactory.
“Elmer Trull, living near Westford corner, employed by the N. E. Tel. Co., narrowly escaped
electrocution last week while working on a pole in South Chelmsford, coming in contact with a
live wire. He fell 25 feet and was unconscious when found with both hands badly burned. He
was taken to his home in the company’s machine and is rapidly recovering.
“Graniteville. Many of the football [i.e., soccer] fans took in the game between the Abbot
Worsteds and Chicopee Rovers at Forge Village last Saturday. This game was an elimination
contest for the national cup. The Abbots won handily by the score of 9 to 0.
“A few of the local ardent baseball fans took in the game staged at Concord Junction last
Saturday between the regular Concord Junction club with Eddie Boye on the slab and Bulger’s
Concord all-stars. The game went twelve innings to a 4 to 4 tie when it was called on account of
darkness. 'Tug’ Bridgeford of the Abbot Worsted team played center field for the all-stars. The
followers of both clubs backed their respective teams heavily. Elmer Duggan, the seventeen-
year-old twirler, pitched a great game for the all-stars.”
Samuel Richardson House at 120 Lowell Road, summer home in 1920 of Westford native Ella
T. Wright of Cleveland, Ohio. Courtesy Photo / Col. John Robinson Chapter, Daughters of the
American Revolution and New Old Houses of Westford by Ellen Harde and Marilyn Day.