The Westford Wardsman, September 6, 1919
Center. The Unitarian church will reopen Sunday after the summer’s vacation. The time of service is changed to four o’clock in the afternoon, and Rev. Channing Brown of Littleton, field secretary of the American Unitarian association will preach.
The reading circle of the Tadmuck club, Mrs. Edith L. Hildreth, chairman, met with Mrs. A. H. Sutherland on Wednesday afternoon of last week. J. M. Barrie’s three-act play, “What every woman knows,” and in which Maude Adams became famous as a star actress, was the play read and much enjoyed.
Miss Mary Morin has sold to William R. Carver the pleasant cottage house owned by her on Depot street. Miss Morin [is] to make her home with her sister, Mrs. Isles, for the present and will resume her nursing here instead of returning to California.
Another interesting real estate transfer is the sale of the C. A. Hamlin house by the Hamlin heirs, Mrs. Gertrude Hamlin Lord and Mrs. Evelyn Hamlin Reed, to Robert Prescott. Mr. Prescott buys for occupancy.
Mr. and Mrs. John P. Wright, Misses Frances and Alice Wright enjoyed a motor trip to Cape Cod over the holidays.
Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Hildreth have been recent visitors in town, visiting Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Hildreth. The latter return to their home in Monson for the opening of the fall term at Monson academy where Mr. Hildreth teaches.
The Peterson family, who have been living in the log cabin on Prospect hill, will occupy the house where the Arthur Hildreths have been spending the summer.
Misses Ethel Ripley and Ruth Sargent, who graduated from the academy in June, and who have been attending the summer normal school in Hyannis, have both started teaching—Miss Sargent in Hollis, N.H., and Miss Ripley in Ponemah, N.H.
An interesting group of little people of this village started this week on the long road of learning. These are in Miss Maude Robinson’s class at the Frost school and are Inez Blaney, Harold Wright, Huntington Wells, Elaine Skidmore, Betty Sargent, Howard Anderson and Edgar Peterson. Miss Robinson, who is taking Miss Edith Wright’s place while the latter is convalescing from sickness, reports a large class, forty-five at present, and perhaps more by the time the school gets well started.
Mrs. Arthur Bosworth and Mrs. Elmer Bosworth, of Lebanon, N.H., have been spending a week with Mrs. Hilda Bosworth. They return home on Tuesday, and Mrs. Hilda Bosworth and two children also went with them for a two-weeks’ stay.
Edward Blodgett and Paul Locklin were welcome guests at the dance last week Friday evening and were entertained during their stay in town at Homer M. Seavey’s.
Miss Rachel Kimball spent Wednesday and Thursday with Miss Alice Wright.
Mrs. Fred A Hildreth, of Malden, is a guest at H. V. Hildreth’s.
After the summer interim of two months the Ladies’ Aid of the Congregational church will hold an all-day meeting next Thursday. Place of meeting may be ascertained by inquiring of the president, Mrs. Perley E. Wright, the last of the week.
Miss Jennie Ferguson returned to her teaching in Springfield this week.
J. W. Rafter has been spending two weeks with kinspeople in Clifton Springs, N.Y.
Morton Seavey is taking a post-graduate course at the academy.
Miss Pauline S. Wallace and her fiancé, Leonard H. Burland, have been recent visitors at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Fred H. Meyer. Miss Wallace is to teach in the high school in Spencer this year.
Miss Marjory Seavey, who graduated from Boston university in June, is to teach in Groton at the high school.
Miss Edith A. Wright returned from the McLeod private hospital in Boston on Sunday. She is reported as gaining strength as well as can be expected and glad to be at home again.
The Edward M. Abbot hose company held its monthly meeting Tuesday evening at the fire house. The heavy rain prevented any try-out or hose drill, but several matters of business concerning the coming winter were discussed, which will probably show results from time to time.
A very successful dancing party was held in the town hall last week Friday evening, managed by a committee of young ladies. Broderick’s orchestra of Lowell, which has proved a favorite at other times, furnished music for the dancing. Those in charge of the affair were Misses Frances and Alice Wright, Misses Hazel Hartford, Marjory Seavey and Lillian Sutherland.
There were two games of baseball at Whitney playgrounds on the holiday. The Chelmsford team met the first defeat of the season at the afternoon game.
Miss Lillian Sutherland returns to Dracut again this year to teach.
Joseph E. Knight observed his eighty-first birthday anniversary on Friday of last week in good health and spirits. The day was made pleasant by a family gathering, there being fifteen at dinner; also, other friends and greetings were received during the day.
The vacation at the Congregational church ends this week and regular services will be resumed Sunday. Rev. and Mrs. O. L. Brownsey have returned from a restful vacation spent at Mrs. Brownsey’s home in Dunbarton, N.H. Mr. Brownsey will speak in the morning on “Building altars.” Communion will be observed after the service. Sunday school at twelve. At the evening service John A. Taylor will be present and speak on “Experiences and observations in France,” in connection with his overseas work in the Y.M.C.A. Everybody welcome.
Mrs. Knight has again taken the group of out-of-town school teachers to make a pleasant boarding house [on Lincoln St.] for them. There are five of them. Miss Crocker, who is the new principal at the Frost school; Miss Stevens, the new teacher for the seventh and eighth grades; Miss Crane, the new teacher at the academy, and Misses Cohen and Ranney, who are old friends in the schools and community.
The young men are to match efforts with the young ladies and will hold a dancing party at the town hall on Friday evening, September 12. Broderick’s orchestra, six pieces, will furnish music.
George F. White, who is a member of the New England Ayrshire Breeders association, is exhibiting some of his thoroughbred stock at the autumn fairs with gratifying results. At the Maryland state fair at Pamonium his registered bull, “Diplomat,” has this week taken first prize also the junior champion prize, and this where the competition among the entries was especially strong. Two heifers have also taken prizes, “Princess” 3rd and “Vera” 5th. Next week Mr. White’s stock will be entered at New York state fair in Syracuse and the next week nearer home, at the big fair in Springfield.
After an interim from drills since the encampment at Boxford Capt. Robinson of our local Co. H, 11th regt., formerly Co. L of the 19th regt., are about to commence the fall period and will meet at the armory next Tuesday evening at 7:45 o’clock. The good record and good discipline of the personnel of this company at the State house in being chosen over the large companies to remain in the State Guard has been an honor and the members are urged to respond to Capt. Robinson’s call for drill. There is also business of importance to come up.
There have been three deaths within a month in an immediate neighborhood near the town hall just lately and their going leaves its impress of sadness. These are the late Mrs. Grace Robinson Hartford [d. Aug. 10], Mrs. Mary Louise Morin [d. Aug. 19] and Mrs. Elvira Maria Stone [d. Aug. 31].
The Walter Prescott Wrights return this week from the seashore and are at the Whitney homestead.
Death. After a long and well spent life Mrs. Elvira Maria Stone entered quietly into rest last Sunday. Mrs. Stone had been ill for many months and death was a release from weakness and pain. Mrs. Stone was born in Westford seventy-eight years ago of sterling New England ancestry. She was the oldest daughter of Amos and Elvira (Bacon) Leighton of Westford. Her early education was received in the schools of the town.
Mrs. Stone was the widow of the late Gilmer Stone, a Civil war veteran, a sergeant in Co. G., 33d Mass. Regt. A little son born to them died in early childhood. During the later years of her life Mrs. Stone had made her home with her sister, Miss Ida E. Leighton, and her niece, Miss Nellie E. Fletcher, and these two and another niece, Miss Frances Leighton, are her surviving relatives.
The funeral service was held from her late home Wednesday afternoon at two o’clock. Rev. David Wallace of Sterling, a former pastor, was the officiating clergyman and brought a tender message of sympathy and understanding. There were beautiful floral tributes from family and friends. Interment was in the family lot beside kindred dust at Westlawn cemetery. The bearers were E. J. Whitney, S. H. Balch, John Wilson and L. W. Wheeler.
About Town. Rev. Charles P. Marshall, well remembered as a former minister of the Congregational church here [1905-1910], has resigned his pastorate of the Pilgrim church, Plymouth, and accepted a position with the Pilgrim Cordage Co., Plymouth.
The Ladies’ Sewing circle and Branch Alliance of the Unitarian church have elected the following officers for 1919-20: Mrs. Alma M. Richardson, pres.; Mrs. Herbert V. Hildreth, v.p.; Miss A. G. Flanders, sec.; Mrs. Herbert V. Hildreth, treas.; Mrs. L. H. Buckshorn, postoffice mission; Mrs. Marion H. Reardon, religious intelligence; Mrs. Herbert V. Hildreth, Miss Alice M. Howard, Mrs. Eben Prescott, Mrs. Harold W. Hildreth, directors; Mrs. Herbert V. Hildreth, Mrs. Harold W. Hildreth, Mrs. Eben Prescott, Mrs. J. Herbert Fletcher, trustees of Herrick and Whitney fund. Regular meetings on the second Saturday in the month at 2:30. The first meeting will be held on Saturday, September 13, in the vestry of the church; subject, “Stories of old new England churches,” by Miss Alice M. Howard.
An airship flew over Westford one day last week. As there is an aviation station at Bedford we may see more of them.
Forge Village. On Saturday, September 6, the Abbot Worsted Company is to hold a field day for its employees at the athletic grounds here. The U.S. Cartridge Company band will furnish the music for the occasion. There will be a fine set of sports, including a ball game between the married and single men. The committee in charge is sparing no expense to make the affair a very successful one for the employees of the three mills in this village, Graniteville and Brookside. There will be no charge for admission.
A large number spent the weekend and over the holiday in camp.
George Smith, of Lowell, driver of one of the Friend Bros. autos through here, is spending a two-weeks’ vacation in camp at Forge pond with his daughter, Miss Rita Smith.
St. Andrew’s mission will reopen on Sunday afternoon with services at 4:30.
Guests of Mr. and Mrs. John L. Shaddick of the Tadmuck farm are Mr. and Mrs. Eidney Shaddick and Miss Phillis Hershing, of Everett, and Mrs. Richard Lent, of Brooklyn, N.Y.
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Routh, of Lawrence, were guests of Mr. and Mrs. Peter Delaney over the weekend and holiday. Their daughter Edith, who spent the past week here, returned with them.
Miss Kathryn Brown was the guest of Miss Mae McKenna, of Revere, over the weekend.
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Miller, of Lowell, visited at the home of Mr. Miller’s mother over Labor day.
W. C. Precious and family and Mr. Precious’ two sisters, Misses Edith and Sarah, were the guests of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Keefe, Townsend Harbor, over Labor day. The younger members of the party remained over for the dance at the Center in the evening.
The Misses Christina and Theresa Lowther had as their guests over the holiday Mr. and Mrs. Percy Hargreaves and little son Fred; Miss Annie L. Cherry and Mr. and Mrs. Alderson and five children, all of Somerville.
Many parties were planned for the beaches for the holiday but were called off owing to the rain.
Mr. and Mrs. Alvah Bicknell, of Somerville, are at the home of Mr. and Mrs. John Carmichael.
All the schools reopened on Tuesday.
Mrs. Henry Gurney is disposing of her land adjoining her camp. She is contemplating a trip to California.
Miss Eva M. Lord spent the weekend with friends in East Jaffrey, N.H.
Misses Marion Lord and Bertha Collins spent the holidays at Hampton Beach.
Mr. and Mrs. George Messey and daughter Charlotte, Mr. and Mrs. George Hunt, Miss Mildred Parrott and Harry Felton, of Lowell, are enjoying camp life at Forge pond for two weeks.
The Misses Catherine and Marie Blott have returned from their vacation at Nantasket Beach.
Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Daley entertained Mr. and Mrs. Edward Sheehan and daughter Catherine, of Somerville, over the weekend and holiday.
Mrs. George O. Jackson, who has been very ill and under the care of a trained nurse, is improving slowly.
Graniteville. Mr. and Mrs. Frank P. Hawkes of Melrose have been recent guests of Mr. and Mrs. W. O. Hawkes.
Mr. and Mrs. J. R. Carmichael have recently returned from a delightful vacation spent at Hampton beach.
James B. Healy has recently returned for a brief visit here, after an extended trip through Maine.
Misses Etta May and Alice C. Sheehan of Lowell spent the weekend and holiday with relatives here.
Misses Edith Josie and Rose Profita of East Sudbury have been recent guests of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Profita.
The Sargent school opened for the fall term on Tuesday, September 2. The staff of teachers is composed of Miss Issie Parker, Miss Libby, Miss Mildred Clevette and Miss Veronica McNiff.
Edward Defoe played the trombone with the U.S. Cartridge Co. band in Lowell on Labor day.
The Abbot Worsted Co. baseball club closed the season here on Labor day afternoon when they met with defeat at the hands of the St. Peter’s A.A. of Lowell in a fast twelve inning game by the score of 5 to 3. Garrity and Dillion were on the firing line of the St. Peter’s, while Mulno and Liston did the battery work for the A. W. Co. Umpires, Reed and Markham. The Abbot Worsted Co. team has had a very successful season, winning 10 out of 14 games played with good fast teams.
The Graniteville A.C. team visited Harvard on Labor day morning and defeated the strong Harvard A.A. team by the score of 4 to 3. Guiehard, the Graniteville pitcher, was in good form, sending thirteen of the Harvard boys down by the strike out route. He was well supported by his teammates.
The Abbot Worsted Co. will hold a field day in Forge Village on next Saturday for the employees in their mills in Graniteville, Forge Village and Brookside. The U.S. Cartridge Co. band will furnish music and a fine list of sports will be run off. A good time is promised to all. No admission fee will be charged.