USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Westford > Town of Westford annual report 1908-1913 > Part 17
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39
MOTH TAXES.
To balance to collect as per audit of February 12, 1910 $ 9 24 90
Past due interest collected
$ 10 14
81
By collections since last audit $ 9 24 Past due interest collected 90
$ 10 14
Leaving no balance to collect.
To Debit of L. W. Wheeler, Collector, for Year 1909.
To balance to collect as per audit of
February 14, 1910 $1,441 77
Past due interest collected 65 06
$1,506 83
Less abatements as per Assessors' notices since last audit 66 88
$1,439 95
By taxes collected since last audit to
February 18, 1911 $1,167 87
Past due interest collected
65 06
$1,232 93
Balance to collect $ 207 02
To Debit of L. W. Wheeler, Collector, for Year 1910.
To amount of tax levy as per Assessors' Warrant as follows:
701 polls at $2.00 $ 1,402 00
Personal Estate 8,516 28
Real Estate 22,399 44
Moth bills 319 42
$32,637 14
Additions since issue of Warrant as per Assessors' notices 161 41
Amount carried forward
$32,798 55
82
Amount brought forward $32,798 55 Past due interest collected on taxes paid since November 1, 1910 26 27
$32,824 82
Less abatements for the year as per
Assessors' notices 197 89
$32,626 93 -
By net collections to November 1, 1910 . $26,121 01
By collections from November 1, 1910 to February 18, 1911 3,339 50
Past due interest collected 26 27
$29,486 78
Balance to collect $ 3,140 15
EXCISE TAX.
To excise tax as per statement of Assessors By collections 145 08
$ 145 08
Leaving no balance to collect.
RECAPITULATION.
Uncollected taxes for 1909 $ 207 02
Uncollected taxes for 1910 3,140 15
Total amount of uncollected taxes Febru-
ary 18, 1911 $ 3,347 17
TOWN CLERK.
The Town Clerk issued during the year licenses for
10 female dogs at $5.00 $ 50 00
330 00
165 male dogs at $2.00
$ 380 00
Less Clerk's fee for 175 at 20c.
35 00
Balance paid to County Treasurer and receipted for by him
$ 345 00
83
SELECTMEN.
During the year the Selectmen have issued 296 orders on the Treasurer amounting to $24,705.37. Proper vouchers were found on file for each order.
TOWN FARM.
E. G. Boynton, Superintendent.
To balance cash on hand February 11,
1910 $ 11 67
Total receipts from all sources during the
year 3,150 70
$3,162 37
By expenditures for the year $3,156 39
Balance cash on hand 5 98
$3,162 37
OVERSEERS OF POOR.
Charles L. Hildreth, Chairman.
To amount received from Town Treasurer
for the year to February 1, 1911 . .. $1,144 89
By payments for the year to February 1, 1911 1,144 89
LIBRARY.
Charles O. Prescott, Treasurer.
To unexpended balance February 1, 1910 $ 511 27 Receipts from Town Treasurer during the
year 1,000 00
$1,511 27
84
By total payments for the year ending
February 1, 1911 $1,341 03 Balance cash on hand February 1, 1911 . 170 24
$1,511 27
TREASURER.
To cash on hand February 1, 1910 $ 3,115 84
Receipts from all sources during the year 64,809 53
$67,925 37
By total payments for the year ending
February 1, 1911 $63,325 97
Cash on hand February 1, 1911 4,599 40
~~~ $67,925 37
STATEMENT OF CONDITION.
ASSETS.
1909 taxes remaining uncollected $ 207 02
Accrued interest on same 15 52
1910 taxes remaining uncollected 3,140 15
Accrued interest on same 47 10
Due from State Aid. 668 00
Balance cash on hand with Supt. of Town Farm 5 98
Balance cash on hand with Treasurer of
Library 170 24
Balance cash on hand with Treasurer 4,599 40
$8,853 41
LIABILITIES.
Due State Treasurer on loan for General Expenses $ 2,000 00
Four months' interest on same at 31% . . 21 33
Amount carried forward $2,021 33
85
Amount brought forward $2,021 33 Due State Treasurer on Schoolhouse Loan,
(Wm. E. Frost School) 12,000 00
Three months' interest on same at 44% . 127 50
Due State Treasurer on Schoolhouse Loan, (Cameron School) 6,000 00
Five months' interest on same at 4% 100 00
Due State Treasurer on loan for purchase of fire apparatus and equipment. 1,100 00
Ten months' interest on same at 41% ..
41 25
Due State Treasurer on loan for repairs of roads at Centre 3,000 00
¿ month interest on same at 4%
5 00
$24,395 08
Deficit February 1, 1911 $15,541 67
The deficit February 1, 1910 was $19,462 39
W. R. TAYLOR, Auditor.
Westford, Mass., February 25, 1911.
86
Westford Water Company.
CONSTRUCTION ACCOUNT.
1910.
Jan. 1 Balance
$80,942 64
66
1 Freight, etc.
$
7 13
66
19 Copying
7 00
April
6
Supplies
19 00
66
6 Supplies
47 22
May
7 Freight
3 54
9
Fittings
28 18
9 Fittings
56 10
66
19 Fittings
97 57
66
23 Fittings
29 62
June
2
Labor
39 95
2
Teaming
2 25
66
2
Fittings
17 53
66
15 Fittings
11 21
July
1
Fittings
5 69
66
3 Freight
10 64
66
5 Fittings
28 00
66
26
Labor
4 03
Aug.
9
Supplies
42 40
66
19
Teaming
39 15
22
Fittings
11 77
66
30 Lumber
31 36
66
30
Freight
1 80
66
31
Teaming
22 50
Sept.
6 Lumber
21 35
66
15 Labor
97 83
66
22 Fittings
15 29
Amount carried forward
$1,277 12
8 Labor
43 94
14 Labor
535 07
87
Amount brought forward $1,277 12
Sept. 22 Fittings.
6 27
Oct. 5 Freight 7 73
Nov. 1 Fittings
51 50
66
1 Fittings
32 52
66
8 Labor
15 67
66
14
Fittings
54 00
66
19 Supplies
12 75
26 Fittings
31 46
Dec. 1 Freight
8 05
7 Labor
100 83
66
16 Meter
13 10
16 Fittings
5 83
22 Teaming
3 50
$1,620 33
Received from service connections, etc. . .
730 89
Cost of construction from January 1, 1910 to January 1, 1911 $ 889 44
$ 889 44
Total cost of construction to Jan. 1, 1911 .
$81,832 08
88
A STATEMENT OF THE RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES FROM JANUARY 1, 1910 TO JANUARY 1, 1911.
RECEIPTS. Water Rates, etc.
40 hydrants at $40 $1,600 00
2 hydrants for 8 months
53 34
2 hydrants for 2 months 6 67
Town Hall
32 00
Schoolhouses.
216 42
Subscribers
4,203 63
$6,112 06
EXPENSES.
Interest account .
$2,094 64
Taxes
173 60
Expense account
307 38
Fuel
496 89
Wages
1,099 96
Supplies
78 03
Insurance
150 00
$4,400 50
Net profit for the year
$1,711 56
CHARLES O. PRESCOTT, Treasurer.
MIDDLESEX, SS. WESTFORD, MASS., January 28, 1911.
Then personally appeared Charles O. Prescott and made oath that the above is a true statement of the cost of construction of the Westford Water Supply System to January 1, 1911, and of the receipts and expenditures of the Westford Water Company from January 1, 1910 to January 1, 1911, before me.
ARTHUR E. DAY,
Notary Public.
89
Report of Commissioners of Public Burial Grounds.
The Commissioners report as follows:
The burial lots placed under Perpetual Care continue to increase in number-seven having been added the past year - a fact which we are pleased to report, as no better act can be performed by the living than to put under such care the graves of relatives who have passed on. It is especially to be com- mended when the party placing the family lot under such care is the only one left who has any interest in having the lot per- manently cared for. The Perpetual Care Fund shows a very creditable increase since 1893, when it was $200, it now being $5,395.25, and we trust it will continue.
The hope expressed in our last report that the summer of 1910 might not be like that of 1908 and 1909 was not realized, as the extreme drouth continued, again making it difficult to keep the several Cemeteries in the condition we desire. Water being such a very important factor in the proper care of a cemetery, the lack of it is a serious handicap. We hope the time may come when plenty of water can be furnished each Cemetery, even in a dry summer, although we must confess we cannot now say how it will be done.
The Commissioners would respectfully recommend that the sum of $100 be raised and appropriated for the care and improve- ment of the Cemeteries the coming year.
90
AMOUNTS RECEIVED FOR CARE OF LOTS IN FAIRVIEW.
Atwood, Mrs. C. M.
$ 2 00
Baker, Mrs. John
1 00
Bennett, Joseph 1 00
Bicknell, Ai . 3 00
Bicknell, Charles H.
1 00
Boynton, Mrs. D. L.
1 00
Brow, Mrs. L. J.
1 00
Bunce, Augustus
2 00
Burnett, William
1 00
Butterworth, Mrs. J. T.
1 00
Calvert, Mrs. Frank.
1 00
Carkin, Warren E.
1 00
Carkin, A. W.
3 00
Catchpole, Henry
1 00
Caunter, Mrs. E.
3 00
Cockcroft, Herbert
2 00
Collins, Francis
8 00
Collins, P. G.
1 00
Day, Arthur E.
1 00
De Roehn, Mrs. Andrew
1 00
Drew, F. C.
1 00
Drew, Mary E.
1 00
Feeney, John
1 00
Fisher, Edward
1 00
Fletcher, H. N.
2 00
Fletcher, John M.
3 00
Fletcher, J. W.
1 00
Fletcher, S. H.
1 00
Frost, Mrs. W. E.
1 00
Gardel, August
1 00
Gilson, L. S.
2 00
Gould, Mrs. George E.
1 00
Greig, John
1 00
Amount carried forward.
$53 00
91
Amount brought forward $ 53 00
Harris, Mrs. C. A. 1 00
Hartford, George H. 1 00
Hawkes, W. O. 1 00
Hewett, Miss C. E.
1 00
Hildreth, F. A.
2 00
Haley, Frank 8 00
Healey, Mrs. Ruby
1 00
Healey, Stephen
1 00
Hosmer, Francis
1 00
Hunt, Edmund J.
2 00
Isles, Mrs. Joseph D.
1 00
Jenne, Albert E.
1 00
Johnson, Andrew
1 00
Johnson, W. W.
1 00
Kabele, Henry M.
8 00
Keyes, Mrs. Lucy A.
1 00
Luce, Miss M. G. 1 00
Mattson, John
1 00
Millis, George F.
1 00
Mills, Mrs. Hugh
1 00
Morton, F.
1 00
Orange, Miss Lizzie
1 00
Orr, Robert.
1 00
Palmer, Mrs. H. M.
1 00
Precious, Miss Sarah
1 00
Prescott, Mrs. Frances A.
1 00
Prinn, Alfred
1 00
Pyne, Mrs. J. W.
1 00
Rosenburg, Samuel
6 00
Shattuck, Mrs. D. H.
1 00
Spinner, John
2 00
Stewart, Mrs. James
1 00
Symmes, Thomas E.
2 00
Symmes, Mrs. Thomas E.
1 00
Amount carried forward
$110 00
92
Amount brought forward
$110 00
Taylor, Albert D.
2 00
Taylor, S. L. 2 00
Turner, Miss Lizzie
1 00
Tuttle, Mrs. N. L.
1 00
Walkden, J. A.
1 00
Welch, Mrs. William
2 00
Wheeler, Miss Delia
1 00
Wheeler, Mrs. M. J.
1 00
White, William
1 00
Willis, Samuel
1 00
Woods, Myron J.
1 00
Woods, William L.
1 00
Wright, Mrs. Andrew S.
2 00
Wright, F. C. .
1 00
Wright, Mrs. W. M.
1 00
Wyman, W. W.
1 00
$130 00
WESTLAWN.
Colburn, C. D., for Amos Day lot $2 00
Cutter, Miss M. E., Littleton, for Cutter lot 1 00
Leighton, Mrs. A. R., Hollis, N. H. 1 00
Leighton, Miss Ida E., for Leighton lot. . .
2 00
Prescott, Miss Ida L., Milford, Mass., for Samuel Prescott lot 1 00
Watson, L. B., for Day lot 2 00
Wright, F. C., for Joseph E. Wright lot
1 00
$ 10 00
HILLSIDE.
Worcester, Mrs. I. S., for Hezekiah Cum- mings lot $2 00
Worcester, Mrs. I. S., for James Wright lot 2 00
$ 4 00
Amount carried forward
$144 00
93
Amount brought forward
$144 00
NON-RESIDENTS.
Abbot, Mrs. E. S., Boston 5 00
Abbot Estate, L. M. B., Groton 1 00
Adams, C. L., South Chelmsford 2 00
Adams, Mrs. C. L., South Chelmsford 1 00
Allen, Mrs. Ida, Ayer 1 00
Bailey, Mrs. Martha, North Billerica
2 00
Buxton, Mrs. J. C., Lowell
2 00
Carpenter, Eugene, Newton
1 00
Carrick, Mrs. Alice, Worcester
1 00
Chamberlain, Mrs. E. H., Cheraw, S. C.
1 00
Crockett, H. C., North Chelmsford
1 00
Coolidge, Miss Annie L., Lowell
1 00
Craven, Mrs. Emily L., Lowell
1 00
Cummings, George W., Lowell
1 00
Davie, Wm. M., North Chelmsford
1 00
Davis, Miss Alice L., Somerville
1 00
Decatur, Burt W., Springfield
1 00
Dix, Mrs. Henry, Charlestown
1 00
Dugdale, R. J., Anaheim, California
1 00
Edwards, Mrs. George, Lowell. 1 00
Felch, Mrs. A. M. 1 00
Felch, Samuel, Chelmsford. 1 00
Fletcher, F. L., Lowell
1 00
Folland, Miss L. S., Manchester, N. H.
2 00
Gray, Mrs. Thomas, North Chelmsford 1 00
Griffin, Adams, Lowell 1 00
Hamlin, George P., Boston 1 00
Harris, George E., Rockland 1 00
Heywood, Edwin E., Arlington Heights
2 00
Hindle, Frank, Chelmsford
1 00
Hildreth, Helen C., Harvard 1 00
Amount carried forward
$184 00
94
Amount brought forward $184 00
Holt, Mrs. E. H., Lowell 1 00
Horne, George F., Somerville 1 00
Hunt, George W., Tyngsboro 1 00
Hunt, Mrs. James, East Pepperell 1 00
Hutchinson, Francis, Chelmsford 1 00
Johnson, Miss Almira L., Melrose Highlands
1 00
Kierstead, Sanford, Waltham
1 00
King, Mrs. A. M., Charlotte Hall, Md.
1 00
Laws, Mrs. J. H., Somerville 1 00
Longbottom, Arthur, Arlington Heights 1 00
Longley, Albert W. Chicago, Il1. 1 00
1 00
Moore, George C., North Chelmsford
2 00
Moss, James W., Boston 1 00
Parker, O. A., Waltham 2 00
Peck, Mrs. S. E., Elizabeth, N. J
1 00
Petherick, Wm. H., Leominster
1 00
Read, Miss Carrie E., Barre
1 00
Reed, George G., Lowell.
1 00
Richardson, M. T., New York City
1 00
Ripley, Mrs. F. K., North Chelmsford 1 00
Saville, Wm., Boston 1 00
1 00
Searles, Mrs. C. J., Lowell, 1909-1910
2 00
Shea, Mrs. J. Frank, Newfield, Me.
1 00
Smith, Allen G., Littleton 1 00
1 00
Stancomb, Richard, Leominster
1 00
Stiles, F. O., Littleton
1 00
Stiles, Mrs. H. S., Mayville, N. Y. 1 00
Sweatt, Miss Jessie M., Boston
1 00
Trumbull, Mrs. S. H., Beverly
1 00
Wheeler, Isaac G., Allston
1 00
Willis, William T., Lowell
1 00
Amount carried forward
$221 00
Luddington, Mrs. George, Ayer
Schworer, Mrs. Louis, Bradford
Spaulding, J. F., Lowell
95
Amount brought forward $221 00
Wood, Henry O., North Chelmsford 2 00
Woodbury, Mrs. Alfred, Lowell 1 00 Wright, A. A., Hudson 1 00
Wright, Mrs. Emma E., Lowell.
1 00
$226 00
EXPENSES.
FAIRVIEW.
Paid C. N. Richardson and others $205 60
Ralph A. Bridgford, labor 79 09
George M. Balch, labor
25 63
Wm. E. Green, labor
6 00
C. H. Bicknell, for loam
20 00
Wright & Fletcher, for fertilizer
50 00
Wright & Fletcher, for lawn mower
3 00
Wright & Fletcher, for pair border shears 2 00
Wright & Fletcher, for file, grass
seed, etc. 95
$392 27
WESTLAWN.
Paid W. H. H. Burbeck, care of cemetery $ 12 00
W. H. H. Burbeck, care of lots as per bill 26 00
For fertilizer 6 00
$ 44 00
HILLSIDE.
Paid W. H. H. Burbeck, care of cemetery $ 10 00
W. H. H. Burbeck, care of lots as per bill 10 00
For fertilizer 4 00
$ 24 00
Amount carried forward
$460 27
96
.
Amount brought forward $460 27
GENERAL EXPENSES.
Paid Wright & Fletcher, for 400 stamped envelopes $ 8 50
Wright & Fletcher, for one blank book 60
Wright & Fletcher, for 58 one cent stamps 58
Wright & Fletcher, for 2 gals. asphalt paint, brush, etc. 2 20
G. T. Day, for painting and gilding markers in Westlawn, Hillside and Wright Cemeteries 4 00
G. T. Day, for 1 qt. banana oil and package gilding 1 00
G. T. Day, for threee xpress charges 70 Courier-Citizen Co., for stamping Town seal on 400 envelopes .. Courier-Citizen Co., for 200 addressed envelopes 1 25
1 00
Courier-Citizen Co., printing 200 notice cards 1 75
Courier-Citizen Co., for printing six receipt books 4 75
$ 26 33
Amount expended
$486 60
Amount received from Town $100 00
Received for care of lots 226 00
Received from Perpetual Care funds 126 00
Balance in hands of Commissioners, 1909. 41 29
$493 29
Amount expended
486 60
Amount in hands of Commissioners $ 6 69
97
PERPETUAL CARE FUNDS.
NAME.
CEMETERY. FUND.
J. W. P. Abbot
Fairview
$ 100 00
Cyrus Babbitt
66
50 00
Sally B. Burrill
66
100 00
Mary E. Brigham
66
100 00
Mary E. Brigham (Kittredge lot)
66
100 00
Susan A. Butterfield
66
100 00
Francis Caldwell
66
50 00
John Carmichael
66
50 00
John B. Carmichael
66
100 00
Elisha Case
60
50 00
Wm. Chandler
Hillside
100 00
George Davis
Fairview
50 00
Charles S. Dodge
60
50 00
George Drew.
66
50 00
Edmund F. Dupee
66
50 00
Rachel Dupee
66
50 00
Wm. Z. Dupee
Fairview
50 00
Daniel Falls
50 00
Amanda T. Fisher
50 00
Abijah Fletcher
66
50 00
Andrew Fletcher
66
100 00
Charles H. Fletcher
50 00
Julia A. Fletcher
50 00
Sherman D. Fletcher
50 00
Sherman D. Fletcher
Westlawn
50 00
Charles H. Follansbee
Hillside
100 00
George Q. Gilson
Fairview
50 00
Susan E. Green
100 00
Joseph B. Griffin
66
100 00
Amount carried forward
$2,100 00
100 00
Cephas Drew
98
Amount brought forward Timothy L. Griffin lot, by
$2,100 00
Viola Griffin Whitehead . Fairview
50 00
Theodore H. Hamblett
66
50 00
C. & C. A. Hamlin
66
100 00
George R. Harrison
50 00
M. Hennessey
50 00
Henry Herrick
Westlawn
100 00
Samuel Horne
Fairview
50 00
Samuel M. Hutchins
100 00
Grace Lawrence
Westlawn
50 00
Silas Lawrence and Mrs. Drake
66
100 00
Francis Leighton
66
50 00
Isaiah Leighton
Fairview
100 00
Mazuzan and Whitney
66
200 00
Edwin D. Metcalf
50 00
Josiah A. Osgood (John Os- good lot)
66
50 00
John M. Osgood
95 25
James M. Parker
66
50 00
Fletcher Peckens
66
50 00
Prescott and Babbitt
66
100 00
Abram Prescott tomb
Westlawn
50 00
Charles H. Prescott
100 00
Joseph H. Prescott
50 00
Frances A. Prescott
Fairview
50 00
Nathan P. Prescott
50 00
Mary A. Putnam
Hillside
100 00
Polly Quigg.
Fairview
50 00
Abijah C. Reed
50 00
Anan Reed
Westlawn
50 00
Sarah S. Reed
100 00
Annie Richardson
Fairview
50 00
Olive A. Richardson
50 00
Samuel Richardson
66
50 00
Amount carried forward
$4,345 25
66
99
Amount brought forward
$4,345 25
Sarah Richardson
Fairview
50 00
Sarah E. Richardson
50 00
Nancy Sargent
50 00
C. Frederick Seifer
66
50 00
Clara A. Smith
66
50 00
Levi Snow
66
100 00
Salmon L. Snow
100 00
Sarah E. P. Wells
Westlawn
100 00
Hiram Whitney
Fairview
100 00
Clara M. Wiley
66
100 00
Luther Wilkins
75 00
John Wilson
50 00
Capt. Ezekiel Wright
Westlawn
50 00
N. H. Wright
Fairview
100 00
Varnum B. Wright
25 00
$5,395 25
66
GEORGE T. DAY, Chairman,
W. H. H. BURBECK, DAVID L. GREIG, Commissioners of Public Burial Grounds.
100
DEDICATION OF SOLDIERS' MONUMENT AND MEMORIAL EXERCISES, MAY 30, 1910.
Through the generosity of Col. Edwin D. Metcalf, of Auburn, N. Y., a former resident of Westford, in presenting to the Town a granite monument mounted with a bronze statue of a Marching Soldier, to commemorate the services of Westford's volunteers in the Civil War, the Town appropriated the sum of Five Hundred ($500) Dollars to fittingly dedicate this munificent gift. The square opposite the common was decided upon as the most appropriate place to erect it. Col. Metcalf paid for the grading and curbing of the lot.
A committee consisting of Oscar R. Spalding, Edward M. Abbot, Andrew Johnson of the Board of Selectmen, with addition of Sherman H. Fletcher, George T. Day, Edward Fisher, Julian A. Cameron and Wesley O. Hawkes was selected to take charge
101
of the work and the exercises on Memorial Day. Invitation was extended to all Veterans that served for the quota of West- ford and other resident Veterans as well as to the Veterans of the Town of Chelmsford and many were present with a large number of people of this and the surrounding towns.
Col. EDWIN D. METCALF
The exercises of unveiling the monument began promptly at 10.30 o'clock. The Veterans of the Westford and Chelmsford Associations were drawn up on two sides, with the Nashua Military Band in position, and hundreds of people packed closely about the enclosure.
102
Of the 172 men who went to the war from Westford there were just 23 in line: And to these 23 old men, in faded uniforms and old Grand Army hats the exercises were of solemn signi- ficance.
After a selection by the band, the dedicatory prayer was made by Rev. Benjamin H. Bailey of Westford.
THE PRESENTATION.
Col. Edwin D. Metcalf-he served upon the staff of Gov. Robinson and was once assistant quartermaster general of Massachusetts-then presented the monument to the Town in the following speech, which was received with loud applause:
"In response to the ringing of the church bells, some of those present, with others, gathered in yonder schoolhouse in the evening of April 22, 1861. The motive that brought them together sprang from events momentous in the history of this Town, State and Nation, and it is exceedingly appropriate that the location selected by your committee for this monument, is almost in the shadow of the place where your citizens were first face to face with what war really meant.
"It was there that President Lincoln's first proclamation calling for 75,000 volunteers was read by Hon. J. W. P. Abbott, and my father, with others, stepped forward and signed the roll, pledging their effort and lives, if necessary, to the preservation of the Union. I remember it well. As a boy I sat on one of the front seats with Capt. S. H. Fletcher and watched with interest the men who were willing to leave their homes and all that they loved best in response to their Country's call.
"As there have been but few changes around this square in the past half century, little needs to be left to my imagination since I was a boy going to school here. Some faces that I would like to see, have gone to join the great majority, and upon other faces time has left its mark, but the surroundings and the memories which they awaken and recall, are far more eloquent than anything I can say to you.
103
"History accords to the men who volunteered to preserve the national honor, a more enduring monument than this of stone and bronze, but I am thankful that you have given me the privilege of presenting your Town this slight testimonial, in commemoration of those soldiers and sailors that voluntarily left their homes and families to participate in the great struggle which should decide whether the United States would stand united, as our forefathers intended, or be divided. And now, sir, to you, as representative of the Town of Westford, I hereby present a deed of gift of this memorial and entrust its keeping to you, hoping that another generation, when they see it, will be inspired to do their part in the affairs of their day to preserve their liberty and the Union of this nation."
Miss Hazel B. Hartford, an attractive miss of the Town, then pulled the cords releasing the flags that covered the monu- ment, and the handsome bronze figure of a soldier upon a large granite base stood revealed. The band played a patriotic number and there was loud applause.
THE GIFT ACCEPTED.
The gift was accepted by Oscar B. Spaulding, chairman of the Board of Selectmen, who spoke as follows:
"The Town of Westford greatly appreciates this generous gift. Its artistic beauty and suggestive lessons will have an educative influence over this and all coming generations. It will teach true patriotism. By day and by night this marching soldier, halted here, will unceasingly and steadfastly declare that devotion to Country, to State, to Town, to one's own community, is the crowning glory of every true citizen.
"In the name of the citizens of Westford, proud of the sons who have gone out from its borders, in the name of these Veterans who today so tenderly remember their old comrades, for the living and for the coming generations we thank you for your free-hearted generosity, and accept at your hands this munificent gift."
104
The Weber Quartet of Boston sang, then the band played again, and the Veterans moved forward in column of twos, en- circling the monument and then marched away to the Town Hall.
The exercises were barely over when a sharp shower broke over the Town. There was a scamper to the Library and the Town Hall, where for nearly an hour there was a regular old- home day reunion.
The weather had cleared at 1.15 o'clock, when 500 people formed a procession in front of the Town Hall, and headed by the band and the Veterans, marched to a great tent upon the com- mon, where a dinner was served by the D. L. Page Co., of Lowell. Every one of the 501 seats was soon occupied, and an excellent menu was enjoyed, following grace said by Rev. Louis F. Haver- male of Graniteville.
THE SPEAKING.
There was an unusually fine program of after-dinner speak- ing. There was likewise excellent music given by the band and the quartet.
Captain Sherman H. Fletcher presided, and made an address of welcome. He said:
"I extend to you, in behalf of the committee, a most cordial welcome, and a greeting from the Town of Westford. Forty-nine years ago this month, an event took place on these grounds that stirred the patriotism of our townspeople. It was at the opening of the Civil War, when meetings for recruiting were being held in every northern village, and Westford had taken up her part in the cause. The event to which I refer was the erection and dedi- cation of the flagstaff which you see nearby. In loyalty to their country and the cause, the citizens had inscribed upon the cross- trees the words 'Liberty and Union,' and among those who participated in the services of dedication was Company C, 16th Regiment Mass. Volunteers, which was quartered at Groton Junction, now the town of Ayer, and in which some 20 young men of this Town had enlisted for service. Leander G. King of Groton, who fell at Gettysburg, was captain, and William Metcalf
105
of Westford, lieutenant. Over yonder is the building in which our young men were recruited and received their first military instruction from Lieut. Metcalf. A few of these men are here today, with comrades from other companies, some never re- turned and others are at rest in their native towns, where their surviving comrades place upon their graves a token of love and remembrance each Memorial Day. This seems a most fitting place for us to meet in honor of those who gave their lives that this nation mightlive, and also to honor those Veterans of Westford who are here with their comrades from the mother town of Chelmsford. What better place to honor and thank the donor of the beautiful gift which we dedicated this morning, coming as it does from the son of the first man to enlist from this Town. This silent soldier, cast in bronze, stands like a sentinel watching these grounds as if he could see his comrades of old, marching forth in defense of their country, bearing aloft the inscription our fathers placed upon the flagstaff,-'Liberty and Union.' On this occasion the pleasant duty falls upon me to introduce to you one who lived here in his boyhood days, who left this Town when a young man and by his own energy and ability has made a suc- cessful career in the business world. I have the pleasure of introducing to you Col. Edwin D. Metcalf of Auburn, N. Y., the donor of our monument."
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.