USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Westford > Town of Westford annual report 1927-1931 > Part 4
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2.00
Ed. B. Currier
2.00
Stephen Healey
2.00
Charles Harris
2.00
Mrs. Martin Hanson
2.00
Mrs. Flora Chamberlain
2.00
Mrs. E. E. Rivers
2.00
Daisy Hurd
2.00
Leon Pickering
2.00
Richard Dugdale
2.00
George Horne
2.00
Albert D. Taylor
4.00
Delia Wheeler 2.00
Mrs. Louis Schworer 2.00
Sarah Gardell 2.00
Dexter Coggshall 2.00
Ernest Lehman
2.00
Samuel Balch
2.00
Daisy Holbrook
2.00
Peter Reid
2.00
Frank Griffin
2.00
Mrs. Elizabeth Abbot 5.00
Susie Carkin
John F. Spalding.
54
James Stuart
$ 2.00
Frank Healey
2.00
John Edwards 2.00
C. A. & F. R. Blodgett 2.00
Mrs. Harry McCollster
2.00
Mary Bunce
4.00
Henry Fletcher
2.00
Mrs. Fred Ripley
2.00
Mrs. Annie Draper
2.00
Mrs. R. McAdoo
2.00
John Matterson
2.00
William Wyman
2.00
Don Judd
2.00
John Baker
2.00
Mary Kabele
2.00
George Harris
2.00
Walter Longbottom
2.00
Josephine Martin 2.00
2.00
Arthur Bearer
2.00
Mary Girard
2.00
Mrs. Edgar Mann
2.00
E. L. Burland
2.00
Alice M. Dasy
2.00
Lillian Atwood
2.00
Fred Naylor
2.00
Almon Vose
2.00
David Scott
2.00
Mrs. George A. Walker
2.00
Amos Polley
2.00
Mrs. James Fraser
2.00
Samuel Felch
2.00
Priscilla Bennett
2.00
Mark W. Jenkins
2.00
Martha Doucett
2.00
James Wigham
2.00
Ellen Stiles
2.00
M. L. Boyden
2.00
Lottie White
2.00
Walter Blodgett
2.00
Sigard Peterson
2.00
Almira Johnson
2.00
Jessie Sherman 2.00
Mrs. Thomas Symes
6.00
James L. Moss
2.00
Mrs. Fred Stiles
2.00
Elisha Hanning
2.00
Charles Flanagan
2.00
Frank Miller
4.00
Robert Orr
2.00
Edward Boynton
55
Charles Bicknell 2.00
H. G. Osgood.
2.00
Harry White 2.00
Elizabeth Catchpole 2.00
Effie Adams 2.00
Mrs. Wade Hitchcock. 2.00
Mrs. Marion Saville 2.00
William Counter
2.00
E. J. Hunt
4.00
Mrs. W. W. Johnson.
2.00
John Fisher
2.00
Alfred Hartford
2.00
Arthur Hildreth
2.00
Phonsie Isles
4.00
Nora Colburn
2.00
Frank Shea 4.00
Mrs. Charles Stokes 2.00
Ernest Mountain
2.00
James O'Brien 8.00
William C. Clements
2.00
Mrs. Elizabeth Clements.
2.00
Samuel Taylor
6.00
B. W. DeCatur
2.00
HILLSIDE
Perley E. Wright. 2.00
Charles Worcester 2.00
C. A. & F. R. Blodgett. 2.00
R. E. Reeding. 2.00
Samuel Hildreth 2.00
2.00
Mrs. D. W. Parker
2.00
George Irish
2.00
Amy Irish
2.00
WESTLAWN
Nora Colburn
2.00
Rachel Reed
4.00
WRIGHT
Lillian Wright 2.00
Ellen Woods
2.00
Gladys Perington
2.00
Walter Wright
4.00
Bradley Wright
2.00
Emma Chandler
56
Treasurer's Report FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1927
Balance on hand January 1, 1927 $ 13,149.69
Total Receipts to December 31, 1927 322,579.54
$335,729.23
Balance on hand December 31, 1927 $ 17,952.32
Total Payments to December 31, 1927 317,776.91
$335,729.23
Respectfully submitted,
EVA F. WRIGHT,
Treasurer.
Report of Assessors
Value of buildings
2,333. 33.740.00
Value of land
758,285.00
Value of personal estate
1,171,984.00
Total
$ 4,264,009.00
MONEY APPROPRIATED
General government
7.675.00
Police department
2,500.00
Fire department
2,700.00
Sealer of weights and measures.
150.00
Fish and game warden.
100.00
Forest fires
1,000.00
Tree warden
300.00
Moth department
2,500.00
Health department
3,400.00
Cattle inspector
150.00
Highway purposes
28,200.00
Charities
11,900.00
Soldiers' benefits
2.000.00
School department
66,250.00
Public library
2,400.00
Care of Common
200.00
Memorial Day
300.00
Town reports
500.00
Liability insurance
500.00
Demonstration work in agriculture and home economics. 400.00
Town forest
200.00
57
Reserve fund
2,000.00 25.00 Care of town scales.
Cemetery
1,200.00
Overdrafts for 1926.
5.431.90
Outstanding bills Dec. 31, 1926.
1,270.79
Plans and estimates for Cameron school addition
300.00
Vocational training
2,000.00
Land damage Littleton, Chelmsford Road.
1,300.75
Retaining walls Sargent school.
300.00
State tax
12.500.16
County tax
8,776.10
Notes and interest.
17,760.00
Overlay
246.03
Total
$188,223.18
TOTAL RECEIPTS
Estimated receipts
$ 42,046.68
Taken from the treasury
12,000.00
Raised by taxation.
132.184.50
Poles
1,992.00
$188,223.18
Number of poles.
996
Number of horses
209
Number of cows
471
Number of sheep
4
Number of neat cattle.
121
Number of swine.
28
Number of dwelling houses.
788
Number of fowls
8,233
Acres of land.
18,000
ABATEMENTS GRANTED
LEVY OF 1926
Real estate
$ 7.06
Personal estate
86.15
LEVY OF 1927
Personal estate
107.65
Real estate
64.70
Poles
8.00
Rate on $1,000
31.00
J. W. FLETCHER, ELBERT H. FLAGG, T. ARTHUR E. WILSON,
Assessors.
58
Tax Collector's Report
TAXES REMAINING UNCOLLECTED JANUARY 1, 1928
Willard & Vona L. Bachelder $ 60.38
George Chaney
49.60
Louis & Georgianna Clouter. 62.00
Napoleon Coupal
131.75
Maria DeMenore
7.13
Oliver Desjardin, Moth-3.08
78.59
Bernard J. Flynn
49.60
Gagnon Heirs
38.75
Arthur Godfrey
17.05
W. E. Green Heirs.
9.30
Charles M. Griffin, Moth-3.22
Philip Guilmet
2.00
Albert M. Hartwell.
10.54
Joseph E. Holmes.
3.10
John & Susie Hornbrook.
77.10
Rufus A. Jaques
4.65
Jane L. Kimball.
15.50
Harlan E. Knowlton.
105.24
Melvina Lejeunnesse
7.13
Eva M. & Lawton Lawton.
62.00
Luther Lawton
3.10
Charles E. Lougee
142.14
Everett Lougee
16.43
Dorothea D. Lydiard
124.00
Thomas J. Murphy
3.41
Olaf Osvid
3.55
James Parquette
2.00
Arthur Picking
12.71
Albert H. G. Picking.
6.20
Prescott Picking
6.20
Phillip Picking
7.75
Richard Picking
62.00
Arthur E. Picking
7.13
Frederick Pond
12.40
ยท Jos. C. & Fannie M. Regnier
198.25
Frances E. Regnier
52.70
Conrad Richards
248.93
George Stathias
2.00
David Sherman
58.13
James E. Sullivan
5.27
59
John W. Sullivan.
15.50
Edward D. Whitney
11.11
Frances E. Wing
32.85
Charles D. Wright
12.40
Sidney B. Wright.
100.75
NON-RESIDENTS
Claude Allen
100.75
George Babcock Heirs
71.30
John C. Blaisdell Heirs.
10.85
Hattie M. Carter
6.20
Thomas Cleghorn
.47
James M. Cormick .
11.47
Elizabeth Davis
4.65
Bessie Doney
27.90
Firmin Dupre
31.00
W. A. Eaton.
3.10
Thomas H. Elliott .
167.40
Ida B. Frost.
3.10
Bertram Hutchins
6.20
R. Johnson
12.40
Florence G. Libby
3.10
Lowell & Fitchburg Street R. R.
120.13
James H. Lovering
7.75
Joseph Thomas Maillot.
7.75
Catherine McNulty
3.10
George A. Morris
29.45
Florence J. Murphy
9.30
Octave L. Sherault. 9.30
Arthur E. Storer
21.70
Nathan Wheeler
18.60
David Wren
3.10
John Yates
3.10
Paid since December 31st, 1927. $1,002.27
Taxes remaining unpaid Dec. 31st, 1927.
3,633.76
Taxes remaining unpaid Feb. 1st, 1928. 2,631.76
$3,633.76
A. L. HEALY, Tax Collector.
60
Report of Public Welfare Department
Number of inmates during year 8
Number of inmates Dec. 31, 1927 7 Number of Travelers
Number in Locknp 26
The Board reorganized with Perley E. Wright as chairman, and Edson G. Boynton, secretary.
Mr. and Mrs. Henry Pillman resigned as Superintendent and Matron at the Westford Home, and Mr. and Mrs. Charles D. Felch were engaged to fill the position. We feel the place has improved this year. We have also added more cows to the herd and now have 15, and a pair of horses. Have also replaced a number of farm tools, bedding and ice chest in the house. There were two new inmates this year. There were two deaths, one at the home and one at the hospital.
We have retained Mr. and Mrs. Felch for the coming year.
PERLEY E. WRIGHT, Chairman. EDSON G. BOYNTON, Secy. CHARLES A. BLODGETT.
Schedule of Personal Property at Home Farm
30 Bu. Potatoes $ 45.00
20 Dozen Eggs
8.00
Pork
38.00
Vegetables and Apples
44.00
12 Beds and Bedding
230.00
Oil Stove
15.00
Kitchen Range
90.00
1 Small Stoves
10.00
9 Rocking Chairs 18.00
Clocks 10.00
10 Tons Coal
165.00
238 Quarts Canned Fruit and Vegetables 109.50
Groceries 88.20
Beans
7.25
12 Cords Wood in shed
96.00
Personal Property of Home
117.00
Ice Chest
75.00
Hay Wagon 20.00
21% M Shingles . . . 11.00
61
Lumber
5.00
1 Bull
75.00
14 Cows 1,974.00
2 Horses 300.00
Manure Spreader
50.00
1 Two-Horse Wagon
75.00
1 Hay Wagon
30.00
Two-Horse Mowing Machine
65.00
Two-Horse Cultivator
35.00
Wood Sled
40.00
1 Pig
25.00
Cut-away Harrow
5.00
23 Tons of Hay
586.00
33 Hens
50.00
Grain
271.15
1 Tip Cart
125.00
Express Harness
25.00
Double Harness
50.00
Hay Fork
52.50
10 Ft. Fire Hose
50.00
Balance of Personal Property 354.00
40.00
$ 1,738.65
WM. O. McDONALD,
RICHARD D. PRESCOTT, AMOS B. POLLEY,
Appraisers.
Report of Sealer of Weights and Measures
As Sealer of Weights and Measures for the Town of Westford I submit the following report for the year 1927 :
Number of Platform Scales over 5000 lbs. capacity.
6
Number of Platform Scales under 5000 lbs. capacity
52
Number of Computing Scales. 11
All other Scales 23
Total 92
Number of Weights Tested and Sealed 112
Number of Liquid Measures Sealed 5
Number of Gasolene Pumps Sealed 18
Number of Kerosene Pumps Sealed 6
Number of Oil Pumps Sealed 36
Number of Quantity Measures on Oil Pumps Sealed.
31
Total 211
ALBERT A. HILDRETH, Sealer of Weights and Measures.
Gas Engine
62
Report of Board of Health
The Board of Health respectfully submit the following report for the year ending Dec. 31, 1927 :
General condition of the Town has improved, such as the care and dis- pensing of milk, and the various epidemics were not present this year.
Miss Ruby McCarthy, the Town Nurse, resigned on Sept. 1, 1927, and Miss Veronica Payne was appointed to fill the vacancy.
Dept. of Board of Health, Westford, Mass.
Gentlemen :-
The following is my report as Nurse of the Town of Westford from Jan. 1, 1927 to Sept. 1, 1927.
School visits 129
Absentees visited in their homes 77
Children examined for minor ailments 29
Children sent home for illness 10
Nursing visits 31
Children to dentist. 110
Child welfare visits 38
Observation and advisory 50 Social and business 10
To St. John's eye and ear clinic. 34
To Lowell General T. & A. 29
To Private Physicians 2
Weighed and measured children 633
To Children's Hospital ( Boston)
9
Class Room Talks
8
Class Rooms Inspected
21
Milk samples taken every month.
To North Reading Sanitorium 3
Ruby McCarthy Regan, R. N.
A matter brought before the Board this year was the immunization of school children for diphtheria up to the age of ten years. The majority of children entering school nowadays in the state of Massachusetts are being immunized for diphtheria. It is a fact where this is done it is a preventative for 9 years for diphtheria, and that the cases of diphtheria now occurring, none has known to have developed in an immunized child. In most cases three simple injections are given and reactions if any are very slight.
The Board deemed it advisable to exchange the two year old Ford sedan for a new Ford sedan this year as it was beginning to require too many repairs.
We have left the unexpended balance of $115.66, which we have turned over to the Treasurer.
CYRIL ARTHUR BLANEY, Chairman.
JOHN EDWARD, Secretary. T. ALFRED HUGHES.
63
Dept. of Board of Health,
Westford, Mass.
Gentlemen :---
The following is the report of the Public Health Nurse from September 1 to December 31, 1927 :
School Visits 123
Absentees visited in their homes 37
Children examined for minor ailments 20
Children sent home for illness 6
Children taken to dentist 95
Children taken to private physicians 6
Excluded for contagious diseases
15
Child welfare visits 42
15
Observation and advisory
40
Nursing visits
15
Social and business
41
Pre-natal visits
2
To North Reading State Sanatorium
To Rutland State Sanatorium
2
To Lowell General Hospital for T. & A.
5
To St. John's Hospital for T. & A.
To St. John's Eye and Ear Clinic
17
Class rooms inspected
8
Administered ether
2
Contagious cases visited
14
Tubercular cases visited
Milk inspection made
Sight and hearing of all school children tested.
All school children weighed and measured.
Assisted School Physician with physical examination of all school children.
Results of Physical Examination :
Number of children with defective teeth 184
Number of children with diseased or enlarged tonsils 87
Contagious diseases reported to Board of Health :
Scarlet Fever 4
Pertussis 16
Tuberculosis
5
Rabies
1
Diphtheria
1
Varicella
Lobar Pneumonia . .
1
Deaths from contagious diseases :
Tuberculosis
Rabies
1
Lobar Pneumonia
1
Respectfully submitted, C. Veronica Payne, R. N.
Follow-up visits
First aid and dressings
64
Report of Forest Warden
During the year 1927 there have been 35 forest fires. I have issued 190 fire permits.
The following is a list of persons with whom fire extinguishers have been placed and a list of forest fires.
Respectfully submitted, HI. L. NESMITH, Forest Warden.
Forest Fires
Date Owner
Acres
Town Expense $ 3.40
Railroad Expense
Mar. 11 Geo. Drew
2
Mar. 16 E. Webster 2
$ 4.30
Mar. 23
T. O'Rourke
1
4.80
Mar. 14 J. Simpson
16
3.40
Mar. 15 F. Wright
2
3.40
Mar. 20
Symines Estate
5
17.90
Mar. 19
T. Barretts
4.50
Mar. 26
Geo. Lawton
4.50
Mar. 26
H. Fletcher
1
4.85
Mar. 27
F. Reed
8.25
Apr. 6
F. Reed
1
16.80
Apr. 8 Hartford Estate
12.35
Apr. 11 H. Wyman
1
2.20
Apr. 11
O. R. Spalding
2
13.05
Apr. 12
H. Russell
1
10.20
Apr. 12
F. Lougee
1
9.25
Apr. 15
J. Scanlon
1
10.10
Apr. 15 F. Fisher
3.40
Apr. 16 M. Downs 1/2
3.40
Apr. 16 F. Fisher 1
2.20
Apr. 16 C. Morris 25
110.00
Apr. 17 H. E. Fletcher 100
262.50
Apr. 17 J. O'Rourke 1
1
7.60
Apr. 23 F. Lougee
1
8.35
Apr. 27
Abbot Worsted Co. 1 7.80
1
2.15
May Abbot Worsted Co
1
5.95
May 9 F. Lougee 1
3
33.26
June 3 H. E. Gould
1%
2.75
July 24 M. Downs 1
7.80
Nov 23
1%
2.75
Apr. 7
Abbot Worsted Co.
13.30
Apr. 12
J. Cameron
6.15
Apr. 12
J. Healy
3.40
Apr. 21 Sargent Co.
May 8 T. Lawton
3.85
June 3 H. Fletcher
22.70
65
Report of Fire Engineers
The Board of Fire Engineers submit the following report for the year ending December 31, 1927 :
The companies have responded to 25 fires other than forest fires during the year : 16 buildings, 7 chimneys, 2 autos.
The following is a list of the buildings where damage occurred :
Jan. 24-Barn of David Sherman. Feb. 25-House of Aldie Fecteau.
March 3-Garage of Clarence E. Hildreth.
March 8-House of Aldie Fecteau.
April 12-House of Oscar R. Spalding.
May 8-House of Eva M. Lawton. May 22-Cottage of Town of Westford.
May 29-House of Estate Austin Lawrence.
June 13-Mill of C. G. Sargent Corp.
July 1-House of John Sullivan.
July 13-Barn of John Hornbrook.
Aug. 9-Cottage of Thomas.
Sept. 11-Barn of H. S. Griffin ( Moore Farm).
Sept. 27-Garage of Alex Barry.
Oct. 24-Store of E. T. Hanley.
Dec. 11-Barn of Adolph Schneider.
As the Department needs some new hose, the Fire Engineers recommend the sum of $3400.00 be raised and appropriated to meet the expenses of the Department for the coming year.
Alonzo H. Sutherland, Chief. Alfred T. W. Prinn, John Edwards, Clerk.
Instructions for Taking Care of Fire Extinguishers
1. Any person who is loaned a Fire Extinguisher by the Town of Westford for use at brush or house fires must be responsible for same.
2. After using and before refilling, the extinguisher should be thoroughly washed out to prevent corroding. The hose and nozzle also should be washed. Make sure the hole in the nozzle is clear.
3. Always wash and refill immediately. There may be another fire.
4. In winter the extinguisher should be put near a stove or in a warm place, to prevent freezing. Otherwise it should be emptied and washed out.
5. By putting into the extinguisher 34 of a cup of salt and stirring until dissolved, the extinguisher will not freeze so easily. It cannot, how- ever, be left in a wholly unheated building.
6. All persons having extinguishers, who close their homes for the winter, or who leave town, should notify the Forest Warden, Harry L. Nesmith, by telephone, and give the extinguishers to him.
7. Every spring the extinguishers should be discharged, washed out and refilled.
66
8. Any extinguisher that is lost or becomes defective should be re- ported to the Forest Warden.
9. Each person taking an extinguisher to a fire should take his own extinguisher home.
10. Know the number of your own extinguisher.
11. Any person allowing an extinguisher to freeze must pay for having it repaired.
Per Order, BOARD OF ENGINEERS, Town of Westford.
List of Fire Extinguishers in Town
1 David Gregg
45 John O'Brien, Vose Rd.
2 Geo. A. Drew
46 Ed. Blaisdell
3 Eben Prescott
47 A. Burnham
5 John Flynn
48 N. Decatur
6 L. J. Eliason
49 Thomas Caless
7 Charles Edwards
50 Mrs. A. McDonald
9 Walter Whidden
51 Charles Wright, Dunst. Rd.
15 Charles Lundberg
53 Albert Flagg
16 Nat Whitney
.54 Calvin Howard
17 Graniteville Fire House
55
James Wilson
18 Graniteville Fire House
56
Alec McDougal
20 W. Williams
57
Otis Day
21 Brookside Fire House
59 Parker Village Fire House
22 M. McGlinchey
60
Warren Sweetser
23 Graniteville Fire House
61
Mabel Drew
24 Frank Banister
62
O. R. Spalding
25 Graniteville Fire House
63 Graniteville Fire House
26 Axel Lundberg
65 John McIntosh
27 Gilman Wright
66 Guy Decatur
28 Horace Gould
67 A. B. Hartson
29 F. W. Rivinius
68 A. Dureault
30 J. M. Book
69 Bruce Whetmore
31 Ed Keyes
70 F. Sullivan
33 J. A. Healy, Dunstable Rd.
71 Blodgett Bros.
34 J. Willard Fletcher
72 John Sullivan
35 J. Willard Fletcher
73 Frank Wright
36 H. Wilder
77
F. McCoy
37 F. Shugrue
78 Geo. Hartford
38 Geo. Kimball
79 E. Mountain
39 Judson Sweetser
80
Westford Water Co.
40 W. Butterworth
81
R. Prescott
41 E. Jarvis
82 F. Burbeck
42 C. M. Griffin
83 A. O'Brien
43 Sullivan Bros.
84 Frank Hildreth
44 W. Seifer
86 A. Vose
.
67
87 Bruce Whitmore
115
Henry McDonald
89 Graniteville Fire House
116
John Simpson
91 Claude Johnson
117
O. R. Spalding
95 W. Whitten
118
J. Sargent
96 Henry Murphy
119
Geo. A. Moore
105 108 A. Polly
120
G. Sanburg
122
D. Desmond
110
Sidney Wright
123
Geo. H. Kohlrausch
112 Reginer Lumber Co.
124 R. Bridgeford
113 Alec McDonald
125
W. McDonald
114 Nat Downs
128
R. Cutting
Report on Town Forest
In the last year we have set five thousand four-year old pine trees furnished by the Massachusetts Forrestry Association. These trees have made a good start, the cool, rainy summer being very favorable to their growth. We also reset five hundred young pine trees growing on the lot. The brush has been cut and burned, greatly reducing the fire hazard and the older growth has been trimmed out.
Roads have been cut through the lot, giving easy access to the fire truck.
Thirty dollars have been turned over to the Town Treasurer for wood sold. We also have seventy-five dollars worth of wood on hand.
The coming year two thousand more young pines should be set to finish the thirteen and one-half acres. The hard wood brush should be cut and burned and some of the older growth thinned out.
Respectfully submitted,
OSCAR R. SPALDING, ALFRED W. HARTFORD, EDWIN H. GOULD.
Report of Tree Warden
The Tree Warden submits the following report for the year ending Dec. 31, 1927 :
My work has consisted of removing dead trees and trimming broken and dead limbs from them. I would suggest the sum of $300 be appropriated this year to carry on the work.
Respectfully submitted,
H. L. NESMITH, Tree Warden.
68
Report of Fish and Game Warden
To the Citizens of Westford :
In making this report I will say I did not notice an increase in our song birds. They keep just about the same year after year, although some birds that nested here a few years ago have disappeared from the locality. This will always be so while cats are allowed to run loose in the nesting season. A good smart cat will kill fifty birds in a season, besides all the squirrels he can find. If we want to save our birds, keep your cats housed in the nesting season. Don't expect to keep a lot of cats and raise birds of any kind on the same farm.
We have more partridge than in years past, also pheasants. I received 250 eggs from the State Game Farm. I gave them out to different land owners. The young birds were liberated as soon as they were large enough. Last winter I kept a flock of young pheasants until April, and at the present time I have a flock of young pheasants that I will keep until spring. These birds came from the State Game Farm and are in good condition.
In years past I received a number of snowshoe rabbits. I think I have liberated about 100, but for some reason they do not seem to increase. In fact, they disappear about as soon as they are liberated. I have not re- ceived any so far this year. Almost all the rabbits come here through the Lowell Fish and Game Association. That is, they come as far as Lowell and I go after them with a truck. They generally get here in February. We may receive some next month.
More animals have been taken in traps this season than for a number of years. Muskrats and minks; I haven't heard of any others being taken so far this season. Most people that trap I find honest, but some are a little careless in regard to the law. A trapping license is not a family affair. The person that sets the trap must attend to it once in twenty-four hours, and have his traps marked with his name or initials. He must not leave his traps set from one season to another and should pick them up at the end of the season. In fact, the persons that have the licenses must look after the traps. There is no law that allows one member of a family to get a license and have a large family all trap with that same license.
We received some bass through the courtesy of the Lowell Fish and Game Association. They were placed in Nabnassett. I have not received any trout this season so far, but as they come later in the season we will ' probably get an allotment of trout in March or April.
During the past year I have patrolled the woods and rivers as usual. Picked up a few traps that were not marked and left set from last season. Investigated a few suspicious persons, and had one case and conviction in district court in Ayer. Examined 39 fish and game licenses.
JOE WALL, Game Warden.
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Report of Middlesex County Extension Service
The Town of Westford appropriated $400.00 in support of the Middlesex County Extension Service, through the Trustees for County Aid to Agricul- ture, for 1927. Following is a report of the work accomplished during the year :
In agriculture probably the outstanding accomplishment was the forma- tion of the Westford Apple Growers' Association. This association was organized to improve marketing conditions, and has made a very creditable start. It is hoped that it will be a vital factor in the improvement of local conditions, both from the standpoint of production as well as marketing.
A total of one hundred forty-seven farm visits were made in the town during the year, at which time assistance was given on poultry work, fruit and field crops.
A complete mailing list is maintained, and the timely notices on fruit growing, poultry and gardening that were sent out were received by many Westford citizens.
In home-making the work has been very well organized, and a uumber of projects carried on in nearly all sections of the town. A group of mothers of young children was organized in the Center for the purpose of discussing child feeding and training. Co-operating with the State College a taik was given on health to the girls who are members of the 4-H Food Club. A whole grain cereal demonstration was given to a group of twenty-five women, to show the most satisfactory and easy ways to make dark breads and rolls. A talk on convenient kitchens was given to an open meeting of the Tadmuck Club with about fifty present. Seven homemakers were enrolled in the county-wide Kitchen Improvement Contest, two of whom received the first prize of $25.00; another received honorable mention. A series of home im- provement meetings have been organized, and Westford Center has been chosen as a place of meeting not only for the Westford groups but the sur- rounding towns. Groups have been organized in Westford Center, Parker- ville, Chamberlain's Corner, and Graniteville. Assistance was secured from the Massachusetts Agricultural College for those in the vicinity of Chamber- lain's Corner who were interested in improvement of the local water supply. Assistance was also given at the same time to those in Parkerville interested in the re-arrangement of their kitchens. Several groups in clothing, millinery, and furniture renovation work were also met.
In boys and girls 4-H club work, eighty-nine were enrolled in the Room Beautiful, Handicraft, Food, Garden, Fruit, Clothing and Poultry Clubs. Mrs. W. C. Roudenbush, Miss Lucinda Prescott, Helen Gallagher, Alice Heywood and Mr. Leon Hildreth served as local leaders.
Blanche Lewkowicz was chosen county food champion, and Evelyn Benjamin, county canning champion. Elmer Bridgeford and Helen Gallagher were elected to the county 4-HI Alumni Club. Margaret Foster, Elizabeth Nesmith, Dorothy Heywood, Evelyn Benjamin and John O'Connor were
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awarded a two-day trip to the Massachusetts Agricultural College for out- standing club work.
An Achievement Club program was held in connection with the Ex- tension Service Motion Pictures, at which time the boys and girls exhibited the results of their season's work and told of the advantages of 4-H Club work. They also exhibited at the Grange Fair, and were awarded third prize by the Middlesex North Agricultural Society.
Judges were furnished by the Extension Service for all departments of the Grange Fair.
A series of eight educational motion picture shows were given during the year to a total attendance of 2,043.
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