Chelmsford Historical Society
Outline of Interview Mar 3, 1975 Eliza J. and Leslie Hannaford
00-born,1889
12-came to Lowell in 1900
26-arrived May 1, 1900
29-mother came in February to get a job for Dad
33-father had been a moulder in a Sackville, New Brunswick foundry
37-got a job at the Peevy Foundry, Lowell
42-he was a hollow ware moulder
52-father and brother left New Brunswick first
57-the rest of the family left by train; mother and nine children
66-Eliza was the youngest child, four years old
74-series of problems when father first moved to Lowell he had been sending money to the family though it never reached them
87-theft
97-constables' advice
110-broke up house in New Brunswick, sold at a loss
120-mother had been a jockey, horse trainer
125-rode horses beside trains to break them in
150-Eliza was sick all the way from Sackville to Lowell
162-arrival at Lowell Depot
192-first home was on Peevy Street, near the Foundry
203-foundry sold out soon after arrival
234-father had to find another job moved to Walker Street had difficulty paying rent very crowded
242-moved to Saratoga Street
246-attracted to Chelmsford by the Episcopal Chusch
253-moved to Third Street, off Warren Avenue
266-married in 1915
267-worked at Town Farm, met husband there, building at the corner of Billerica St., and Golden Cove Road
274-husband's full name, Louis Leroy Hannaford
280-served in World War II
293- RETURN TO DISCUSSION OF EARLIER LIFE family worked in mills
298-worked in Brookside, quit High School at age 13 had been attending Highland School
337-Brookside located in West Chelmsford, where the food licker is today
339-at the time Eliza was living on Boynton Street in Lowell
343-walked to train every morning at seven t returned every evening at six
350-she worked so far away because there was no closer work that appealed
364-sister was a weaver at the Carpet Factory
383-married at age 25
384-met husband at Town Farm
388-Eliza worked there, at the time there were twenty three inmates
398-Mr. & Mrs. Waldo Hannaford, Roy's parents, operated the Farm for thirteen years (it was actually only nine years)
421-residents at the farm
424-mostly elderly
429-some worked on the farm
433-farm produce was sold
434-Hannafords were paid four hundred a year by the Town
447-after marriage, Roy and Eliza moved into Town Farm but Chelmsford Selectman Carl Perham insisted they move immediately
452-he was a "funny selectman"
456-conditions at the Town Farm
462-original Farm on Mill Road, burned
474-persons at Town Farm
500-practical jokes-(sections deleted in poor taste)
525-a nurse in residence at the Farm for a time
535-more practical jokes
566-large numbers at the Farm
568-Tramp House provided overnight shelter
571-Town paid for care of tramps
572-food furnished by farm itself
578-"a well kept place"
579-didn't seem to be any complaints
585-Mr. Long succeeded as keeper of the farm
601-Sinai Simard was the last superintendent
634-Roy Hannaford installed first lights at the Farm
645-four hundred dollard a year was considered good wages
658-recreation at the Town Farm mostly just the radio, people didn't leave the farm they were supposed to stay on the grounds
672-death at the Farm; some buried in "Strangers Row" at Pine Ridge Cemetery, in the back section
694-husband an electrician and builder
701-house building market during the Depression
707-built house on East Chelmsford Road,six rooms
719-also built house next to 47 Golden Cove Road
727-had bank mortgage
737-rented house on East Chelmsford road but tenants didn't pay rent so Hannafords lost both houses
795-view of death
821-likes Chelmsford
836-home cures, brandy and poultices
880-Woodhead Farm
917-wakes and funerals
923-Chelmsford politics
929-didn't care to vote except on school issues
936-"Woman's Place"
945-working mothers are the cause of problems among youth
948-sex education
977-unsafe world, never used to lock doors
994-recreation

SIDE TWO
01-sports
04-Fourth of July, dragged milk cans over cobblestones
11-South Common
19-death, morning and evening prayers
31-Wilson Waters
36-not many persons attended church
38-Waters visited all his parishoners every year
43-bad weather always hampered church attendance
47-Roy Hannaford put first electric lights in All Saints' Church
53-faith
63-Lowell theatres
65-Opera House
67-St John's Episcopal Church
74-last electric car into Chelmsford every night only went as far as Golden Cove turnout
79-halfway house between Lowell and Chelmsford is presently Mrs. Nelson's Candy House
100-Mother
119-Silesia Mills, North Chelmsford,worked there before marriage
131 attempt to leave home,controversy over pay checks, settlement with mother
170-way of life in the Mills
226-present home at 47 Golden Cove Road was a Toll House for the Turnpike during the 1700's this was the main road to Boston

End of interview
This website is maintained by Chelmsford Historical Society members. To comment, or report broken links, e-mail webmaster