The month of March has been designated as Women’s History Month, and the Auburn Historical Society & Museum chose to highlight Miss Effie Mary Ward, the other woman in Dr. Robert Goddard’s life. Effie’s grandmother, Climena Goddard, was the sister to Robert’s great-grandmother, Elvira Goddard. This makes Effie and Robert third cousins.
Effie’s parents were Asa William Ward and Mary Elizabeth Alton. Asa’s parents were William Ward and Climena Goddard who were from Royalston MA. William married Ellen Elizabeth Young in 1856 and had 2 children, Luella Climena, Herbert William. Ellen died in 1861, Asa then married Mary Alton in 1863 and had 3 more children, Edward Asa who only lived 5 years, Marcus who lived for 48 years and Effie. The 1870 census showed quite the household with 13 people ranging in age from 3 to 33, by 1889 it was down to 6 and all with the last name Ward.
Asa Ward bought the 13 .89 acres of Pakachoag land from David M. Pitts in 1882. In the 1900 census, besides the brothers working the land, there were a nephew and several boarders helping to work on the land. The Auburn tax records for this time show the family had 7 horses, 2 cows, 123 fowls, carriage, boiler, engine, (windmill) house and 13 acres. The 1915 tax records also show that there were two parcels of land on Thayer St, lots 110-111 which were 5,000 feet, and lots 112-115 which measured 10,000 feet. The main house also listed 2 barns, celery house, windmill and pump shed.
In the list of draft cards of Auburn men in 1918, Irving Leander Acker listed being a farmer on Effie M. Ward’s farm for employment. Effie’s father passed away in 1915 and left the farm to her in his will. It seems that Effie had a green thumb and used some of that land to grow prize winning flowers and vegetables that were shown in many agricultural fairs in the county. She also generously presented flowers at town events and special occasions. Effie was civic minded and gave back to her community. She was a member of the Red Cross Chapter in town and was on the advisory committee. She was a member of the First Congregational Church and worked on the committee that helped raise money for the church budget working alongside Miss Abbie Shute, former town librarian. Effie was even mentioned helping with a Parent Teachers group who was conducting a food sale at the store of Wallace Bulfinch on Maple Ave in 1928.
Effie must have had a great belief in her cousin’s dream of liquid-fueled rockets to let him shoot them off on her property then deal with the local farmers who didn’t like the effect of the noise and debris that occurred with every launch. Newspapers describe how brush fires had to be extinguished, and every single piece of the rocket had to be retrieved. There was a barn or two that may have had embers land on them. It could be said that the commotion caused the cows to give sour milk and the chickens lay scrambled eggs.
This article is made possible by the Auburn Historical Society & Museum, 41 South Street. The museum is open Tuesday and Saturday mornings 9:30a-12:30p or by appointment.
Helen Poirier
Auburn Historical Society & Museum 