History of Westfield, Massachusetts, USA

1660 - Westfield is settled

Massachusetts City and Town Incorporation and Settlement Dates

1669 - Westfield is incorporated

Massachusetts City and Town Incorporation and Settlement Dates

General Henry Knox and his troops passed through here in the winter of 1775-76 with a load of 59 cannons pulled by teams of oxen.
The cannons were captured from the British at Fort Ticonderoga and Crown Point. They were transported from Lake Champlain to Dorchester Heights, Massachusetts and used by George Washington's army on March 17, 1776 (Evacuation Day) to free Boston from British control during the American Revolutionary War.

General Henry Knox Trail - Historic Marker reads:
"Through this place passed General Henry Knox in the winter of 1775-1776 to deliver to General George Washington at Cambridge the train of artillery from Fort Ticonderoga used to force the British army to evacuate Boston."

1819 - July 26 - Twin cloudbursts of fifteen inches struck almost simultaneously at Catskill, NY, and Westfield, MA. Flash flooding resulted in enormous erosion.

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1839 - Westfield
Westfield, Massachusetts
Hampden county. This is a place of singular beauty, on Westfield river. It lies in a valley or basin of about 4 miles in diameter, surrounded by high hills, and is supposed to have been the bed of a lake whose waters burst the Mount Tom range of mountains and discharged itself into Connecticut river.

The Hampshire and Hampden canal passes through this town, and promises great advantages to its trade and hydraulic power.

About a third part of the population of the village is engaged in making whips. The annual amount of that article manufactured here is about $160,000. There are also three powder mills in the town, and manufactures of tin ware, ploughs, boots, shoes, leather, cigars, palm-leaf hats, chairs, cabinet and wooden wares: total annual value, about $250,000.

The Westfield academy is in high standing: it has considerable funds, and its annual number of scholars is about 400.

Westfield was first settled in 1659. Incorporated in 1669. It... Read MORE...

1841 - Horrible Accident on the Western Railroad
We are informed by the Springfield Republican and Boston Transcript, of the details of a terrible accident which occurred on Tuesday, on the Western Railroad, near Westfield, Mass. The Eastern and Western trains came in contact, from the fact that the train from the West was behind its time, and the other train went on, the conductor hoping to arrive at the next turn-out before meeting the other train. The baggage-cars of each train were behind, of course, bringing the passenger cars directly behind the locomotives and tenders. The two locomotives and two or three passenger cars of each train were smashed to a complete wreck. The passengers were jammed and tumbled together in the ruins in dreadful confusion.

We informed that eighteen or twenty have limbs broken; and many more are severely bruised and lacerated in various ways. MR. WARREN, the conductor of the train from the West, was so injured that he died the next morning. The engineer of that train escaped without much injury.... Read MORE...

1845 - WESTFIELD [Pop. 3,526. Inc. 1669.]
This town was called Warronoco by the Indians, and Westfield by the English, because it was the most westerly settlement of the colony. It once included Southwick and Russell, and was united to Springfield.

Little River, a branch of Westfield River, unites with it near the main village.

The settlers were few in number at the time of Philip's War, but they suffered considerably.

The soil is good, though various. The only manufactures of note are whips and gunpowder. A State Normal School is here. Distance from Springfield, 10 miles; from Boston, 97.
An Elementary Geography for Massachusetts Children by William Bentley Fowle and Asa Fitz, 1845
Get it HERE!

1854 - Westfield
Westfield, a flourishing post-village of Hampden co., Massachusetts, on the West- field river, and on the Western railroad, 10 miles W. N. W. from Springfield. It is delightfully situated in a plain bordered with beautiful hills. In the centre is a fine public square, around which are situated the principal stores. The village contains 2 or 3 churches, a town house, 2 banks, 2 newspaper offices, and one of the state normal schools. The inhabitants are engaged in manufactures of various kinds, tho principal of which are whips. Population in 1810, 3626; in 1850, 4181.
A New and Complete Gazetteer of the United States: Giving a Full and Comprehensive Review of the Present Condition, Industry, and Resources of the American Confederacy ... Thomas Baldwin (of Philadelphia.) Joseph Thomas January 1, 1854 Philadelphia : Lippincott, Grambo & Company 1854.

1869 - Devoted Deacon
Deacon J. H. Stowe, who died in Westfield, Mass., recently, is said to have attended more prayer meetings and prayed more than any other resident of that city. He was a church member for fifty-nine years, the first Sunday School Superintendent in that city, and he had read the Bible through, in course, once a year for the last sixty years.
St Joseph Herald
Saint Joseph, Michigan
February 13, 1869

Westfield Massachusetts, 1890
Westfield is a large and flourishing town in the westerly part of Hampden County, 108 miles from Boston and 10 from Springfield. The Boston and Albany, the Holyoke and Westfield and the New Haven and Northampton railroads intersect at the centre. At this point is the principal village, which is the post-office for the town. The other villages are East Farms, Little River, Middle Farms, West Farms and West Parish.

The boundaries are Southampton on the north; Holyoke, West Springfield and Agawam on the east; Southwick on the south; and Granville, Russell and Montgomery on the west. The assessed area is 24,931 acres; of which 6,924 were forest. There is such diversity of soil that the flora is unusually interesting to the botanist; and it is said that a greater variety of native trees, shrubs, grasses and flowers is here presented, than in any other township in the State. The geological structure is miocene tertiary and calciferous mica-schist, in which serpentine, steatite,... Read MORE...

1895 - Westfield
Westfield, a post-town of Hampden co., Mass, on a river of the same name, and on the Boston & Albany Railroad where it crosses the New Haven & Northampton Railroad, 10 miles W. of Springfield, and 15 miles S. by W. of Northampton. It is situated in a beautiful and fertile valley, and contains 9 churches, the Westfield State Normal School, a high school, 2 hotels, 2 national banks, 2 savings banks, 2 newspaper offices, and extensive manufactures of whips and cigars, paper, steam heaters, paper baskets, machinery, and numerous other articles. Its water-works cost $250,000. Pop. in 1890, 9805.
Lippincott's Gazetteer of the World: A Complete Pronouncing Gazetteer Or Geographical Dictionary of the World Containing Notices of Over One Hundred and Twenty-five Thousand Places ... Joseph Thomas January 1, 1895 J.B. Lippincott

1906
Westfield, a post-township (town) of Hampden co., Mass., on a river of the same name and on the Boston and Albany and the New York, New Haven and Hartford Rs., 9 miles W. of Springfield. It is situated in a beautiful and fertile valley, and contains the Westfield State Normnal School, Westfield Athenaeum, and other institutions, and has extensive manufactures of whips, cigars, paper, steam heaters, machinery, bicycles, thread, etc. Pop. in 1900, 12,310.
Lippincott's New Gazetteer: A Complete Pronouncing Gazetteer Or Geographical Dictionary of the World, Containing the Most Recent and Authentic Information Respecting the Countries, Cities, Towns ... in Every Portion of the Globe Publisher J.B. Lippincott Company, 1906

1920 - Westfield is incorporated as a city

Massachusetts City and Town Incorporation and Settlement Dates

1936 - WESTFIELD HOTEL FIRE RESULTS IN 7 DEATHS. VAN DEUSEN INN DESTROYED BY BLAZE, CAUSE OF WHICH IS NOW UNDER INVESTIGATION BY STATE AUTHORITIES - IN ADDITION TO KNOWN DEAD, ANOTHER IS CRITICALLY BURNED.
Westfield, Mass., Jan. 6. - (AP) - The death toll of the fire that destroyed the Van Deusen inn last night was definitely set at seven this morning, with no known missing and one person in critical condition in Noble hospital.

An investigation of the fire was begun for the state on orders of State Fire Marshal STEPHEN C. HARRITY, who sent word later in the morning that he would come here immediately, to take personal charge. The investigation was begun by Chief Inspector GEORGE O. MANSFIELD, assisted by Lieut. W. J. PUZZO of the state police, attached to the fire marshal's office.

The revised death list is:
MISS M. GRACE FICKETT, member of the teaching staff of the Westfield State Teachers college.
MRS. MINNIE C. JANES, 64, widow of Dr. George C. Janes.
HENRY VAN DEUSEN, 18, son of Spencer Van Deusen, owner of the inn.
MISS NATALIE JONES, matron of the inn.
GEORGE ALEXANDER, 69, insurance man, father of Mrs. Spencer Van Deusen.
MISS BESSIE MALONE.
GILDO... Read MORE...

1955 -August - During the second week of August hurricanes Connie and Diane produced as much as 19 inches of rain in the northeastern U.S. forcing rivers from Virginia to Massachusetts into a high flood.
Westfield MA was deluged with 18.15 inches of rain in 24 hours, and at Woonsocket RI the Blackstone River swelled from seventy feet in width to a mile and a half. Connecticut and the Delaware Valley were hardest hit. Total damage in New England was 800 million dollars, and flooding claimed 187 lives.
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Here's a list of places to go and things to do in Westfield:
Stanley Park: Start your journey with a visit to Stanley Park, a beautiful green space that covers over 300 acres. You can stroll through the well-maintained gardens, have a picnic by the pond, or take a leisurely walk along the scenic trails. The park also features a playground and a zoo, making it a great spot for families.

Barnes Airport (Westfield-Barnes Regional Airport): If you're an aviation enthusiast, or just curious about aircraft, visit Barnes Airport. You can watch planes take off and land, and there's a small museum dedicated to aviation history.

Westfield Athenaeum: For those interested in history and culture, the Westfield Athenaeum is a public library that also hosts art exhibits, lectures, and events. It's a quiet and serene place to read, study, or explore the local history.

Westfield Farmers Market: If you're in town during the warmer months, don't miss the Westfield Farmers Market. You can sample fresh, local produce and artisanal goods while supporting... Read MORE...