The Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce After 5 Connection took place at the Chester Railway Station Wednesday. (Photo by Amy Porter)
CHESTER – The Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce held its monthly After 5 social connection at the Chester Railway Station and Museum, a Chamber member, on Wednesday evening.
The 1840’s station is run by volunteers, led by local historian David Pierce who gave a short talk and tour of the museum and the 1919 railroad caboose, which is available for campers to rent for a night. The station is also rented out for events, including birthdays, weddings, showers and other celebrations, with or without a full kitchen located in the Blue Caboose. Information on rentals is available on the website at chesterrailwaystation.net.
Pierce said the station was the center of town for 100 years. It served the first railroad in the world to go over a mountain via ten keystone arch bridges spanning six miles over the Westfield River which were designed by Major George Washington Whistler, the artist James McNeil Whistler’s father. Pierce said the Keystone Arches recently received an important historic designation. Pierce said he is always surprised that people in the area are unfamiliar with the history of the railroad and the keystone arches.
Executive Director Kate Phelon thanked Pierce and the Chester Railway Station for hosting the Chamber, and said they should consider scheduling a narrated hike of the Keystone Arches with Pierce.
Barbara Huntoon in the kitchen of the Blue Caboose at Chester Railway Station. (Photo by Amy Porter)
The Chester station was saved from razing by volunteers in the 1980’s, who raised the money to move it from between the railroad tracks and restore it. It is still entirely run by volunteers on the Chester Foundation, among them Chester resident and Hampden Village Office Manager Barbara Huntoon who chairs the Chester Select Board.
Huntoon will also serve as chief cook this Saturday, October 13, when the station will host its ninth annual Hobo Harvest Dinner of beef stew, corn pudding, apple pie and pumpkin pie. The dinner is from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. and costs $12 to benefit the Chester Railway museum. Reservations are recommended and may be made by calling 413-354-7878, although tickets will be available at the door.
