The large brick and mortar building next to the southbound Great River Bridge is the home to the Westfield Whip Mfg. Co. Inc. The company was established in 1884 and is located at 360 Elm Street. (Photo by chief photographer Frederick Gore)
Yesterday was such a great day for all of us in Westfield – a day of dedication during which the Governor, our mayor and city, state and federal officials spoke glowingly of the Great River Bridge and its adjacent re-imagined riverfront. As I applauded the efforts of the fine folks who helped to make this long-anticipated project come to fruition, I was thinking of the rich history Westfield has and what a terrific gateway we now cross to enter the city center.
The first building that one sees as you enter the downtown is that of Westfield Whip, the only remaining factory producing whips at 360 Elm Street. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and contains machinery invented, developed and perfected in Westfield exclusively for whip making. The ivy-covered edifice also marks the proposed site for the first Westfield Museum, a project which represents another historic event – the union of two of volunteer organizations, devoted to our community’s heritage.
Just this week Robert G. Dewey, president of Westfield Museum Inc. and Peter H. Martin, president of Westfield Historic Industries Preservation Project, Inc. (WHIPP) announced that their organizations have agreed to merge. The new organization will retain the name Westfield Museum Inc. and expects to be effective as of July 1st of this year.
Westfield Museum Inc. was incorporated in December of 2007 to develop a plan and acquire a facility for the preservation and display of the large collection of historic memorabilia now stored in the Westfield Athenaeum, at City Hall and in other locations around the City. These historic treasures are not presently available for public viewing due to lack of suitable display space and the organization was created to develop a venue to exhibit these artifacts.
“We hope that we can create a place of learning in which school children of Westfield as well as adult citizens can rub elbows with history’,” said Dewey. “By showcasing Westfield’s history we can make this possible.”
WHIPP, incorporated in 2010, was established to research, document and memorialize Westfield’s significant contribution to the development of the Industrial Revolution in the United States, including the carriage whip industry, Columbia Bicycle and the H.B. Smith Company, a pioneer in the heating industry,
Realizing that both WHIPP and Westfield Museum, Inc had complementary goals, the boards of these two organizations decided to join forces on behalf of the overall mission of making Westfield a destination city.
The first project of the combined group will be to establish a working museum within the Westfield Whip building, which would feature a climate controlled area, “The Westfield Room,” to showcase our city’s historic assets in a state-of-the-art display space.
“As Westfield undertakes a renewal of its central business district, we must be sure that we preserve some space to remember the rich and diverse history that made Westfield the special community it is today,” Martin commented.
I am pleased to be a member of board of the Westfield Whip Museum, which is comprised of Bob Dewey, John Knapik and Denise Quinn. We look forward to joining WHIPP board members, Peter and Carol Martin, Dawn Carrignan-Thomas, Ellen Endter and Bob Plasse, as we begin to work collaboratively to preserve our past and look to our bright future.
The wonderful new Great River Bridge Project is a gateway to a new and exciting future for Whip City, while The Westfield Museum Inc. signifies a gateway to our vibrant past. How fortunate we are to have them both. There is indeed cause for celebration!
For additional information on The Westfield Museum Inc. or to volunteer to assist, contact Carol Martin at 413-568-8244.
Brent B. Bean II
Westfield City Councilor
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not the staff, editor, or publisher of the Westfield News.
