Jim Haley purchased a 2016 Picture Westfield … at Work calendar prior to Dr. Robert Brown’s lecture titled “A History of Downtown Westfield” on Wednesday night. Calendars are still available at the Westfield Athenaeum and will also be on sale at the Westfield Technical Academy Christmas Craft Fair on Nov. 29 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and at the WOW Building on Nov. 28 during the Dickenson Day Christmas Stroll. (Photo by Lori Szepelak)
WESTFIELD – Parking lots were a reoccurring theme as Dr. Robert Brown shared a walk down memory lane for close to 200 area residents who packed the sanctuary of First United Methodist Church on Wednesday night.
During Brown’s entertaining and informative 45-minute presentation titled “A History of Downtown Westfield,” close to 80 photographs brought back vivid memories from the 1950s and 1960s – most taken by David Mosher, who had spent close to 70 years documenting the downtown area since he lived many years on Chapel Street. Mosher’s family had discovered all of the photographs after he entered a local nursing home and donated the collection to the Westfield Athenaeum.
Brown had noted that Mosher’s photographs are the first significant collection of late 20th century photos of the city to be donated to the Athenaeum.
“As David Mosher wandered city streets, he didn’t have any plan in mind,” said Brown. “He took photos that interested him.”
Prior to Brown’s lecture, there was speculation among the attendees of what they might see in photographs.
For Sharon and Frank Thompkins, their fondest memories included meals at Friendly’s on Franklin Street and shopping at businesses including W.T. Grant, Jack & Harry’s, and Fine’s.
“The downtown area was special because it was easily accessible,” said Frank Thompkins. “I also had met David Mosher so I wanted to see his photographs.”
For Jim Haley, one of his fondest memories as a youngster was taking the train from Westfield to Springfield to shop at stores including Forbes & Wallace.
Dr. Robert Brown chats with Frank and Sharon Tompkins prior to his lecture titled “A History of Downtown Westfield” on Wednesday night. (Photo by Lori Szepelak)
“We also liked to shop at Newberry’s and go to the bowling alley,” said Haley, who grew up on Hampton Ponds.
Friday night shopping was also a popular routine for many in the 50s and 60s, including Laura and Phil Nasciadrelli.
“We all worked the tobacco fields and would meet Friday nights and see who were with the girls from Pennsylvania,” said Laura Nasciadrelli.
The couple also spoke fondly of some of their favorite stores which included Landau’s, The Bell Shop, and Templeton’s Drug Store.
“We could get a milkshake for 25 cents at Templeton’s,” said Phil Nasciadrelli.
As the lights went down and Brown started his lecture, all eyes were glued to the screen as scene after scene took city residents on a wide ranging tour of businesses including S.K. Ames Butter & Eggs, Robinson Reminders, Elms Sporting Goods, Albano’s Market, Cantel’s, Davio’s Restaurant, M & M Sales, Kellogg Brush Co., Liberty Bakery, and all of the banking institutions. Additionally, photos showed the building of Noble Hospital, the trolley barns, schools, the old fire station, a myriad of parades, and a police box that was located on Elm Street.
Dr. Robert Brown presented a lecture titled “A History of Downtown Westfield” to a packed crowd on Wednesday night. (Photo by Lori Szepelak)
“I have yet to find out when the police box was removed so it is a mystery yet to solve,” said Brown.
As Brown showed one business after another that has been replaced by a parking lot, he stressed that the downtown that so many remember is not coming back.
“Over the years there have been many comments in local newspapers about the need to rebuild the downtown,” said Brown, adding that the city has also spent considerable funds on study groups.
“The downtown you remember will never come back. It is gone forever,” said Brown, adding that decisions made by city officials changed the landscape over the years.
Brown said he came to Westfield in 1966 and remembers the three-, four-, and five-story buildings that dotted the downtown – as well as its many trees.
“Elms lined the streets and the look of the neon lights in the evening from businesses captured a vibrant community,” said Brown.
When the lights came back up, it was evident from the faces of those in attendance that the photographs of a bygone era were a delight to see.
When leaving the lecture, Ann Szymanski, a graduate of Westfield High School in 1964, said she thought the lecture was “excellent.”
“Bob Brown did a wonderful job with his details about each picture,” said Szymanski. “Since we did all of our shopping downtown in the 60s, I enjoyed seeing all of those businesses again in photos.”
Due to the overwhelming response of this lecture, Brown will conduct a similar lecture in January at the Westfield Athenaeum. For more information, visit www.westath.org.
