Friday, February 26th, 1886 marks the date when the steeple of Westfield’s First Congregational Church was blown down by harsh winds. Although the weather was tremendously cold and bleak that day, many Westfield residents witnessed the spire crash to the ground. Below are excerpts from Westfield’s March 3rd, 1886 issue of the Westfield Newsletter, marked on the original edition as Times and News-Letter, which gave an account of the event, the damage sustained, and the town’s plans to rebuild the church:
“All too soon came the impending disaster which removed one of the physical and comely landmarks of our beautiful town. People were intently and anxiously watching the swaying spires of the First and Methodist churches, with many predictions that the latter would succumb to the fury of the blast, but no one seemed to think that the First church spire was in imminent danger. At about half past ten however, it was noticed that the spire began to show unmistakable signs of yielding to the increasing gale, but it was not until about ten minutes of eleven that it was moved and remained out of position. From this time its doom was sealed, as nothing short of a miracle that should still the blast could save it. A few minutes later a sudden gust moved it a little farther out-of-place, where it remained, apparently held by the weight of the bell, till about twenty minutes past eleven, when the great crash came and all was over, so far as the beautiful First church edifice is concerned.
The steeple parted just below the bell deck, and sound timbers, twelve inches thick, were broken as though they had been pipe-stems. The spire went through the roof taking the bell with it, the latter striking with the debris between the two broad aisles just in front of the end gallery; the end of the spire and weathervane landing at the east end of the south gallery. A portion of this gallery near the door was crushed in. the central part of the roof of the church was broken in, leaving the east end untouched, so that the organ received no injury except from dust. A singular thing was the escape uninjured of the central chandelier, which looked down in triumph upon the desolation around and beneath it.
The fall of the steeple was witnessed by hundreds of people. The crash was followed by a great volume of dust, which resembled smoke and gave rise to the fear that the debris had taken fire, and an alarm was immediately sounded. Happily for the insurance companies this fear was groundless. As soon as an entrance could be gained the church was filled with people to view the sightless mass of ruins. Everything in the chapel, vestibule and parlors remained uninjured, including, of course, the much cherished and highly prized portrait of the lamented Dr. Davis. Willing hands, impelled by sorrowing hearts, went to work in good earnest to save what was possible from the general wreck. The floor of the audience room remains intact except a small place where the bell struck, and the walls of the church are standing, apparently in good condition. The bell is pronounced by those who have examined it, to be all right, so that we shall again have the pleasure of listening to its familiar tones, calling to the house of prayer. The break came in the steeple, where on general principles it would have been least expected, some thirty feet below the place where it was spliced. It was in three sections like a telescope in form.
The cost of repairing the damage is variously estimated at from $5000 to $10,000, but Captain Thayer, as elsewhere stated, says that it will not exceed $5000, which seems to us and others a low estimate. A meeting of the society is called for Friday evening to take action in regard to rebuilding. There is a strong feeling against putting up another steeple and a tower will undoubtedly be substituted. July will be the soonest that the church will be ready for occupancy and we should not be surprised if it was not reopened until September.
A soliciting committee headed by pastor Lockwood has been appointed to obtain the necessary funds to restore the fallen temple, and we predict a generous and hearty response to the call. The people of the first church have staying, as well as praying qualities, and will stand together in this emergency as they have always stood before, heart to heart, hand to hand and shoulder to shoulder, each acting well his many and womanly part. It is easy enough to sail on a calm sea but it is the adverse winds which try the courage and fidelity of the sailors; and so: in all the walks of life, it is adversity that shows the true manhood and womanhood.”
Several people submitted messages to the paper, expressing their unyielding optimism toward the town’s mission to rebuild the church:
“A great many letters have been received from absent friends concerning the disaster to the First church. One of the family of our revered and beloved Dr. Davis, writes:—
Our tenderest sympathies are with the dear old church, in which we feel a personal interest; and we earnestly hope and pray that what seems now is a great trial, may, in the end, prove a rich blessing to your people…
“Another writes:—It is some years since I resided in your dear old town; but, next to my own home, there is no spot in the world towards which my heart turns with such tender affection as to the old First church. May God help her! Are her people as united and harmonious as ever? If so, you can meet any calamity. I never heard, or heard of, a bickering or wrangling or discordant word among her members; and this I cannot say of any other.”
THIS WEEK IN WESTFIELD HISTORY (continued)
On February 27th, 1916, the temperature in Westfield went to 17° below zero.
On February 28th, 1841, the Westfield Newsletter is established.
On March 1st, 1776, a flood carried the Squawfield Bridge away.
On March 2nd, 1915, Moseley School opened.
On March 3rd, 1881, St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, first organized in 1853, suffered from significant fire damage. Many religious artifacts such as the sacred vessels and vestments were saved by Mrs. A. B. Walkley, a Protestant neighbor of the church. The new St. Mary’s Church was dedicated on March 1st, 1885.
