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Home > Departments > Historical Commission
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Denise M. Quinn, Chair
Robert G. Dewey
Robert Heisler
Kimberly A. Irzyk
John M. Knapik
Ellen M. McEwan
Kathryn E. Milligan
59 Court St.
Westfield, MA 01085
(413) 572-6200 (Mayor's Office)
The Westfield Historical Commission meetings are held on the third Monday of the month at 7:00 PM. Meetings are held at the Westfield City Hall in room 201 on the second floor. If there is a holiday on that date, the meeting is held on the fourth Monday. The first fifteen minutes of each meeting are devoted to public participation.
The Historical Commission (WHC) was founded in 1963 under state law C. 40, Section 8 D.
The Commission is allowed from 3-7 members who are appointed by the mayor for a three year term.
The responsibilities of the Commission are as follows:
- to preserve, protect and develop of historical and archeological assets
- to report the existence of archeological, paleontological and historical sites and objects
- to conduct research for places of historic and archeological value
- to cooperate with the state archeologist in such research or surveys
- to seek to coordinate the activities of unofficial bodies organized for similar purposes
- to make recommendations to the city council related to the above
- to report to the state archeologist the existence of any archeological, paleontological or historic site or object discovered
At this time Westfield has 12 Historical sites that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
- Landlord Fowler, Tavern - 171 Main Street
- State Normal School - Westfield Municipal Building - 59 Court Street
- State Normal Training School - Washington Street
- Van Deusen, H. M. Whip Company - 42 Arnold Street
- Watson - Steiger - Loomis - Octagon House - 28 King Street
- Westfield Whip Manufacturing Company - 360 Elm Street
- Old Burying Ground, Mechanic Street
- United States Whip Company Complex - 24 Main Street
- Dewey House - 87 South Maple Street
- Prospect Hill School -33 Montgomery Street
- Sanford Whip Factory -330 Elm Street
- Westfield Business District
In the last twenty years the City of Westfield has been challenged with many major changes. Currently the whole city faces major changes such as:
- the completion of the second bridge over the Westfield River
- the revitalization of the Downtown
- the integration of Westfield State College students into the Downtown Area
- the refurbishing of the town green and enhancement of traffic flow
The City of Westfield was founded in 1669. Westfield has a long and proud history. The WHC seeks to preserve our past for future generations. Projects successfully completed by the Westfield Historical Commission include:
- the placement and dedication of an Historical Marker on the site of the Historic New Haven and Northampton Canal and H.B. Smith.
- the installation of a prominent sign identifying the Revolutionary War era cemetery, The Old Burying Ground on Mechanic Street
- the creation and awarding of the First Annual Westfield Preservation Award to Easthampton Bank for adaptive reuse of an historical building and to the Kulyak family for the Rehabilitation and Restoration of 54 East Silver Street into an attractive condominium structure.
- the establishment of a not for profit corporation: Westfield Museum Inc.
- the creation of a brochure to assist in touring the Mechanic Street Cemetery (Old Burying Ground)
- the compilation and publishing of a list of Properties of Historic
Significance in the City of Westfield. These properties are subject to Ordinance 1352 (Demolition Delay)
The Westfield Historical Commission will continue in its activities to preserve the Historical integrity of the city by:
- cataloging historical assets donated to the Commission
- cooperating with the Westfield Athenaeum to evaluate and safely store these items
- creating a web site to allow residents to view the city’s historical treasures and activities of the Historical Commission
- working with the Westfield Public Schools in researching and displaying historical themes.
- placing appropriate signage on National Historic Register properties.
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