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Historical Commission

Denise M. Quinn, Chair
Robert G. Dewey
Robert Heisler
Kimberly A. Irzyk
John M. Knapik
Ellen M. McEwan
Mildred M. Zombick


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 7:30 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 powers and duties are as follows:
  • preservation, protection and development of historical or archeological assets
  • reporting the existence of archeological, paleontological or historical sites or objects
  • conduct research for places of historic or archeological value
  • cooperate with the state archeologist in such research or surveys
  • seeking to coordinate the activities of unofficial bodies organized for similar purposes
  • make recommendations to the city council related to the above
  • report to the state archeologist the existence of any archeological, paleontological or historic site or object discovered

At this time Westfield has 10 Historical Places that are listed on the National Historic Register:
  • 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 Athenaeum - 6 Elm 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

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 second bridge over the Westfield River
  • the refurbishing of 85 Broad Street by the Easthampton Savings Bank
  • highway improvement and entrance to the Massachusetts Turnpike on Clay Hill

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 currently being worked on by the Westfield Historical Commission include:
  • the placement of an Historical Marker on the site of the Historic New Haven and Northampton Canal and H.B. Smith.
  • the development of a walking tour publication directing visitors to locations prominent in Westfield’s past.
  • the acquisition of a suitable property in which to establish a Westfield Museum.
  • the installation of a prominent sign identifying the Revolutionary War era cemetery, The Old Burying Ground on Mechanic Street