USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Hampden county, 1636-1936, Volume II > Part 16
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A letter written at Valley Forge, January 25, 1778, by William Shepard to David Moseley, of Westfield, has much to say of how poorly clothed his men are and intimates that the State is not doing its duty by the soldiers. He cites Connecticut as caring well for its troops, but the Massachusetts men were "almost naked going into
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the snow and frost." Major Warham Parks and others were sent by the town of Boston "to remonstrate to the General Court of the Nakedness of the Army." But the people of Westfield did not show their sympathy in talk only for they sent in April of the same year fifty-three shirts and fifty-three pairs of shoes and stockings to the army.
When the new State Constitution came before the town in 1780 the independent thinkers of Westfield voted not to adopt it "without alteration or amendment"; but in the fall they were casting their ballots for State officers, apparently writing their own choices on slips of paper, for John Hancock received fifty-four votes for Governor, James Bowdoin seventeen and John Worthington two.
Westfield celebrated the proclamation of peace in a "respectable manner," starting with the booming of cannon in the morning and a salute of thirteen shots at noon. There was an address by the Rev- erend Atwater, an anthem was sung, and thirteen toasts were drank, each accompanied by a cannon shot. The last toast was "May the odious distinctions of Whig and Tory be utterly forgotten under the benign auspices of peace."
One of the notable soldiers of the town was Oliver Root, who though under twenty years old, was enrolled in the famous Corps of Rangers, with John Stark and Israel Putnam among its officers under Major Robert Rogers. The Rangers had to be men of courage and endurance, skilled in woodcraft and able to snowshoe, skate, swim or paddle a canoe, as well as to make long tramps through the woods on their scouting trips. They carried only a single blanket, a tin cup and some corn meal besides their arms and ammunition. At Fort Paris, Major Root showed his resourcefulness when he frightened the sav- ages away with a "four pounder," though its ammunition was limited to a solitary ball and three charges of powder. The first shot carried the cannon ball, on the next a charge of horsechains went singing through the air, while the final one shrieked terror with pieces of a huge old castiron kettle which he had ordered broken up.
Westfield's great Revolutionary hero is General William Shepard. He was one of six brothers who all served in the Revolution and his oldest son served under him. His military career began at the age of seventeen in the Seven Years' War and for more than thirty years he was in the service of his country in high offices. He took a leading
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part in two wars and a tablet in his memory cites him as "A Hero of Twenty-two Battles in the American Revolution." He was esteemed by Washington, a friend of Lafayette, and "distinguished for his good character and unbending dignity." General Shepard was a large, well-formed man, six feet in height and weighed over two hundred pounds. He was simple and frugal in his habits and went to his grave a poor man. He was deacon of the Westfield church for twenty-five years, following his father and grandfather, whose combined terms were over three-quarters of a century. His eldest son, William, was deacon of a church in western New York. It was said that no taint of meanness or dishonesty ever attached itself to him.
During the long years of the Revolutionary War and afterward conditions continued to be distressing, the poor people increased and resources were drained to the utmost. The State was in debt, towns were in debt, and so were individuals. The unfulfilled promises of the government tried the patience of the citizens and it was not strange that they sought their own measures of relief. After a convention held in Hadley in 1782, where Captain Daniel Sackett and Lieutenant Falley represented Westfield, Samuel Ely was found guilty of "trea- sonable practices." Thirty-six towns were represented at another convention held in Hatfield which lasted several days and every grievance, real or imaginary, was aired. Mobs prevented the courts from sitting and prisoners were released from jails. Fourteen articles accepted at another convention resolve against the excise tax, the salary of the Governor, lawyers' fees and other matters. Shays' Rebellion was the outcome and the attempt to capture the Springfield Arsenal was the culminating event. At first General Shepard felt that two or three hundred men would be sufficient for defense and he found it difficult to arm and provision eleven hundred. Forces nearly double his own were closing in on him and he had only five days' slim rations. But the plans of the insurgents miscarried. Shays was easily routed, there was little bloodshed, and General Shepard was once more a victor.
The fourth pastor of Westfield was Noah Atwater, a graduate and tutor of Yale. He was a gardener, a scientific beekeeper and a recorder of the weather and of nature. His people were fond of him and were continually sending him gifts which he often mentioned in his diary. In what proved to be his last sermon he wrote: "I am
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advanced in life, in a few weeks I shall be fifty years old. When one has arrived at such an age he must view himself as on the declivity of life, and hastening to the valley of death."
Agitation for an academy in Westfield began as early as 1793, but it was a long while in preparation before its opening on January I, 1800. Dr. Lathrop preached the opening sermon from the text "That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth; that our daughters may be as corner stones polished after the similitude of a palace." The building was quite pretentious, the upper floor an assem- bly hall and the first floor devoted to class rooms. The pupils boarded in the homes of Westfield if they came from out of town. The academy filled a great need for many years, but after the town high school was established it was decided that two institutions of that sort were not needed and in 1889 the available income of the academy fund was turned over to the town.
The move for a new meetinghouse which began in 1801 culminated in the dedication of the third church building on January 1, 1806. It was one of ten church buildings designed by Charles Bulfinch, of Bos- ton, and took the place of the one built "barn fation with a bell coney upon the middle of it." The burning of the old structure pushed the accomplishment along somewhat, but it was accompanied by the usual diversity of votes. The pews were not "dignified" this time, but were sold outright to help pay for the church. "Doct. Dwight's Collection of Psalms and Hymns" was probably used to sing from at this time. A fine of twenty-five cents was voted to be paid by any person who should ring the meetinghouse bell at any unusual time. In December, 1827, the town voted that the selectmen should procure at the expense of the Congregational Society two stoves for the meetinghouse.
The Baptist Society of Westfield was organized as early as 1784. One of their churches stood on Little River near the center of the town and the other was at the "Farms." About ten years later the first Methodist circuit rider began holding meetings in Hoop Pole, a hamlet in the western part of the town. Reverend Billy Hubbard, who refused to be called "William," organized the first class. An exhorter, Amasa Stocking, drew such crowds that the Congregational pastor of the center was sent "to steady the Ark in Hoop Pole." He reported that there was no danger threatening Hoop Pole because God was there, and in 1829 they dedicated their church. By slow
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degrees and hard labor another Methodist church was built in West- field, which was replaced by a fine edifice in 1876.
The town park on the village green was voted enclosed with a fence about 1835.
A newspaper, the "Hampden Register," was published in West- field in 1828. Since then other news sheets have been put out under the names of "The Scholar's Journal," "The Talisman," "The West- field Spectator," the Westfield "Standard," the Westfield "News Let- ter," the "Woronoco Palladium" and others.
The canal from New Haven to the Connecticut River above Northampton, a distance of about eighty miles from tidewater, passed through Westfield. It was built with sloping banks so that the water would be twenty feet wide at the bottom and thirty-four or thirty-six feet wide at the surface. The banks were ten feet higher than the bottom of the canal and the towing paths were ten feet wide. Feed- ers, culverts and locks were put in at proper places and the whole project received the approval of the Governor at a public dinner on May 30, 1827, amid the ringing of bells.
On December 9, 1829, the "First Cruise from the Port of West- field" took place when the canal boat "General Sheldon" made her first voyage from Westfield to New Haven. The cargo brought back consisted of coal, salt, molasses, oranges, codfish and flour. The canal was opened to Northampton in 1835. A delegation from New Haven made the trip and were feasted, paraded and saluted at each town. At Southampton the boat was delayed because "some mean, low-spirited puppy, having nothing of manhood about him except intel- ligence enough to guide his malice, had let off the water from a half mile level." For a few years this waterway, which had cost immense sums, seemed to prosper, but it was always difficult to maintain and was never a financial success. The coming of the Western Railroad in 184I was a death blow, followed by the opening of the Canal Railroad a few years later.
In 1797 the State inaugurated a policy of establishing academies and within fifty years such institutions were started in eighty-eight towns. These academies did much toward supplying better teachers, but to James Carter, of Lancaster, belongs the honor of pointing out how to improve educational methods by training teachers. The West- field Normal School was started September 4, 1844, its first home
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being the old Westfield Academy and later the town hall was used. There were two teachers and less than fifty students. "A most elegant building" of brick was erected in 1846 and from that time until the present the school, now a teachers' college, has continued to grow.
A legend exists that in the Mundale section of the town stood a house called Pirates' Den and the lane leading to it was Pirates' Lane. Years ago a gang of counterfeiters worked there, who used half glass and half lead in their coins to make them ring true. They fled to a cave on Mt. Tekoa, where the forge and smelter still remain, in spite of attempts of the government to locate and destroy them.
Westfield had its fatal traffic accidents over a hundred years ago. According to the inscription on the gravestone in the cemetery, Zenas Atkins, at the age of thirty-four, was suddenly killed while riding in a sleigh and coming in contact with another turning a corner on the evening of January 14, 1816.
In 1808 there lived in Westfield a man named Joseph Jokes, who happened to become the owner of a choice lot of hickory. His many friends frequently called on him for a piece of this wood for whip- stocks, whips being then made at home. Finally Jokes made some of these stocks and offered them for sale. A little later he conceived the idea of putting a lash on the stock. The lash consisted of a heavy piece of horsehide, which was made fast to the stock by a "keeper." These were the first whips made in Westfield.
Jokes did quite a business and other men began improving on the stock by boiling the wood in a preparation of oil and coloring. The recipes for making these preparations were secrets among those who made whips, so each one had a preparation of his own.
Five years later lashes were made of narrow strips of raw horse or cow hide and plaited into cords, very much the same as at present. A piece of leather, rolled round and beveled to make the swell, was inclosed in the center. The lash was rolled between blocks and then varnished. In 1820 the experiment of plaiting a covering of cotton thread over the stocks was tried, but was only partially successful, as it was done entirely by hand, holding the stock on the knees.
At this time different materials began to be used for stocks, such as rattan and whalebone, which proved to be the best for the purpose. When whalebone was first brought into use the entire stock was made of it, a thing rarely afforded later on. Whalebone was then used in
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manufacturing the drop on account of its tenacity. After some degree of completeness had been acquired in plaiting over the stock, an attempt was made to bring into use the drop whip, which was only a combination of stock and lash and covered the entire length, thus dispensing with the "keeper." This was a decided improvement and many whips, in a small way and by slow process, were made and offered for sale.
About 1822 an invention was brought into use for whip plaiting by Hiram Hull, father of an ex-president of the American Whip Com- pany at Westfield. Mr. Hull was the first man to start what might be called a whip factory. The invention resembled a barrel in appear- ance and was called a barrel. The whip to be covered was suspended by the top and hung down in the center of the barrel. A number of threads were attached to the top of the whip and hung over the edge of the barrel, with weights to keep them in position. These weights were worked by the hand, throwing them in opposite direc- tions, thus plaiting the whip almost as perfectly as at the present time, though the process was a very slow one.
This invention was in use through a number of years and an expert at working it was looked upon as a good tradesman. Women are said to have attained quite a speed in working the threads with their nimble fingers. The plaiting of today is done on the same principle as the one first invented.
The drop whip passed through quite a number of years without change, then the drop began to decrease, and finally a whip was made perfectly straight. This was called the bow or trotter's whip.
In 1855 a self-plaiting machine turned by a crank came into use by American design and ingenuity. This improvement tended to increase the whip industry about a third in five years and during the next semi- decade was largely improved upon. In 1865 Westfield produced about one-half million dollars' worth of whips. A year later West- field led the world in the extent of her whip industry. By 1890 one company alone was putting out over 2,500,000 whips a year.
As the rattan for a whip is assembled an iron spike is inserted in the hickory butt to give the proper "feel" or balance to the whip. The whole bundle is dipped in glue and after drying it is rounded and smoothed. After the plaited covering is on and "buttons" of linen thread placed for ornaments on the stock to mark the handle, the whip
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is varnished and waterproofed. Sometimes the name of the dealer is woven in the covering in fancy colors, or the whip may be silver mounted or have a ferrule of gold, or be set with precious stones. Even if it was a perfectly plain twenty-five cent whip in the "gay 'nine- ties" it could be dressed up with a bow of ribbon to go with the best top buggy. Farmers used to buy a dozen whips at a time, always one a little better than the others for Sundays. When a whip got broken and was past being properly repaired with a new "snapper," it would descend to the use of the boys and the hired man in the express wagon. Whips were easily stolen out of a vehicle, so it was a common sight, especially at the county fair, to see the men carrying their fine whips about with them. It was a trick to "snap" a whip, especially one with a long lash such as was used for four horses, and many a boy prac- ticing in the dooryard on a summer evening only succeeded in wrap- ping the stinging lash about his own neck. Some were made which measured forty feet to the end of the lash. Three whip companies have survived the increasing popularity of the auto-the United States Whip Company, which now also makes golf clubs and fish lines ; the Tyler Whip Company, which makes only whip snaps; and the Cargill, Cleveland & Company, which makes riding crops, dog collars and leashes.
Another Westfield industry was carried on by William H. Butler. He manufactured soapstone linings for stoves and furnaces and made other soapstone articles. His advertisement states that he used a quality of stone "susceptible of a higher polish than any hitherto found in the United States."
The advent of the Civil War found Westfield as patriotic as dur- ing the Revolution and the party for the "Union" threw pepper on the stove during a "peace" meeting held in a schoolhouse. Flags floated from many of the houses and a company of volunteers was formed and equipped. Enlistments and drafts followed. A Soldiers' Aid Society was organized and when the war was over a soldiers' monument was erected. Five hundred men and twenty-five officers went out from Westfield.
The bicentennial celebration of the town was held on October 6, 1869, in spite of an unprecedented storm that gullied roads and destroyed property and, worst of all, partially swept away the rail- road by which guests and provisions were coming to Westfield. There
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was a long parade followed by appropriate services in the church and an address by Hon. Edward B. Gillett.
Westfield once possessed one of the best half-mile race tracks in the country. At that time it also had thirteen hotels filled with guests and apparently making money. Several livery stables did a flourishing business and the retail stores were the shopping center for a large rural area. It was estimated that more than $30,000 was spent in the city during race week. Woronoco Park, the site of the race track, still remains, though most of the buildings are gone.
The Western Railroad was opened for business as far as Chester in 1841 and was the real beginning of industrial development in Westfield.
The Ensign Box Company was organized in 1840 and produced a very high grade of cigar boxes.
William Johnson began to manufacture church organs in 1844 at 273 Elm Street, where organs are still being built.
H. B. Smith organized a company to build boilers in 1853 and also made iron fences. The company was incorporated in 1878 and is still in business under the old name, selling boilers all over the coun- try. It is located on Main Street, handy to the railroad, and is one of the mainstays of Westfield.
The Crane Brothers were incorporated in 1868 and started to manufacture paper that same year and soon after had two mills in operation.
In 1869, and again in 1878, Westfield was visited by disastrous floods. After the first one, which caused a property damage of over $100,000, the dikes built after the flood of 1819 were raised higher than before, yet the second one was even more destructive and many homes and business blocks had to be rebuilt when the waters subsided.
Free text books were furnished all the pupils in the town schools in 1884 and the first superintendent of the school system was appointed in 1889. Electricity had been introduced into the homes and factories only a few years before. About this time a district court was estab- lished for the first time in Westfield.
The Young Men's Christian Association was organized in West- field in 1866 and grew slowly until in 1901 they dedicated their own building which stands on Main Street. This was a prosperous period for Westfield. The Woronoco Street Railway was organized and
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horse cars made their first appearance on the streets. Eleven miles of track were laid. The Columbian Photo Paper Company was incor- porated to manufacture photographic paper and the Foster Machine Company was organized. The latter is still one of the thriving indus- tries of the town.
About this time the tobacco packers were handling $750,000 worth of tobacco in a year and turning out annually about ten million cigars. The Westfield brickyard felt the business stimulation and raised its output to nine million bricks a year. Westfield had thirty-three whip companies and $2,000,000 worth of whips were sold. The Planet Company, manufacturers of canvas goods, bags and awnings was prosperous, as were the Warren Thread Company and the Textile Manufacturing Company.
Horse cars were discarded in 1895 and were replaced by the speedier and cleaner electrified system. In 1897 the Noble Hospital was dedicated. Previous to this the sick had been obliged to go to Springfield for hospital care, and the new hospital filled a need not only for Westfield, but for nearby towns. Another fine institution is the Sarah Gillett Home for the Aged, located at 41 Broad Street.
The American Cycle Company was organized to manufacture bicycles and the name was changed to the Lozier Manufacturing Com- pany in 1900. That year they produced over 30,000 wheels.
In 1906 the manufacturing of the first bicycle made in America, the Columbia, was transferred to Westfield. A Columbia racing bicycle made in Westfield was ridden a mile in 583/8 seconds in 1909 by E. J. Collins, paced by an automobile. During the World War the Columbia military bicycle was chosen as standard for the United States Army and many thousands were sent to France. The West- field Manufacturing Company, builders of Columbia bicycles, are the world's largest manufacturers of bicycles and children's cycles. Their sales now exceed any other time in their history.
In 1902 the Keep Memorial Building was added to the Noble Hospital. It was for the care of patients with contagious diseases and was presented to the town fully equipped, even to linen in the closets, by Mrs. Louisa E. Keep.
Westfield was honored in 1902 when President Theodore Roose- velt attended the State Normal School commencement exercises and
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gave a brief address. A year later the electric cars which had been running to Springfield for several years began to run to Hampton Ponds, now called Pequot Lakes, and this beautiful picnic place and bathing beach immediately became quite popular. In 1905 the car line was completed to Huntington.
The same year witnessed the official opening of Camp Bartlett on Hampden Plains, where the yearly mobilization of the State militia took place. Six thousand soldiers were in camp for a two weeks' period.
On September 11, 1911, the Tekoa Country Club was opened as an eighteen-hole golf course.
Nineteen hundred and eleven brought Westfield before the eyes of the entire Nation, for in this year Professor Allyn, instructor in chemistry at the State Normal School, began his crusade against the sale of adulterated foods and caused legislation to be passed pro- hibiting the use of coal tar preparations or dyes in human food. He also halted the use of narcotics in foods and through his activities Westfield came to be known as "The Pure Food City."
During the World War, Westfield hummed with military life. On August 17, 1917, Camp Bartlett was the scene of feverish activity as the troops were mobilized for service. There were thirteen thou- sand men in camp and over one hundred thousand visitors came to Westfield, the largest number of people ever to assemble in that city at one time. Twenty-six of the over eight hundred Westfield men in the World War were killed in action, most of them at Chateau Thierry, in June, 1918.
A treasure of Westfield which can now be seen in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City is the handsome door of the old Fowler tavern which was built in 1760. The door is about eight feet high, six feet wide and four inches thick.
Westfield has one of the best airport sites in this section of the country, consisting of about fifty acres of land on Hampden Plains, donated by the late Vincent E. Barnes in 1923. The city did not feel able to support a municipal flying field, so it is at present used by a private concern.
A fine armory was built in 1935 and is the headquarters of Com- pany H, 104th United States Infantry, commanded by Captain Shaw. The only other Federal building is the post-office, recently constructed
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of granite and limestone. A State building is the Westfield Sanatorium for tubercular patients. This is situated on a hill east of the city's center and is built of brick and concrete. Dr. Henry Chadwick was instrumental in placing this institution among the foremost of its kind.
The Westfield Rod and Gun Club has a range on the plains near Barnes' Airport where many trapshoots are held each year. This club was interested in having the Westfield River stocked each year with brown trout and bass.
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