"The Whip City" Westfield by atufft

Westfield Travel Guide: 23 reviews and 70 photos

Bridge Leading into Southside Westfield - Westfield

Westfield River and the Pioneer Valley

Until 1725, Westfield was the westernmost town in Massachusetts Colony. Divided into a "Southside" and "Northside" by the Westfield River, an upper tributary of the Connecticut River, the town was originally settled by traders Connecticut concerned with the Pocomtuc tribe that had inhabited the area. Subsequent settlement was engaged in farming the alluvial soils of the Pioneer Valley, as this region just west of Springfield, MA became part of the Massachusetts Colony claim. Soon after American independence, Westfield became a center of industry for manufacture of bricks, cigars, and most famously, whips. At one point, Westfield was the buggy whip manufacturing capital of the world, having as many as 30 separate factories by 1865. Eventually, the town was fully engaged in industry, producing bicycles, paper products, boilers and radiators, textile machinery, abrasives, wood products, and precision tools. The city became an important rail stop in Massachusetts. After the invention of the automobile, buggy whips became obsolete, and after World War II, Westfield failed to compete within the global marketplace, and so the city center of mostly brick commercial buildings began a decline to the mostly quiet center that it is today. Fortunately, Westfield State College, established to train unemployed factory workers, and a number of food product distributors, help keep the city alive today, and there is an effort by the city to restore old buildings and improve the bridges that cross the river. Though not a major tourist center within the state, Westfield is certainly worth exploring for a few hours.

Intro Written Nov 28, 2008
Add to Trip Planner (?)
Report Abuse

Reviews (19)

Westfield, MA neighborhood park - Westfield

General Wareham Park - 1801 Off The Beaten Path (1)

Near the junction of Hwys 2 and 20 on the northside of Westfield is a tiny but seemingly historic park dedicated to... more travel advice

Low Overhead in Westfield, MA - Westfield

Watch for Low Bridges Transportation (1)

Truckers and RV drivers beware. There are several low overhead bridges in this town. It is possible to drive along Hwys... more travel advice

Best Local Breakfast Restaurants (1)

This is the best place to eat breakfast in the southside downtown area. The service is informal and excellent. The... more travel advice

Westfield, MA Central Baptist Church - Westfield

Westfield Central Baptist Things to Do (16)

The Central Baptist church congregation, the current building of which is located downtown on Elm Street, claims... more travel advice

Comments (3)

Reply
- Report abuse
kkdaddy Mar 13, 2011 at 4:08 PM

great pictures descriptions could use some updating==One of the low bridges has been hieghtened for 2nd bridge over the river.South side Home was rectory of Blessed Sacrament church_was razed for the new bridge. New church is on the North side of town.
Reply
- Report abuse
glabah Jul 5, 2010 at 10:02 PM

New England has so much more preserved history than my area does.
Reply
- Report abuse
calcaf38 Jan 31, 2010 at 8:14 AM

Have a great birthday, and a healthy + prosperous year full of adventures.