Westfield Athenaeum Library
HISTORY OF THE WESTFIELD ATHENAEUM
In approximately 1830 William G. Bates, a distinguished Westfield attorney, formed Westfield 's first library association. It was called the Westfield Social Library and was located above Snow and Hayes General Store on Elm Street. In 1850 H.B. Smith purchased the books from William Bates and started a circulating library from his bookstore next to the Hampden National Bank on Main Street. Dr. Simeon Shurtleff later purchased the books and from his estate the collection went to the Westfield Athenaeum. Reverend Emerson Davis, pastor of the First Congregational Church, suggested that a true community library be established in Westfield. Mr. Davis developed a financial plan for the library: $10,000 for a building; $10,000 for books; and $10,000 for operating expenses. Samuel Mather, a retired Westfield farmer, donated the first $10,000 in the form of government bonds.
The Westfield Athenaeum was incorporated by an act of the Legislature, Chapter 88, on March 11, 1864. Hiram H. Harrison, president of the American Whip Company, announced he would provide a library and reading room for the town. A brick brownstone building, valued at approximately $10,000 was erected at 26 Main Street. This building was conveyed to the corporation in 1867. Ten thousand dollars was raised by private subscription from citizens and former residents for the purchase of books. The Westfield Athenaeum opened its doors on January 1, 1868. A fee of $2.00 annually entitled one to full use of the library. In 1886 the town voted to appropriate the dog tax for use by the library.
In 1895 the town commenced an annual taxpayers contribution from town revenues in addition to the dog tax on the condition that the library should be free to all residents of town fourteen years of age and older. In 1898 the trustees of the Westfield Academy conveyed, without consideration, land and building (Fowler-Gillett Homestead) on the corner of Court and Elm Streets. The house was remodeled for library use. This building was dedicated on March 6, 1899.
The steady growth of the library and of the community called for still larger quarters. Realizing this fact, M.B. Whitney, President of the Athenaeum from 1893 to 1915 left the library $80,000, which was invested and which constituted the major foundation for the third "new library building". The new building and the remodeled Fowler-Gillett Homestead for the Boys and Girls Library were dedicated in 1927. The Jasper Rand Art Museum, a gift of Mrs. Florence Rand Lang in honor of her father and grandfather opened. The Edwin Smith Historical Museum, a gift of William T. Smith in honor of his father, opened in 1928. The original library building on Main Street was torn down that same year.
A new wing to the main library and a similar extension to the Boys and Girls Library were dedicated in 1966. These additions doubled the floor space of the Athenaeum and increased book capacity by 70%. Income derived from Whitney bequests financed this project.
The Athenaeum Bookmobile began service in 1972 and made 30 stops per week. The Branch Library service began at the New Westfield High School on Montgomery Road in 1973 with a 2,000-volume collection. A garage was built for the Bookmobile in 1977. An Information Center was established, and a new Bookmobile was purchased extending service to outlying districts, nursing homes and elderly housing projects. Due to budget constraints, the Branch Library and the Edwin Smith Historical Museum were closed, and Bookmobile service was ended in 1990. An Outreach Program began servicing homebound residents of Westfield in 1996, and computers with Internet access became available to the public in 1998.
The Westfield Athenaeum is a vibrant library, continuously being updated with materials and technology and new programs and services for the Westfield Community.
