Have you tried to trace the genealogy of your house? In this multi-part series, we will explore how to use local history resources at the library to write the genealogy of your house here in Westfield. In part one of this series, we focused on some of the best...
Did you know that the Westfield Athenaeum has a collection of cookbooks in our archives? Our collection includes cookbooks that were donated to the Athenaeum and that range in age from Victorian to vintage, dating from the 1880s to the 1990s. These cookbooks...
Have you tried to trace the genealogy of your house? In this multi-part series, we will explore how to use local history resources at the library to write the genealogy of your house here in Westfield. In part one of this series, we’re going to focus on some of the...
Back in the 1940s, summer in Westfield meant the arrival of the “Pennsy Girls”. The Pennsy Girls were young women from economically disadvantaged areas of rural Pennsylvania who were recruited to Westfield (along with teachers who served as chaperones and camp...
Often when we think of gardens and flowers in Westfield, local gems such as Grandmother’s Garden and Stanley Park come to mind. Yet when it comes to flora and fauna,very few of us are likely to think of local teacher, Adelbert M. Jakeman (1905-1983). While you may...
Mental health awareness and care has changed dramatically since the 19th century when state institutions were first created to treat mental illnesses in Massachusetts. Some local institutions, such as the Northampton State Hospital and the Worcester State Hospital,...
Like many family history buffs, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on the 1950 census. Released a few weeks ago, the census provides specific information about populations and districts in the United States, including maps, district descriptions, and demographics that...
Whether you’re just thinking about looking into your family history, or have already begun a genealogy journey, the Westfield Athenaeum has resources to help you. It’s incredible how much historical information can be found online these days! But since digitization...
People who are interested in Westfield’s Old Burying Ground, also known as the Mechanic Street Cemetery, now have another wonderful tool at their disposal for genealogical research. Thanks to the efforts of local historian Bruce Cortis, people who visit the...
Earlier this month, attendees of the Westfield Historical Commission’s ghost tours at the Old Burying Ground enjoyed stories narrated by a variety of “ghosts” from the early years of Westfield. The Old Burying Ground, also called the Mechanic Street Cemetery, is...
