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Date: 9/8/2022
WESTFIELD – More than 100 artifacts from Westfield’s history, many never seen before, will be showcased prominently in the Athenaeum’s new exhibit about the city’s history.
Finishing touches are being completed for the new exhibit opening later this month in the newly renovated Reed Room, just left of the main entrance.
Using text, photos and period artifacts enclosed in a large wood and glass case, the exhibit traces the city’s growth. Starting from the first colonial settlement in the 17th century, it goes through the American Revolution and then chronicles Westfield’s development as an important industrial city known for manufacturing whips, organs and tobacco products.
The final section explores changes to Westfield during the 20th and 21st centuries. Guy McLain, executive director of the Westfield Athenaeum, said the display case that takes up most of one wall in the 30- by 30-foot room, is the main exhibit and gives a good overview of the city’s history.
“The graphic panels include a variety of photographs, postcards, and other images – all taken from the Athenaeum archives,” he explained, adding, “What’s displayed is just the tip of the iceberg – and represents a small percentage of our nearly 1,000 artifacts.”
He explained that when choosing what to display – such as a musket, a hand-cranked telephone, and a Polk bicycle made by Columbia – each one was selected to represent important developments in the city’s history. Some artifacts also reflect what life was like in different historical eras or tell a unique story about the people who have lived in the city during its more than 350 years.
McLain explained that the exhibit is a “fresh look” at telling Westfield’s history that examines every aspect of the community, is more inclusive, and includes stories of groups that haven’t been discussed as much in the past.
“We’ve also tried to expand the story by including more on the domestic and social life of Westfield residents in the past,” he said. One of the goals is to give viewers a more complete picture of what it was like to live in Westfield in past eras.
“All too often, past eras are compartmentalized into categories that seem to have no connection. Business and industrial history has been told without reference to domestic life or social currents,” he added. “We’ve attempted to integrate these threads and show how changes in business, or technology, might alter life in the home, or how changes in society might influence the direction of business.”
Now that the library is open more, and since the Athenaeum’s history exhibits haven’t been updated in many years, McLain said it was the “perfect time” to bring a variety of interesting history exhibits down from its history museum on the upper level to the main floor, a location accessible to all.
He said there also was a need to bring the story of the city up to the present day.
“Citizens of Westfield are making history every day,” he said. “Decisions we make today will impact future generations. So, it was important to include recent developments and changes in Westfield.”
Most of the artifacts are placed in front of the graphic panels, but some are interspersed between panels. The large high-wheel bicycle sits atop the case.
“We were very thoughtful about what pieces we selected and where we placed them,” added McLain. “We only had one shot at this, and we wanted to get it right.”
While the large, permanent display may change a few pieces from time to time, that’s not the case with a special historical display on the opposite wall. That exhibit is designed to change about twice a year. Rotating different themed exhibits allows the Athenaeum to show a greater variety of its collection of artifacts.
Rotating exhibits also will go into greater depth on selected themes. The first exhibit, “Westfield in the Roaring ’20s,” features dresses, purses, shoes and accessories – even a set of golf clubs made in Westfield – from the Athenaeum’s collection of 1920s artifacts. The next exhibit will be a history of Westfield veterans and their service.
In addition to the two display cases, there are photos of several prominent citizens hanging on walls and a large bookcase, soon to be filled with historical books. In a nod to Westfield’s nickname as “The Whip City,” several buggy whips are mounted on one wall, including one donated by a former mayor who owned a whip company.
The Athenaeum will still host a history museum on its upper level, though McLain noted that it can only be reached by stairs and isn’t handicap accessible. Because of its remote location, the room requires additional staff to be present whenever it is open to the public.
“Most displays haven’t been updated in many years,” McLain added. “We felt it was time to update our history displays, make them much more accessible to the public, and keep them open for more hours each week so more people will have an opportunity to learn about the amazing history of Westfield.”
McLain said the upper room won’t be open as often as the new history room:
“It will be used primarily for special tours for now. We hope to begin renovating it in the near future to expand our history displays beyond the Reed Room.”
Work on renovating the Reed Room – once a study room – started about 18 months ago. According to McLain, numerous local contractors and craftspeople were involved in the project.
Joe Muto, a finish carpenter in Westfield, built the exhibit cases and coordinated much of the project, while Design and Advertising Associates of Springfield created the graphic panels. The cost was approximately $44,000, with $10,000 provided by a grant from Mass Humanities and the remainder from funds restricted to the library’s history museum expenditures.
McLain said the Athenaeum continues to recognize the need for quiet study spaces. Additional study spaces in other locations were incorporated into renovations of the building three years ago.
He added that when the Reed Room reopens it will serve a dual purpose. “It will be our primary location for history exhibits, but tables in the room will allow patrons to use it for studying or reading. It also will be available for small programs.”
A grand opening is set for Sept. 22, with a wine and cheese reception at 6 p.m., followed by a lecture by acclaimed local historian Bob Brown at 7 p.m.
He was involved from the beginning in planning the new exhibit and served as the Athenaeum’s primary advisor on the history of Westfield. Brown also suggested numerous artifacts to display.
Seating is limited and registration is required, either online at www.westath.org, or in-person at the circulation desk of the Athenaeum, 6 Elm St., Westfield.