Brenda Putzer

Westfield, NJ Area Guide

History

The old village area, now the downtown district, was settled in 1720 as part of the Elizabethtown Tract. Westfield was originally formed as a township on January 27, 1794, from portions of Elizabeth Township, while the area was still part of Essex County, and was incorporated as a one of New Jersey's first 104 townships by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 21, 1798. It became part of the newly-formed Union County on March 19, 1857. Portions of the township have been taken to form Rahway Township (February 27, 1804), Plainfield Township (April 5, 1847), Cranford Township (March 14, 1871), Fanwood Township (March 6, 1878, now known as Scotch Plains), Mountainside (September 25, 1895) and Hillside (April 3, 1913). The Town of Westfield was incorporated on March 4, 1903, replacing Westfield Township. Barely two weeks later, the Borough of Garwood was created from the less desirable areas of Westfield and Cranford Township, on March 19, 1903

On August 25 we said farewell to H. Emerson Thomas, a founder and pillar of the Westfield Historical Society. Although much as been written and said about his enormous influence on the community of Westfield, we shall only comment here on his key and unfortunately, little remembered role in the formation of the Society. In the mid-fifties, Em Thomas was responsible for the vigorous action that led to the establishment of the Society. Upon becoming mayor, he appointed a Westfield Historical Committee to collect and archive information on the history of Westfield. The Committee, chaired by Senator Arthur N. Pierson, was made up of persons who themselves had played major roles in the shaping of Westfield. They included Leigh M. Pearsall, Charles A. Philhower, Addison H. Clark, Charles Clark, Mary Virginia Gale, John H. Frazee, Donald McDougall, Moreland Townley, and Elizabeth French. One key committeeman remains today a WHS member and active legal practitioner: Robert C. "Bob" Thomson. The Westfield Town Bell was cast by Vickers Foundry in Sheffield, England in 1869. The Bell hung in the Prospect School and served as the school bell, Town bell, and fire bell from 1869-1921. From 1922-1985 it was housed in the Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church. The Westfield Historical Society and Town D.P.W. sponsored the restoration of the Bell by John R. Panosh and Ralph H. Jones (Westfield Historical Society Curator), in 1993, for the Town's Bicentennial celebration.

The 1886 E. Howard clock, serial number 1141, which graces the tower of the First United Methodist Church of Westfield, was purchased with funds raised by a fair and dinner on December 16 and 17, 1886. The gala occasion, under the management of Miss Mary E. Mapes, was held in the first Arcanum Hall. The events were hosted by the "Ladies of Westfield," the First Methodist Episcopal Church as it was known in those days, and with the cooperation of other Westfield churches, merchants, and townsfolk whose desire it was to have a town clock and bell in a central location for all to see and hear. The fair and supper were successful and more than enough money was raised to fully endow the 1886 clock fund. The advertisement for and a list of the people who conducted the fair and supper can be seen in a copy of the 1886 Westfield Methodist, a copy of which is available from the clock restorer or from an original in the files of the Westfield Historical Society. For this and more information, please visit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westfield,_New_Jersey.