Industries in Westfield
While every New England town might have experienced the influx of industry, Westfield is unique in its industry and what it contributed to the market. This exhibit will walk you through these industries, focusing on our namesake as the "Whip City."

Though we are not as well known for our pipe organ industry as our whip industry, that does not mean it was not influential. The pipe organs made in Westfield can be found all over New England, from Maine down to Florida, in churches and operas. This sample pipe organ was a piece of the full organ, and it was used to show the quality of the craftsmanship promised in the finished product.

Whip tags like these show us not only some of the businesses and advertisements for whips made in Westfield, but also what qualities made these whips so special. For instance, this label emphasizes the reinforced snap for steadiness and reliability. Another advertised aspect was the duck lined waterproof cover for rainy days or riding through humid areas. The advertisement also references the Greek myth of Hercules to add manliness to the item.

Westfield has historically been called the "Whip City" thanks to its booming whip industry. Whips were somewhat complex pieces of equipment to make with different styles and materials needed for different parts of the whip. Here we can see a machine which only made the snaps of whips. The whip snap is the part of the whip attached to the handle. These snaps varied in length from a few inches to five feet in length depending on its use.
Previous
Next