Sanford Whip Factory facts for kids
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Sanford Whip Company
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | 330 Elm Street Westfield, Massachusetts |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Part of | Westfield Center Historic District (ID13000441) |
| NRHP reference No. | 08001176 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | December 10, 2008 |
| Designated CP | June 25, 2013 |
The Sanford Whip Company building is a historic factory located at 330 Elm Street in Westfield, Massachusetts. It was built in 1883. This factory was once home to one of the many businesses that made whips. These companies helped Westfield become famous as "Whip City." After people stopped using whips as much in the early 1900s, the building was used by a company that made toy novelties for many years. The factory was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2008. It was also included as part of the larger Westfield Center Historic District in 2013. Today, this old factory has been turned into affordable homes.
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The Sanford Whip Company Building
The old Sanford Whip Company building is at the north end of Westfield's main business area. It is across from Kane Park on Elm Street.
What the Building Looks Like
This building is about three and a half stories tall. It is made of brick and has a slate roof. The roof's pointed end faces the street. It has simple Italian-style decorations, which means it has some classic, balanced design elements. The building is about 130 feet (40 meters) long. It has 17 window sections along its length and four window sections across its width. The windows are set in arched openings. These arches have slightly sticking-out brickwork above them. The main entrance is on the right side of the front of the building. It has a simple porch with square posts.
How the Company Started
The Sanford Whip Company was started by two brothers, Edwin and Fred Sanford, in 1880. They had already worked with other whip makers in New York. They first had their business on Mechanic Street. In 1882, they bought the land where the factory now stands. The old buildings on this land had been washed away in a flood in 1878. Soon after, they had this factory built.
From Whips to Toys
The Sanford brothers ran their company by themselves until 1892. Then, their company joined a bigger one called the United States Whip Company. This new company mostly used the building for storage. Later, in 1924, a new Sanford Company bought the building back. They started making whips again, but they also began making novelty toys. This business kept going until the company closed down in 2000.
