Westfield Whip Manufacturing Company facts for kids
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Westfield Whip Manufacturing Company
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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Westfield Whip Manufacturing Company
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | 360 Elm St., Westfield, Massachusetts |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | c. 1887 |
| Part of | Westfield Center Historic District (ID13000441) |
| NRHP reference No. | 85003233 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 17, 1985 |
| Designated CP | June 25, 2013 |
The Westfield Whip Manufacturing Company is a really old factory in Westfield, Massachusetts. It was built around 1887. This factory is special because it's the best-preserved building from a time when many whip-making companies were in Westfield. It's also home to the very last whip-making business still working there today! This important building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985. It also became part of the Westfield Center Historic District in 2013.
What Does the Factory Look Like?
The Westfield Whip Manufacturing Company is in an area with other factories. It's just north of downtown Westfield, near the Westfield River. The main building is made of brick and is about two and a half stories tall. It has simple decorations.
There are many windows, set in arched openings. The roof has cool brick designs called corbelling. The front door has a porch from the Victorian era with fancy turned posts.
A Look Back: The Factory's History
This factory building was first built around 1887. It was made for a company called A.G. Barnes Whip Company. In 1893, a bigger company bought it. This new company, the United States Whip Company, was formed by many whip-makers joining together.
Over the years, starting in 1910, the building had different owners. It was used for many things besides making whips. For example, people made paper tubes, dog collars, and even parts for funeral caskets there. But even with these changes, some of the special machines for making whips stayed in the building.
In 1957, a new company bought the factory. This was the Westfield Whip Company, which had just started. They still use some of the original whip-making machines today! This makes the factory a unique place where history and modern work come together.
