The Westfield Historical Society held its 41^st Annual Dinner Meeting on May 26, 2010 at Echo Lake Country Club and proudly hosted a record crowd.  The Thomas Glasser Foundation was honored for its leading gift to the Reeve House project and its important philanthropic work in the community.  Lee M. Hale presented the award to Gerry Glasser on behalf of The Thomas Glasser Foundation.  Sherry Cronin presented The Presidents’ Award to Karrie Hanson for her commitment to the Westfield Historical Society and for leading the Reeve House Building Committee.  Marilyn Shields was honored with The Trustees’ Award for her revered work as a landscape architect in many Westfield landscapes amd gardens.   Karrie Hanson presented Letty Hudak with a Trustee Emerita award and George Gross with a Trustee Emeritus award.

 

In addition, the Westfield Historical Society Selection Committee inducted five individuals/families into the Westfield Hall of Fame. This is the second year that the Historical Society has inducted prominent Westfield residents into its Hall of Fame.  All the nominees are accomplished in their fields, as well as having made a significant impact on the town, the state or the nation. “The list of inductees suggests that the community has fostered people of importance and achievement,” said Lee M. Hale, Chairman of the Selection Committee. Members of the Hall of Fame will be permanently honored at the Reeve House History and Cultural Center, located at 314 Mountain Avenue in Westfield. The Reeve House is being rehabilitated and restored as the historical society’s permanent home and educational center.

 

The 2010 inductees of the Westfield Historical Society Hall of Fame included:

1) Charles Apgar (1830-1915) – Known as the “wireless wizard” for his pivotal role in saving British and American freighters during World War I, he assisted the Secret Service in shutting down a German wireless station that was broadcasting tips to German U boats about approaching Allied merchant ships. He built and developed one of the most powerful wireless radio systems in his house on Carleton Road.

2) Sigismund Ivanowski (1874-1944) – A graduate of the St. Petersburg Academy and a renowned portrait artist, he came to the Westfield /Mountainside area with his wife, Helen Moser, and established a studio in his house on Mountain Avenue.It was there that he painted portraits of Admiral George Melville and Theodore Roosevelt, both of whose paintings are in the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C.

3) Jeff Torborg (1941-  ) – An All State Catcher at Westfield High School and an All American at Rutgers, he spent 10 years in major league baseball with the Dodgers and the Angels, where he caught no-hitters for Sandy Koufax, Bill Singer and Nolan Ryan. Mr. Torborg went on to serve as a major league manager for Cleveland, the White Sox, the Mets, the Montreal Expos and the Florida Marlins.

4) The Fairbairns – Robert M. Fairbairn (1839- 1891) lived in Westfield when the population was 800 and all the roads were dirt. As chairman of the Township Committee, he set about financing and improving township roads with crushed stone and gravel. His son, Robert A. Fairbairn (1866-1951), was active in many Westfield and New York City business and civic organizations, but was best known as a sportsman. In 1900, he built and owned the Fair Acres Drivers Club, a half-mile harness racing track. His greatest triumph was as the breeder of the 1940 Kentucky Derby winner Gallahadion and the 1945 winner Hoop Jr.

5) William Reeve (1872-1963): One of the founders of the Westfield YMCA, Mr. Reeve was responsible for the World War I monument at the town center. Perhaps his most enduring contributions were the donation of the 11 acres that became Mindowaskin Park and later the donation of his family home, which is now the Reeve House History and Cultural Center.

 

For more information about the Westfield Historical Society or to become a member, interested persons are asked to call (908) 645-1794, e-mail the society at info@westfieldhistoricalsociety.org or visit www.westfieldhistoricalsociety.org.

 

Photo caption:  Jeff Torborg was one of five inductees of the Westfield Hall of Fame at the recent Westfield Historical Society Annual Dinner.  Pictured (left to right):  Alma Kehler, Jeff Torborg, Westfield Hall of Fame Inductee, Suzie Torborg, and Nancy Priest, President of the Westfield Historical Society.  Photography courtesy of Robert Meiklejohn.

 

Since its founding in 1969, the Westfield Historical Society has pledged itself to preserving, interpreting and encouraging community interest in the history of Westfield. The Westfield Historical Society offers a variety of lunchtime programs, tours, and personalized research assistance. Visit the archives and museum at 302 Elm Street, 3rd floor. See the current information on the Reeve House project at the link below. We welcome new members!

 

www.westfieldtoday.com/history

The Westfield Historical Society successfully obtained a listing for the Reeve Property on the National Register of Historic Places in July 2005. Through the research, it was determined some of the important inhabitants of the property include: Brig. General John Myrick who was raised on the property from 1841 to 1855; William Stitt, the proprietor of the Westfield Hotel who owned and lived on the property from 1872 to 1898; and William Edgar Reeve, a prominent figure in the history of Westfield who purchased the property in 1906 and lived there until his death in 1962; and, subsequently his son Edgar Reeve, who occupied the house until his death in Dec. 2001.

The Reeve House was deeded to the Town of Westfield in 1985 from Ralph and Edgar Reeve, the only descendents of the Reeve family. The deed was contingent upon the agreement that Edgar Reeve would live the rest of his life in the house and that the Town would have to use the property for only charitable, municipal or other public non-profit purposes. It is clear from the will of Edgar Reeve and other correspondence that he wanted the Westfield Historical Society to have use of the property and to realize his vision for a museum and resource center.

Westfield, NJ - The Westfield Historical Society has been aggressively working on the historic Reeve House project located at 314 Mountain Avenue. In the last several months, work such as asbestos abatement, mold remediation, removal of oil tanks, soil remediation, and roof repairs have taken place in addition to the exterior carpentry and painting work. Several contractors have participated in the project and some have provided generous in-kind donations including: Star Painting, TMG Engineering, Sherwin-Williams, Gemini Electric, Atlas, Paul Davis Restoration, Oil Tank Services, Vincent Perry, Bartlett Tree Service, and others. Most recently, the enclosed side porch from the 1930's was removed to restore the original wraparound porch which was built with the house in 1875. After soliciting several competitive bids, Regal Restoration of Westfield was awarded the work for the porch and Thomas DiGiorgio, Westfield Architect is overseeing the work.

According to Karrie Hanson, Chair of the Building Design Committee "Restoring the porch to its original state is significant because not only does it demonstrate our commitment to historic preservation, but it engages our imagination. 'Meet me at the Reeve House, Meet me on the porch' has become our slogan to energize the membership and future members for all the possibilities that will begin on the porch. We are imagining a plethora of new programs, walking tours, engagement of Westfield students and leaders of its important history and more."

The Westfield Historical Society successfully obtained a listing for the Reeve Property on the National Register of Historic Places in July 2005. Through the research, it was determined some of the important inhabitants of the property include: Brig. General John Myrick who was raised on the property from 1841 to 1855; William Stitt, the proprietor of the Westfield Hotel who owned and lived on the property from 1872 to 1898; and William Edgar Reeve, a prominent figure in the history of Westfield who purchased the property in 1906 and lived there until his death in 1962; and, subsequently his son Edgar Reeve, who occupied the house until his death in Dec. 2001. The Reeve House was deeded to the Town of Westfield in 1985 from Ralph and Edgar Reeve, the only descendents of the Reeve family. The deed was contingent upon the agreement that Edgar Reeve would live the rest of his life in the house and that the Town would have to use the property for only charitable, municipal or other public non-profit purposes. It is clear from the will of Edgar Reeve and other correspondence that he wanted the Westfield Historical Society to have use of the property and to realize his vision for a museum and resource center.

The fundraising campaign is underway for the rehabilitation and restoration of an Italianate-style 1875 residence and an addition of an archives building on 1.62 acres adjacent to Mindowaskin Park, a crown jewel in Westfield, NJ. The Reeve property will become a new history and cultural center for the community and be a permanent home for the Westfield Historical Society museum and extensive collection of archives. An addition of a carriage house linked to the original house is being planned for handicapped accessibility and humidity and temperature controlled environment for the more delicate archives. A link to the gardens of the house with Mindowaskin Park is also being contemplated.

Founded in 1968, the Westfield Historical Society is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. The mission of the Westfield Historical Society is to preserve, interpret and encourage interest in history, Westfield, and its residents through educational efforts and community outreach programs. Since its formation, the Westfield Historical Society has amassed an impressive collection of archives of the history of Westfield and the surrounding community and operates a museum with rotating exhibits of its collections.

The Miller-Cory House Museum, located at 614 Mountain Avenue, is owned by the Westfield Historical Society and operated by Miller-Cory House volunteers. Built in 1740, the Miller-Cory House was named in honor of its two 18th century owners, both descended from the earliest settlers in the area. The house museum is on the Four Centuries Site Tour and is a living colonial museum today visited by many for its insightful and historic programs and tours.

Tax-deductible contributions to this important cause may be sent to Westfield Historical Society, P. O. Box 613, Westfield, NJ 07091. To volunteer, contact the Westfield Historical Society at 908-654-1794 or by email to info@westfieldhistoricalsociety.org.

Click on 'more' to find out about Main Street Communities.

Read the interesting study, The Birth of a Town: Westfield, New Jersey 1900-1903* by Marcie R. Horowitz. Click on more to link to the Westfield Historical Society listing. The listing has a link to this article and much more!