Location Of The Month

July 2007

M.P. B 163.4 - 2nd Subdivision - Wy/Ry

Westfield was founded on May 6th 1834 by Asa Bales, Ambrose Osborne and Nathan Parker, all Quakers from North Carolina, like Simon Moon as well. It is believed that the town was planned as a stop on the central Indiana route of the Underground Railroad with many families of the Quaker and Wesleyan Methodist churches supporting the cause. The reason the Quakers left North Carolina was to get away from the slave economy of the South (and East). When the laws against aiding escaped slaves were harshened in the 1840s, part of the Westfield Quakers split into the even more determined Anti-Slavery Friends meeting and many families were split and family members disowned because of it.

Many stories are known from tales of the Underground Railroad, but Westfield has proof from the actual time period and from peoples recollections who lived during the time, which makes it a hub of the Underground Railroad activity. The close relations between members of the area and Levi Coffin (the so-called "President of the Underground Railroad") made it very likely that this is the case. It has been said that slave hunters knew that when an escaped slave reached Westfield they might as well stop searching as the whole town and township worked together in aiding the freedom seekers.

Right: Westfield, circa 1911. Automobiles on the dirt streets of Westfield. Exact location unknown. -Courtesy Indiana Historical Society-

Left: 437 South Union Street, Westfield. The Baldwin or Brown Family is pictured in front of the house. Circa, 1880's. Right: 1934 Westfield Centennial Parade. Allan Jessop and Ike Jones are pictured. -Courtesy Westfield Washington Historical Society and Museum, Camilla Axelrod Collection-

Left: Highway construction in front of 145 S Union Street. Pictured are the Fire Station and Town Hall, which soon will be the new home of the Westfield Washington Museum. Right: Dedication of the Bell for early education Westfield 1834-1934 - Alden Barker, Alice Stanley, Asher Tomlionson, Byford Inman, Helen Ester. -Courtesy Westfield Washington Historical Society and Museum, Camilla Axelrod Collection-

Westfield Academy, circa 1905. -Courtesy Indiana Historical Society-

Despite Westfield not being a county seat like Noblesville, or having a large downtown like Sheridan, or a gas boom at all like other towns in Hamilton Co, due to its size and Quaker values it grew nicely and was of course even more raised in importance when two railroads crossed there. Many of the larger industrial and commerical buildings were along the railroads, with the grain elevator and Van Camp canning factory very close to the intersection of Monon and Midland. US Highway 31 and State Road 32 intersecting in downtown Westfield made it a hub for both rail and non-rail traffic.- Information and Photos Courtesy Westfield Washington Historical Society and Indiana Historical Society -

Highway Crossing and Monon mainline at Westfield, circa 1923.

The junction and interchange with the Central Indiana Railroad was important to the community. Besides interchange of freight, passengers often interchanged on special trains or excursions. Pictured Left and Right Baseball Passenger Special at Westfield, 1952. Below: Monon #84B on the interchange track with the Central Indiana Railroad. The locomotives would pick up passenger cars for the baseball special.

Westfield Depot, circa 1949.

Right: Westfield Depot, circa 1953.

Left and Right: Northbound freight switching at Westfield, 1970.

Left: Looking along the mainline towards the railroad north. The crossing is pictured. Right: Southbound freight passing the tower and crossing at Westfield, circa 1970.

Left: Westfield, October 5, 1976. What is left of a freight structure at the Conrail, Ex-PC, Ex-CI crossing. Right: November 13, 1979. Looks like someone, or something has pushed over what was once the tower.

April 7, 1977. Looking along the mainline at Westfield. Right: April 1981, Waitt Elevator (Cargill) along the mainline in Westfield.

Downtown Westfield. Much of its small town charm remains.

Westfield 2004. Left: The elevator still remains, although it appears in rather poor condition. Right: Looking to the north along the former mainline. Tracks were removed back in the 1990's. The former Monon depot would be to the right of the trailer, just out of the camera frame.

Looking south along what was once the former mainline

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