National Register of Historic Places

Van Deusen, H. M., Whip Company

Westfield, Hampden County, Massachusetts
Listed
February 18, 1987
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
87000037

About this property

The H. M. Van Deusen Whip Company is an historic factory building at 42 Arnold Street in Westfield, Massachusetts, USA. Built in 1917, it is the last purpose-built whip factory to be built in Westfield, which was nationally known as "Whip City". The building, used until 1930 for whip production, was also somewhat retardaire in design, using late 19th-century construction methods. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1987. The H. M. Van Deusen Whip Company is located on the western side of downtown Westfield, on the south side of Arnold Street between Elm and Washington Streets. It is a long rectangular 3-1/2 story building, constructed with load-bearing brick walls. A stair tower projects midway on the long side, and a single-story brick office addition is attached to the north side. Windows are set in segmented-arch openings, and it is covered by a low-pitch gabled roof. The factory was the last of Westfield's major whip factories to be built (1917). Henry Martin Van Deusen began making whips in 1872 in Southfield, and moved to Westfield in 1880. He partnered with John Pomeroy in the whipmaking business until 1902, when he acquired Pomeroy's shares in the business. In 1925, with the decline in demand for whips occasioned by the success of the automobile, Van Deusen converted the factory to the production of lawn swings. He died in 1930, and his son lost many of his inherited assets during the Great Depression. The factory was acquired by Stanley Home Products, which used it as its corporate headquarters into the 1960s. In the 1980s it was acquired by a developer and converted to apartments. National Register of Historic Places listings in Hampden County, Massachusetts

Location

42 Arnold St.
Westfield, Hampden County, Massachusetts
42.12284, -72.75028

Categories

INDUSTRYTRANSPORTATIONARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Van Deusen, H. M., Whip Company

This page lists Van Deusen, H. M., Whip Company. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Van Deusen, H. M., Whip Company report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Westfield Center Commercial Historic District
Listed
0 mi
Westfield Center Historic District
Listed
0 mi
State Normal Training School
Industrial
0.1 mi
United States Whip Company Complex
Industrial
0.2 mi
Octagon House
Industrial
0.2 mi

Nearby Battles

Attack on Springfield
1675Colonial
8.4 mi

Questions about this property

When was Van Deusen, H. M., Whip Company listed on the National Register?

Van Deusen, H. M., Whip Company was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on February 18, 1987.

What type of historic resource is Van Deusen, H. M., Whip Company?

Van Deusen, H. M., Whip Company is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Van Deusen, H. M., Whip Company?

The period of significance for Van Deusen, H. M., Whip Company is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Van Deusen, H. M., Whip Company?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Van Deusen, H. M., Whip Company will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Hampden County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Hampden County.

Explore HampdenCounty ›

More historic places in Massachusetts

Browse all historic places in Massachusetts.

View Massachusettshistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

Massachusetts history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

Massachusettshistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near Van Deusen, H. M., Whip Company will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report