State Normal School - Westfield, MA - Former Schools on Waymarking.com

The State Normal School was built as a school for training teachers. It has the distinction of being the first teacher training school in Massachusetts. It served this function until the new Westfield State Teachers College (now Westfield State University) opened a $3,025,000 facility on Western Avenue in 1956.

The school building was completed in April 1892. The 140' long L-shaped building is 60' back from the sidewalk. The main part is 63' deep with a 51' by 55' wing on the east side for a total depth of 118 feet.

The red brick building has brownstone trimming and stands on a granite foundation. The east and west ends are three storeys high while the central portion of the building is two storeys high. On the front there are two entrances behind large, rounded Romanesque arches. The building was designed by the architectural firm of Hartwell and Richardson of Boston and constructed by the Darling Brothers of Worcester, MA.

On the first floor there was a reception room and zoology, geology, and mineralogy classrooms. The east side of the first floor was the training department with rooms for kindergarten, primary and grammar school classes. The second floor contained a combination study hall and assembly room that accommodated 175 students. The reference room, library, and Principal's office were on the second floor. On the east side of the study hall were five recitation rooms, a book storage room, and a women's faculty lounge. The physical science laboratories and lecture rooms were located on the east side of the third floor. On the west side were the classical room, cast room, a drawing room and studios . The gym and playroom were in the basement.

The building was converted for use by the City of Westfield and for the Western Hampden County District Court. Currently it is known as the Westfield Municipal Building and serves as the City Hall for Westfield. The following departments have their headquarters in the building:

Assessors
Auditor
Building Department
City Clerk
City Solicitor
Collector’s Office
Community Development
Community Preservation
Engineering
Health
License Commission
Mayor’s Office
Off Street Parking Commission
Parking Clerk
Personnel
Planning
Public Works
Purchasing
Retirement
Treasurer
Veterans’ Services
Voters, Board of Registrars
Water Resources
Weights & Measures

Because if its architectural, engineering and educational significance the State Normal School building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.

Address: Westfield Municipal Building 59 Court Street Westfield, MA United States 01085 Web Site: [Web Link]

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