Springfield Court House Milestone - Westfield, MA - Smithsonian Art Inventory Sculptures on Waymarking.com

A old turnpike marker is a rectangular sandstone block, about 2' high and 1.5' wide and 6" thick. It is standing upright on a 6" high by 2' long beveled concrete base. An explanatory plaque is set on the bevel. The milestone is inscribed in capital block letters with the number of miles to the Springfield Court House.

A turnpike was constructed between 1800-1805 to connect Westfield to Pittsfield, MA. The monument, believed to have been erected by Elijah Bates, stood at 80 Main Street for about 150 years. Elijah Bates was a principal stock holder in the Eighth Mass. Turnpike. He opened Bates Road in Westfield to access the turnpike.

Inscriptions:

On the sandstone block:

IX MILES
TO
SPRINGFIELD
COURT HOUSE

The bronze plaque below the milestone is inscribed:

BELIEVED TO BE ONE OF THE MILESTONES ERECTED BY
ELIJAH BATES "FROM SPRINGFIELD COURT HOUSE TO
CHESTER FACTORIES". THIS MARKER STOOD AT 80 MAIN
STREET ABOUT 150 YEARS. LAWYER BATES, PRINCIPAL
OWNER OF THE EIGHTH MASS. TURNPIKE BUILT, 1800-
1805 TO CONNECT WESTFIELD WITH PITTSFIELD, OPENED
BATES ROAD FOR ACCESS TO THE TURNPIKE TERMINUS
AT RUSSELL LINES.

RE-ERECTED IN PARK SQUARE 1963
BY THE WESTERN HAMPDEN HISTORICAL SOCIETY

TITLE: Springfield Court House Milestone ARTIST(S): unknown DATE: ca. 1800 MEDIUM: Sandstone CONTROL NUMBER: IAS MA000965 Direct Link to the Individual Listing in the Smithsonian Art Inventory: [Web Link] PHYSICAL LOCATION: Park Square Park Westfield, MA 01085 DIFFERENCES NOTED BETWEEN THE INVENTORY LISTING AND YOUR OBSERVATIONS AND RESEARCH: The Park Square Restoration project is nearing completion and the milestone has be re-installed once again on the western edge of the park. The inscription on the plaque has been transcribed with the correct punctuation. A description of the base has been added.

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