Van Deusen, H. M., Whip Company - Westfield MA - U.S. National Register of Historic Places on Waymarking.com

The H M Van Duesen building was built in 1917 and was the last of the large buggy whip manufacturing companies in Westfield. Westfield was and is known at "Whip City" due to its dominance of the driving whip marker in the 19th and early 20th century. Henry Martin Van Duesen started at the age of 11 as a whip braider and gained experience in all phases of whip making. In 1872 he formed his first partnership in Southfield and moved to Westfield in 1880. He was very successful in business and held prominent civic positions as well. With the coming of the automobile industry, he saw the end of the whip industry and converted his factory to the production of lawn swings in 1925. The company was acquired by Stanley Home Products in 1936. Today the building serves as residential property.

Street address: 42 Arnold St. Westfield, MA County / Borough / Parish: Hampden Year listed: 1987 Historic (Areas of) Significance: Person, Event, Architecture/Engineering Periods of significance: 1925-1949, 1900-1924 Historic function: Industry/Processing/Extraction Current function: Domestic Privately owned?: yes Primary Web Site: [Web Link] Season start / Season finish: Not listed Hours of operation: Not listed Secondary Website 1: Not listed Secondary Website 2: Not listed National Historic Landmark Link: Not listed

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