The Farewell to the Atwater MansionThe Farewell to the Atwater Mansion Over 350 people paid a sentimental visit to the Atwater Mansion in Westfield over the weekend, eager to bid farewell to a piece of local history. The grand mansion, located on 6 Union Street, was once the rectory of Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Church. The diocese had owned the property since 1911, but has now sold it to the city of Westfield, which plans to demolish the building and construct a new police station in its place. A Historical Legacy Built in 1896, the Atwater Mansion was originally owned by the Atwater family, descendants of colonists who arrived on the Mayflower. The diocese purchased the house in 1911 and used it as a residence for the Blessed Sacrament priests. The three-story house boasts intricate leaded glass windows, decorative molding, marble fireplaces, and a remarkable suspended staircase. An Open House for Memories The open houses on July 20th and 21st provided an opportunity for the community to explore the historic mansion and share their memories. One visitor, whose grandmother had worked as a housekeeper in the rectory in the 1920s, expressed her gratitude for the chance to see the place where her grandmother had spent so much time. Architectural Heritage Visitors were stunned by the opulence of the mansion’s interior. The staircase with its hand-turned spindles and invisible support system drew particular admiration. Kathleen Palmer, chair of the Historical Commission, remarked that despite the building’s closure for an extended period, it remained in surprisingly good condition. Calls for Preservation Many attendees at the open house expressed a desire to preserve some of the mansion’s architectural features, such as the marble fireplaces. Palmer indicated that the Historical Commission would make recommendations to the city regarding potential items for salvage. A New Chapter While the Atwater Mansion may be demolished, its historical legacy will live on. The city has placed the house on its list of historical buildings, and the parish has reconsecrated the space for the protection of the police officers who will serve the community in the future. The building may be gone, but the memories and the spirit of the Atwater Mansion will remain a part of Westfield’s collective heritage.
WESTFIELD — About 350 people visited the Atwater Mansion over the weekend to take a look at Westfield history, and to say goodbye.
Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Church hosted open houses at the 6 Union St. property, which formerly served as the parish’s rectory, on July 20 and 21. The city of Westfield has an agreement with the Catholic Diocese of Springfield to purchase the property, which it plans to raze and use as the site of a new police station.
The three-story house, built in 1896, was once owned by the Atwater family, descendants of colonists who came over on the Mayflower. The diocese bought the house in 1911 and used it as a residence for the priests at Blessed Sacrament.
“We were very happy to welcome so many people who said they passed by the house for so many years and wanted to see inside. It was a very positive experience for everyone,” said the Rev. Dan Pacholec, pastor of Blessed Sacrament.
He said among them was one woman whose grandmother worked as a housekeeper in the rectory in the late 1920s and early ’30s. “She had heard a lot about the house and wanted to see it,” he said.
Immediately upon entering the house, visitors were impressed by the leaded glass around the doorways and windows, the decorative molding, marble fireplaces and the show-stopper, a unique suspended staircase with hand-turned spindles and no visible support structure in the wall.
Kathleen Palmer, chair of the Historical Commission, visited on Saturday and said she remembers as a young girl in the church choir being invited to the rectory for Christmas, and how beautiful it was. She said she was surprised at how good it still looks.
“I expected more damage. It was closed for a long time,” she said.
The former Blessed Sacrament Church on Union Street was demolished in the early 2000s to make way for roadways connecting North Elm Street to the second Greater River Bridge over the Westfield River. The city purchased the church building itself, but did not need the rectory or parking lot. The Blessed Sacrament Congregation moved to a new church on Holyoke Road, and used the old rectory only for occasional meetings.
Palmer said a lot of people at the open house were mentioning that the city should save some of the house’s features, such as the marble fireplaces, before the building is taken down. She said most of the members of the Historical Commission visited the open house, and they will make some recommendations as to what the city can salvage.
“Whatever we can, and whatever we can suggest,” she said. “It’s a beautiful building. We’d love to save them all, but sometimes we just can’t. It’s not practical.”
She said the house is not on any national historical registry, but it is on Westfield’s list of historical buildings.
Pacholec said when he first came to Westfield 20 years ago, he conducted the first adoration for Holy Thursday in the front room of the rectory. He said last week, for the four nights leading up to the open house, the church hosted an Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and prayer.
He said the parish has been there for 115 years, as spiritual protection for the community. Now the site will be used for protectors of a different kind.
“We wanted to reconsecrate the space. Now we’re praying that the police who will use this space will be protected,” Pacholec said.
