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Westfield is a village in Chautauqua County, New York, United States. The population was 2993 at the 2020 census.[1] The village lies within the town of Westfield in the northern part of the county. The village is known as the "Grape Juice Capital of the World" because it lies roughly in the geographical center of of vineyards, most of which are the Concord grapes from which grape juice is produced, for years was corporate headquarters for the Welch's Grape Juice company, and is still home to a Welch's processing plant and other grape-related manufacturers. Significant institutions in the village include the McClurg Mansion, Westfield Memorial Hospital, Westfield Academy, and the Patterson Library. [edit] History
The community was settled in 1802 and was formerly known as "Crossroads". The village of Westfield was incorporated in 1833. The discovery of a pasteurization method for grape juice made by the Welch family promoted the production of grapes for this purpose in this region. It was here in 1861 that Abraham Lincoln met a little girl named Grace Bedell, who, during the preceding year's Presidential campaign, urged Lincoln by letter to grow his beard out fully as an attempt to improve his chances at being elected. Lincoln responded by brief letter thanking Grace for the suggestion. He made no promises but shortly afterwards allowed his beard to grow, and by the time he began his inaugural journey by train from Illinois to Washington, D.C., he had a full beard. The trip took him through New York State, and included a stop in Westfield, where thousands gathered to meet the President-Elect. Lincoln asked by name to meet Grace Bedell. The February 19, 1861, edition of the New York World recounted the meeting as follows:"At Westfield an interesting incident occurred. Shortly after his nomination Mr. Lincoln had received from that place a letter from a little girl, who urged him, as a means of improving his personal appearance, to wear whiskers. Mr. Lincoln at the time replied, stating that although he was obliged by the suggestion, he feared his habits of life were too fixed to admit of even so slight a change as that which letting his beard grow involved. To-day, on reaching the place, he related the incident, and said that if that young lady was in the crowd he should be glad to see her. There was a momentary commotion, in the midst of which an old man, struggling through the crowd, approached, leading his daughter, a girl of apparently twelve or thirteen years of age, whom he introduced to Mr. Lincoln as his Westfield correspondent. Mr. Lincoln stooped down and kissed the child, and talked with her for some minutes. Her advice had not been thrown away upon the rugged chieftain. A beard of several months' growth covers (perhaps adorns) the lower part of his face. The young girl's peachy cheek must have been tickled with a stiff whisker, for the growth of which she was herself responsible." Today there is a small park in Westfield commemorating this meeting, on the site of the previous "Grand Theatre" movie house. The celebrated author of juvenile adventure novels, Charles Austin Fosdick, better known by his pen name, Harry Castlemon, lived in Westfield for most of his adult life and is buried in the Westfield Cemetery. He was the most-read author for boys in the post-Civil War era. [edit] Research Tips[edit] External Links
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