The Stone-Atwater House.

The following passages are excerpts from the National Register of Historic Places:

The Stone-Atwater House is significant as a rare example of a vernacular residential structure surviving the earliest settlement period of Westfield. As the only substantially intact structure recalling Westfield’s first settlement, the Stone-Atwater House is important to our understanding of the historical development of the village. While Westfield is now characterized by a significant concentration of substantial mid and late nineteenth and early twentieth century structures which represents the greatest period of growth and prosperity, the Stone-Atwater House recalls the small scaled residential architecture which the first settlers built during the period 1810 – 1840.

The comprehensive survey of the village revealed the structure’s c.1812 date of construction and its association with Amos Atwater and Eber Stone who arrived in Westfield from Homer, New York. They ran a lumber and grist mill along Chautauqua Creek. Amos Atwater was the first to arrive in Westfield, while his brother-in-law, Eber Stone arrived with his wife and children during the winter of 1814. Frank Volgstad acquired the property in 1872 and it stayed in the family until 1957. After a few short ownerships it was acquired by James and Joyce Swan in 1979.

The original main portion of the Stone-Atwater House is a one and one-half story wood frame structure, built c.1812. In c.1850, the main block was expanded one bay to the rear (east) and a wood shed was attached to the south side of the house. The double-hung six-over-six windows are asymmetrically placed in each elevation. The historic interior features are: exposed chestnut and hemlock hand hewn beams; oak floors, cherry doors; and plank walls in the living room.

Please select this link to read an intimate article about the Stone-Atwater House featured in the June, 1984 issue of Early American Life.