A look at West Side’s upcoming ‘55 Altamont Property Museum’

July 1, 2019 | Sarah Heinonen
sarah@thereminder.com

West Springfield Historical Commission Chair Richard Kosinski stands with a model of the First Congregational Church, one of several made by George Holmes.
Reminder Publishing photo by Sarah Heinonen

WEST SPRINGFIELD – Hidden from the bustling traffic of route 20, up a long driveway, is a gray stone house that was built in the 1920s. One day soon, visitors will be able to step into that building and find themselves taking a trip through the history of West Springfield.

The property at 55 Altamont Ave. is in the process of becoming a museum. The rooms of the old home will showcase models, maps, documents, and artifacts from colonial times through the early 20th century.

The museum, tentatively called the 55 Altamont Property Museum, is a joint project of the West Springfield Historical Commission and the West Springfield Department of Park and Recreation. The Town of West Springfield purchased the property in December 2016 and it was added to Mittineague Park, which borders it on two sides.

“The overall vision was to partner with the Historical Commission to have a place to permanently put these items,” said Parks and Recreation Director Victoria Connor, referring to the artifacts on display. Before finding a home in the museum, many of the historical artifacts were stored in the Town Hall. Some items and documents will remain there until the arrangement of the museum is finalized.

In nice weather, a two-wheeled, horse-drawn chaise from the early 1800s will be displayed just outside the main building. West Springfield Historical Commission Chair Richard Kosinski told Reminder Publishing that the chaise was once used by Dr. Champion, the first doctor born in West Springfield. He added that the horse that drew the chaise would have been a Morgan, a breed of horse that was developed in West Springfield and is now the official state horse of Massachusetts.

The museum contains models, built by George Holmes, of historical buildings throughout the town. Some of the buildings depicted still stand, such as the First Congregational Church. Others, like the Old Toll Bridge, have been demolished or replaced over time.

In one room, there are photos and relics from the Massasoit Spring and the company that grew up around it. Kosinski explained that the structures built by the Massasoit Spring Water company no longer stand and the area has been reclaimed by nature, but water still flows from the spring. He said the water was recently tested by the Westfield University lab and found to be potable.

Another room is filled with information about Mittineague Park and the various kinds of recreation it has offered over the years, including skiing and hiking.

The museum has a collection of artifacts from the Civil War era, including a uniform, a sword, letters, and photographs. While many of the items in the museum are specific to the town’s history, other pieces reflect the history of the time more generally.

“The point is to bring in local artifacts and tie them to history,” said Kosinski.

Connor said they plan to have rotating themed exhibits and eventually partner with the school department to provide a field trip destination for school children. Also on the grounds is a guest house, which will be rented out for meetings, as well as serving as a park ranger station for Mittineague Park.

The goal now, Connor said, is to encourage people to donate or loan artifacts, documents, and historical photos to the museum in order to create a more robust and educational experience for visitors.

The museum is slated to open to the public in the fall.

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