Our History
They came by train and they came by trolley,
but most of all they came by horse and
buggy. It was the turn of the century and
Westfield, MA, the “Whip City” – had led the
world in the production of high quality horse
and buggy whips for over a hundred years. In
fact, U.S. Whip, just one of the many whip
manufacturers in town, held 85% of the
market share of the worldwide whip
business. Westfield was a small but highly
successful city and her brand new Bismark
Hotel was her pride and joy.
but most of all they came by horse and
buggy. It was the turn of the century and
Westfield, MA, the “Whip City” – had led the
world in the production of high quality horse
and buggy whips for over a hundred years. In
fact, U.S. Whip, just one of the many whip
manufacturers in town, held 85% of the
market share of the worldwide whip
business. Westfield was a small but highly
successful city and her brand new Bismark
Hotel was her pride and joy.
The Bismark had every modern amenity to offer and no expense had been spared in her décor.
Her ceilings and walls were state-of-the-art pressed tin. She even boasted a different ceiling
pattern in almost every guest room. Her floors were gleaming wood. She had a working
elevator, a beautifully appointed dining room and bar and a staff carefully trained to cater to the
needs of any and all visiting gentry. And the gentry flocked to her doors – men in their derby
hats leaning rakishly on their canes, women swishing through the lobby in bustled skirts, their
“Gibson Girl” hats tilted at just the right angle on their perfectly coifed heads.
Outside the seasons changed. Spring was soft with pale pastels and new, fresh greens.
Summer was bright - an intense splash of brilliant flowers against a backdrop of deep, blue-
green mountains. Fall foliage was as colorful as a fruit bowl – Lemon! Raspberry! Grape!
Orange! Peach! – paintings in every vista, fading too fast. And winter was white on white, snow
falling on tall pines, silent, peaceful. The Bismark was a warm, golden place that lingered in
your memory, calling you back…
And then came the automobile....
Her ceilings and walls were state-of-the-art pressed tin. She even boasted a different ceiling
pattern in almost every guest room. Her floors were gleaming wood. She had a working
elevator, a beautifully appointed dining room and bar and a staff carefully trained to cater to the
needs of any and all visiting gentry. And the gentry flocked to her doors – men in their derby
hats leaning rakishly on their canes, women swishing through the lobby in bustled skirts, their
“Gibson Girl” hats tilted at just the right angle on their perfectly coifed heads.
Outside the seasons changed. Spring was soft with pale pastels and new, fresh greens.
Summer was bright - an intense splash of brilliant flowers against a backdrop of deep, blue-
green mountains. Fall foliage was as colorful as a fruit bowl – Lemon! Raspberry! Grape!
Orange! Peach! – paintings in every vista, fading too fast. And winter was white on white, snow
falling on tall pines, silent, peaceful. The Bismark was a warm, golden place that lingered in
your memory, calling you back…
And then came the automobile....
Westfield’s prosperity went the way of the buggy whip and the Bismark fell on hard times. In
1915 the hotel closed. The elegant building changed hands and changed hands. It housed
various shops, and various factories - all fine businesses, but not in keeping with the building’s
original design and purpose. Fortunately, through all the changes, the original infrastructure
remained intact. Things got dirty and dingy, but none of the exterior or interior architecture was
seriously compromised. In 2000, when the building up for sale once again, neighboring
entrepreneur Joe Shibley of Pilgrim Candle saw a diamond in the rough. He purchased the
building and began a slow, hands-on renovation, studying the building’s history, respecting its
past, and carefully bringing it back. Several years ago, the Shibleys opened Pilgrim Candle’s
Store Next Door in the building. In 2003, Jackie French Koller opened The Little Black Dog Art
Gallery adjacent to the Store Next Door. Since then, Adrienne's Cafe has joined the
marketplace, and the new Historic Exhibit Room, making the Marketplace a true "destination."
Once again the Bismark is being enjoyed in the way she was meant to be enjoyed. Her
beautiful old tin ceilings and walls and gleaming wooden floors welcome visitors back to a
quieter, more elegant time. Patrons can relax in the golden glow of yesterday, sip an espresso
or cappuccino and enjoy a pastry or light lunch while soft music wafts through the air. They can
leaf through a book, stroll through the gallery, appreciating the many fine local art works, linger
a while in the children’s book nook or poke through Pilgrim Candle’s unique gift and candle
shops. History buffs can learn about the role of The Bismarck and Depot Square in Westfield's
heyday as the Whip City. Outdoor enthusiasts can discover the "Wild & Scenic" Westfield
through our "Great River through The Years" Exhibit. Everywhere one looks, people are smiling.
“This place is my security blanket,” one customer recently remarked. The Bismark has come
full circle. Once again she is a place that calls you back…
1915 the hotel closed. The elegant building changed hands and changed hands. It housed
various shops, and various factories - all fine businesses, but not in keeping with the building’s
original design and purpose. Fortunately, through all the changes, the original infrastructure
remained intact. Things got dirty and dingy, but none of the exterior or interior architecture was
seriously compromised. In 2000, when the building up for sale once again, neighboring
entrepreneur Joe Shibley of Pilgrim Candle saw a diamond in the rough. He purchased the
building and began a slow, hands-on renovation, studying the building’s history, respecting its
past, and carefully bringing it back. Several years ago, the Shibleys opened Pilgrim Candle’s
Store Next Door in the building. In 2003, Jackie French Koller opened The Little Black Dog Art
Gallery adjacent to the Store Next Door. Since then, Adrienne's Cafe has joined the
marketplace, and the new Historic Exhibit Room, making the Marketplace a true "destination."
Once again the Bismark is being enjoyed in the way she was meant to be enjoyed. Her
beautiful old tin ceilings and walls and gleaming wooden floors welcome visitors back to a
quieter, more elegant time. Patrons can relax in the golden glow of yesterday, sip an espresso
or cappuccino and enjoy a pastry or light lunch while soft music wafts through the air. They can
leaf through a book, stroll through the gallery, appreciating the many fine local art works, linger
a while in the children’s book nook or poke through Pilgrim Candle’s unique gift and candle
shops. History buffs can learn about the role of The Bismarck and Depot Square in Westfield's
heyday as the Whip City. Outdoor enthusiasts can discover the "Wild & Scenic" Westfield
through our "Great River through The Years" Exhibit. Everywhere one looks, people are smiling.
“This place is my security blanket,” one customer recently remarked. The Bismark has come
full circle. Once again she is a place that calls you back…
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