Westfield Historical Society Dinner Honors Residents Who Give Back

The Westfield Historical Society held its annual dinner Wednesday at Echo Lake Country Club. Awards were presented to David Williams of the and the late Lee Hale whose daughter Barbara accepted it on his behalf. Linda Maggio, who recently retired as executive director of the Westfield United Fund, served as the Honorary Chairperson of the annual Dinner.

David Williams received the Trustee’s Award at the dinner. A fourth generation partner at the Williams Nursery in Westfield, Williams introduced Westfield to the which encouraged the use of plants, flowers and trees to promote community involvement and education. He spoke of the need for flowers in our lives. He explained that plants "tie people together" and simply "make people feel better." Williams likes to see pictures of the plants and flowers people have purchased after they end up in people's homes. Interestingly, Williams, who was selected to draw the "50/50 Cash Raffle," won the $900 prize.

Hale, who received the President's Award posthumously, served on the Board of Directors and as the Treasurer of  the Downtown Westfield Corporation. During his service in the U.S Army in World War II, Hale received a Purple Heart and two Bronze Service Stars. Sherry Cronin, executive director of the Downtown Westfield Corporation, who attended the dinner, remembered Hale as "an incredible force of nature." His daughter Barbara accepted the award in her father's honor. (For more on Hale's life, click here.)

Maggio, the evening's Honorary Chairperson, said she has fond memories of her work with the Westfield United Fund, where she championed local causes tirelessly for 38 years. 

Attendees were also treated to a presentation by scholar-architect Mark Hewitt FAIA titled 'New Jersey Country Houses – New Jersey’s version of 'Downtown Abbey.' Hewitt spoke about a wide variety of subjects, including the history of the American country house as well as Italian architecture. His presentation gave the audience new insights into the importance of American Country Houses.