Known originally as the ‘West Fields’ of Elizabethtown, the area retained its rural character for almost two hundred years. Although farms were widespread, some settlers located near the intersection of two Indian trails and the Village of Westfield was established in 1794.

The village served as a military outpost during the American Revolution. Near the end of the war, in 1781, the Presbyterian Church was the scene of the trail of James Morgan, who was

convicted of the murder of the Reverend James Caldwell in Elizabethport. Morgan was hanged near Gallows Hill Road, not far from the residence of James Scudder. Scudder’s house and several other colonial structures can be found throughout the town. The Miller-Cory House, an 18th century farmhouse operated by the Miller-Cory House Museum Volunteers, now functions as a living museum interpreting the history of the period.

The Central Railroad of New Jersey was mainly responsible for turning Westfield into a suburban commuter community. By 1890, twenty-two trains made daily stops in Westfield and the town increased in size by more than 200 new residents per year. Westfield was highly promoted throughout the following decade and the Central Railroad’s magazine, Suburban Life, often showcased the fine homes of commuting residents. The headquarters of the Westfield Historical Society are in the Reeve House on Mountain Avenue. Many residential sections, such as Stoneleigh Park, Kimball and Dudley Avenues, and Wychwood, offer excellent examples of many late 19th century and early 20th century architectural styles. The downtown area contains a number of early commercial buildings. The New Jersey Workshop for the Performing Arts is located on East Broad Street.

Today, Westfield continues to serve as a major commuter suburb on the Raritan Valley Line of New Jersey Transit with a thriving downtown business district. The Presbyterian Church, built in the 19th century, with its broad expanse of lawn, the Presbyterian Cemetery, and a restored Mindowaskin Park, all serve as a focal point of the town.