A History of Westfield Indiana: The Promise of the Land by Tom Rumer is the latest in the popular local history books published by The History Press. At first I didn’t think this book about the suburb north of Indianapolis would interest me. But I was wrong.
A small group of Quaker activists moved from North Carolina to Washington Township/Westfield in 1831 specifically to protest slavery. They left fairly comfortable homes, friends and family to move north. Many had never experienced snow before. More followed and Westfield was officially established in 1834. These settlers had true courage. They didn’t just talk the talk, they walked the walk by moving their families, working in the abolition movement, providing stations along the Underground Railway route and working for the rights of recently emancipated slaves.
The theme of the book is the promise of the land. The author discusses the promise through the ages of American settlement and growth in the area. The settlers promised freedom for African-Americans, education for children, religious tolerance, homes for orphans, working against the Ku Klux Klan and opportunities for business. The fulfillment of these promises makes for interesting reading.
As in all History Press books, the pictures and other illustrations are worth the price of the book. My favorite is a two page spread of a typical hog butchering scene in the early 20th century. The hog is trussed with its innards falling out in the middle of a barnyard. (Fortunately it isn’t in color.) Several people are standing around observing. The images of the buildings, barnyard, trees, clothing and expressions of the observers are priceless.
This book does not disappoint.
Tom Rumer will be one of the featured authors at the Local History Book Fair on Saturday, February 14 from 2-4 at Bookmamas, 9 S. Johnson Avenue. Other authors and their books include Nelson Price (Indiana Legends and Indianapolis Then and Now), Julie Young (Historic Irvington, Famous Faces of WTTV Channel 4, The CYO in Central Indiana), Forrest Bowman, Jr. (Sylvia: The Likens Trial), Fred Cavinder (Forgotten Hoosiers and Historic Indianapolis Crimes) and David Williams (Indianapolis Jazz).
