The design of the Village of Westfield today can be credited to James McClurg who is pictured above.

Lecture to explore the impact of McClurg family on Westfield

The 1891 Fredonia Opera House Performing Arts Center will present the next program in its 2026 Here & There – Chautauqua County History, Travelers and Memories series on Thursday at 7 p.m.

The design of the Village of Westfield today can be credited to James McClurg, a pioneer settler who situated his homestead in what would become the center of the village.  McClurg is responsible for relocating the settlement to the east side of Chautauqua Creek and building up the business district by erecting a block of storefronts and a luxury hotel.  He donated the village “commons,” adjoining parcels for two churches, and invested in early mills. 

But little is known about McClurg or his family, even though his descendants were involved in real estate, railroads, and silver mines across the Midwest, and are credited with establishing a national park! 

Research by Michelle Henry has uncovered the McClurg family’s involvement in national movements and multi-million dollar corporations, all while maintaining relatively reclusive lives in Westfield. Henry will give this fascinating talk and entertain questions and answers.

Appointed the Chautauqua County Historian in March 2000, Henry also served as the County’s Record Management Coordinator until she retired from both positions in January 2023. She is currently Research Historian with the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.  

Admission to the lecture is free, with donations gratefully accepted. Opera House programming is made possible, in part, by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature, and by the United Arts Appeal of Chautauqua County.

The 1891 Fredonia Opera House Performing Arts Center is a member-supported not-for-profit performing arts center with a mission to “present the performing arts for the benefit of our community and region … providing access to artistic diversity … and high quality programming at an affordable price.” It is located in Village Hall in downtown Fredonia. For a complete schedule of events, visit www.fredopera.org.