Event Information
A mostly African American neighborhood grew around Turkey Swamp in the “Big Woods” area of Westfield between 1905 and 1960. Many residents were part of the “Great Migration” to the northern states by African Americans in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. This is the story of their lives, families, and the events that led to the demise of their neighborhood.
Rob Lombard was raised in the Virginia suburbs of Washington, DC. He attended Columbia College and majored in architectural history and urban planning. Rob applied these interests over a 40-year career as a historic preservationist, planner, and municipal administrator. He and his wife Rosemary have lived in Westfield for 42 years, raising their three children which included regular walks through Brightwood Park. They are both retired and enjoy spending time with their seven grandchildren, traveling a bit, and volunteering.
For More Black History Month Programming (in partnership with the Westfield Memorial Library):
