Southwick, a traditionally agricultural and recreational community, was known as the south part of Westfield before it was established as a district on November 7, 1770. Its soils have allowed many a farmer to make a living off the land. Connecticut Valley shade tobacco, broadleaf tobacco, and dairy farming have been staples for generations. Water from the Congamond Lakes has powered gristmills, sawmills, and powder mills. Its spring waters assured quality ice to be harvested during the winter and made it a mecca for fishing, boating, and swimming in the summer. The historical photographs in Southwick Revisited depict these and other themes that have been a part of the community's rich heritage.