For the Westfield Historical Society’s First Wednesday Luncheon series in April, guests are welcome to the luncheon at Echo Lake Country Club on Wednesday April 2nd, 2025 beginning with check-in at 11:45am. Popular lecturer, Rick Feingold, will present a program entitled: “Andrew Carnegie: From Steel to the Building of Libraries.”

Andrew Carnegie amassed an enormous fortune in the steel industry and then became a major philanthropist. During the late 19 th century, when steel was first used as railroad track, Carnegie perfected low-cost steel production. The Carnegie Steelworks, in Homestead, PA, employed men producing steel under primitive industrial working conditions. This program will feature the 1892 strike at Homestead which pitted the Pinkerton Detective Agency against the steelworkers ending with 10 deaths. After Carnegie sold his steel company to J.P. Morgan he gave all his money away by building over 2,500 libraries. Many still exist today.

Rick Feingold teaches American Business History at Bergen Community College and holds an MBA from Penn State University.

Those wishing to attend the luncheon may make a reservation by email to westfieldhistoricalsociety@gmail.com; or, by calling 908-654-1794, before Thursday, March 27th. Please advise if there are special dietary needs. The luncheon fee of $40 (WHS members) or $45 (non-members) includes a three-course meal, coffee/tea, and gratuity. The luncheon fee should be paid in advance (check payable to Westfield Historical Society) by mailing to Westfield Historical Society, P.O. Box 613, Westfield, NJ  07091; by Venmo to @Westfield-HistoricalSociety; or, here at the Registration tab at the top of this page. Registration and payments should be received by Thursday prior to the luncheon.

Please abide by the Club’s dress and cell phone policies which can be found here: https://www.echolakecc.org/the-club