New Bedford Historic District
New Bedford Historic District | |
Federal | |
NRHP reference No. | 66000773 |
---|---|
Significant dates | |
Added to NRHP | November 13, 1966[2] |
Designated NHLD | November 13, 1966[3] |
The New Bedford Historic District is a
Most of its buildings were erected between 1790 and 1855 by
Geography
The district is bounded by Front Street on the east, Elm Street on the north, Acushnet Avenue and the
Just east of the district is the John F. Kennedy Expressway (
History
Rise as whaling center
New Bedford's potential as a whaling port was seen by Joseph Rotch, who moved to the recently settled area in 1765. He and Joseph Russell, a local landowner who is generally regarded as the city's founder, saw that it had a deep harbor that could receive seagoing vessels at docks. Nantucket, then the center of the American whaling industry, did not. Rotch and Russell attracted shipbuilders to the area, and soon one of their ships, the Dartmouth, sailed from the city's docks. In 1767, it carried the first load of New Bedford whale oil to London. By the time of the Revolution, there were 50 ships in the local fleet.[6]
In 1778, the
As the city prospered in the following years, much of the historic district was built. In the 1830s,
By 1840, New Bedford, connected to
But think not that this famous town has only harpooneers, cannibals, and bumpkins to show her visitors. Not at all. Still New Bedford is a queer place. Had it not been for us whalemen, that tract of land would this day perhaps have been in as howling condition as the coast of Labrador. As it is, parts of her back country are enough to frighten one, they look so bony. The town itself is perhaps the dearest place to live in, in all New England. It is a land of oil, true enough: but not like Canaan; a land, also, of corn and wine. The streets do not run with milk; nor in the spring-time do they pave them with fresh eggs. Yet, in spite of this, nowhere in all America will you find more patrician-like houses; parks and gardens more opulent, than in New Bedford. Whence came they? how planted upon this once scraggy scoria of a country? ... Go and gaze upon the iron emblematical harpoons round yonder lofty mansion, and your question will be answered. Yes; all these brave houses and flowery gardens came from the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian oceans. One and all, they were harpooned and dragged up hither from the bottom of the sea. Can Herr Alexander perform a feat like that?
In New Bedford, fathers, they say, give whales for dowers to their daughters, and portion off their nieces with a few porpoises a-piece. You must go to New Bedford to see a brilliant wedding; for, they say, they have reservoirs of oil in every house, and every night recklessly burn their lengths in spermaceti candles.
In summer time, the town is sweet to see; full of fine maples — long avenues of green and gold. And in August, high in air, the beautiful and bountiful horse-chestnuts, candelabra-wise, proffer the passer-by their tapering upright cones of congregated blossoms. So omnipotent is art; which in many a district of New Bedford has superinduced bright terraces of flowers upon the barren refuse rocks thrown aside at creation's final day.[10]
The New Bedford Institute for Savings (NBIS), now used as the National Park Service's visitors' center, was built in 1853.[11]
Decline and historic preservation era
The whaling industry peaked in 1857, when New Bedford accounted for half the U.S. fleet. Growing competition from the new petroleum industry, and the impact of the Civil War, ensured that it would not recover as it had in the past. The Bethel was rebuilt after an 1867 fire, with a new exterior and an added tower. The NBIS building became a local courthouse, and the center of commercial activity in New Bedford moved west, where it has remained, as textiles became the city's dominant industry. The whaling museum was established in one of the old buildings in 1907. But ships lost at sea were not replaced as they had been before, and in 1927, the John R. Mantra made the last whaling voyage from the city and the last in American history.[7][12]
Some of the old whaling buildings were torn down to make way for new construction in the 20th century, or deteriorated. But the customs house remained in use, as did many of the buildings in its neighborhood. In the mid-1950s director John Huston came to town with Gregory Peck to film a scene from his adaptation of Moby-Dick in front of the Seamen's Bethel. Although it was the only scene in the film actually shot in the city, it sparked a resurgence of tourist interest when it was released.[13]
Citizens of New Bedford became interested in preserving and protecting the remnants of the city's whaling past. They formed the Waterfront Historic Area League (WHALE) in 1962.[14] In 1966, the waterfront area was among the earliest
Thirty years later, Congress passed legislation creating New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park, commemorating the city's past.[15] It included the entire historic district within its boundaries, and the park service chose the old NBIS building as its visitors' center. In 2008, WHALE turned over the neighboring Corson Building, built 1875-84, to the Park Service, which it had renovated after a 1997 fire. Plans call for it to be used for educational purposes related to the park, with a 60-seat theater, archival space, seminar room, and similar features.[16]
Significant contributing properties
Several of the district's properties are notable. Two have been added to the National Register in their own right, and one has further been designated a National Historic Landmark.
- Mariner's Home. The oldest building in the district, this Federal style stone structure dates to 1790. It was originally built as William Rotch's home, and moved to its present location from William and North Water streets.[11]
- Samuel Rodman Candlehouse. This stone (later stucco) structure dates to 1810. One of the oldest commercial buildings in the district.[11]
- clapboard church first built in 1832 and mentioned (as Whalemen's Chapel) by Melville in Moby-Dick. Redesigned and expanded after 1867 fire.[11]
- Mechanics' Bank and Merchants' Bank Building. Warren-designed bank building along North Water Street with Ionic columns in facade was first Greek Revival commercial building in district in 1831.[11]
- U.S. Customhouse. Robert Mills-designed Greek Revival public building opened in 1836. Still in use by U.S. Customs and Border Protection as a port of entry,[17] and has been designated a National Historic Landmark in its own right.[1]
- Old Third District Courthouse. Warren-built sandstone Greek Revival building opened in 1853 on opposite corner from Customhouse as New Bedford Institute for Savings.[1] Became a local courthouse in 1896, later an antiques shop and auto-parts store. Today serves as the National Park Service visitors' center.[18]
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Seamens Bethel
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U.S. Customhouse
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Mechanics' Bank and Merchant's Bank Building.
Preservation
The City of New Bedford maintains the historic character of the district through its zoning, a condition of the state historic-district designation.[4] WHALE has also been active in applying for grants and raising money to restore individual properties within the district.[19]
See also
- Nantucket Historic District, another whaling-related National Historic Landmark
- List of National Historic Landmarks in Massachusetts
- National Register of Historic Places listings in New Bedford, Massachusetts
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h Polly M. Rettig and S. S. Bradford (January 30, 1975). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: New Bedford Historic District" (pdf). National Park Service: 2.
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(help) and Accompanying 16 photos, historic and from 1964 and undated (32 KB) - ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. April 15, 2008.
- ^ a b "New Bedford Historic District". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved July 10, 2008.
- ^ Ottaway Community Newspapers. Retrieved July 18, 2008.
The Bedford Landing-Waterfront District, the only state designated local historic district with imposed zoning regulations ... It consists of about 20 acres (81,000 m2) containing 20 buildings architecturally significant, built from 1810 to 1855, typically characterizing a New England sea port. Several Federal and Greek Revival buildings add a distinct character to the area with shops on the ground floor, and living quarters above. This picturesque neighborhood is within the confines of the New Bedford Whaling National Historic Park, established by Congress in 1996, which encompasses the cobblestone area of downtown. These restored cobblestone streets with gas-lamp style lighting recapture a 19th century atmosphere.
- ^ "Redesign of Route 18". Projects. Waterfront Historic Area League. Archived from the original on May 12, 2008. Retrieved July 18, 2008.
- ^ Rettig and Bradford, 3.
- ^ a b Rettig and Bradford, 6.
- ^ Rettig and Bradford, 4.
- ^ Melville, Ch. 7-9 ("The Chapel", "The Pulpit" and "The Sermon"), pp. 37–48.
- ^ , Melville, Chapter 6, "The Street", 36–7.
- ^ a b c d e Rettig and Bradford, 5.
- ^ Mawar, 339–40.
- ^ "The Seamen's Bethel". New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park. National Park Service. April 2, 2008. Retrieved July 17, 2008.
When the movie was released, it was hugely successful and one result was that Americans wanted to visit New Bedford ...
- ^ "About Us-History". Waterfront Historic Area League. Archived from the original on May 12, 2008. Retrieved July 18, 2008.
- ^ 16 U.S.C. ch. 1, subch. LIX-BB
- ^ "Corson Building Progress". New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park. National Park Service. May 1, 2008. Retrieved July 18, 2008.
- ^ "Port Of Entry-New Bedford". U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Archived from the original on September 1, 2009. Retrieved July 18, 2008.
- ^ "New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park". National Park Service. July 2, 2008. Retrieved July 18, 2008.
- ^ "Past Projects". WHALE. 2008. Archived from the original on September 10, 2007. Retrieved July 18, 2008.
Bibliography
- Mawar, Granville (1999). Ahab's Trade: The Saga of South Seas Whaling. St. Martin's Press New York. ISBN 0-312-22809-0.
- ISBN 1-60303-374-2.
External links
- Waterfront Historic Area League (WHALE) site