While I was born in Plymouth, I moved to New Bedford when I was 4-5 years old. I don’t know that I recall very much about Plymouth. My first memory of life was when I was perhaps 1-2 years old. I have shared my first memory with friends in the …
Read More »Henrietta Howland Green; Another Look at the “Witch of Wall Street”
Separating the chaff Generally speaking there are two groupings of folks when the name Hetty Green is uttered. One side – the most common one – can be summed up in the quip “Ah….the Witch of Wall Street.” The other is the “I know the name. Just unsure about who …
Read More »Celestino Medeiros; In the shadow of Sacco and Vanzetti
By Christopher Daley The Story of Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti What famous names come to mind when thinking of New Bedford? Some names that may pop into one’s head immediately are Herman Melville, Frederick Douglass or possibly Hetty Green, the “Witch of Wall Street.” One man whose name probably …
Read More »First Sail Delayed, But Blue Skies Ahead
The historical tall ship Kalmar Nyckel arrived at New Bedford State Pier Wednesday at 4 p.m. for its five day stay in New Bedford Harbor. But wind gusts out of the north kept her in the harbor Friday morning. “The winds are coming down the (Acushnet) river,” said Captain Lauren …
Read More »Book Review: A Picture History of New Bedford Volume 1
Road workers take a break to pose at 830 Purchase Street I would like to pre-empt this review with a confession and a disclaimer. I was immensely enthusiastic about the release of this book for the months leading up to it. Scratch that. Ecstatic, would be more accurate. For anyone …
Read More »City Seeks Partners For Rehab of 1840 Congdon-Lucas House
The City of New Bedford has announced it will request “expressions of interest proposals” from qualified developers for the rehabilitation, operation and management of the vacant historic building located in Hazelwood Park in the City’s South End. The Congdon-Lucas House, once a homestead of a rural estate, has been a …
Read More »New Bedford Streets; A Piece of Americana: Purchase Street
Welcome to our eighth installment of New Bedford Streets; A Piece of Americana. I invite you to read up on the history behind William Street, Kempton Street, Middle Street, Centre Street. Ashley Boulevard, Elm Street and Coggeshall Street. As usual, I’d like to re-iterate the importance of reader feedback, correction, and …
Read More »Whaling Terms For Landlubbers: “Hove Down.”
We promise there will be no swabbing of the decks, scaling to the crow’s nest or flogging via cat-o-nine tails. If you already know what it means to have an appetite for a salt horse, would look forward to gamming (not gaming), or could definitely steer a sea vessel two …
Read More »Historical Personages of New Bedford: Lewis Temple
Lewis Temple Memorial in front of the New Bedford Public Library. Welcome to the fourth installment of the series “Historical Personages of New Bedford.” The first being pharmacist Robert H. Carter III, the second being photographer James E. Reed and the third was businessman and contractor Dudley Davenport. My intention …
Read More »New Bedford’s Forgotten Theaters: Introduction and Allen’s Theater
New Bedford had a rich history in theater that went as far back as the 1820s. The theatrical world during the 19th century revolved around melodrama and romanticism and since New Bedford was growing economically and in population, it was natural that people would need to be entertained. Before television …
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