Welcome to the second installment of New Bedford Streets: A Piece of Americana. If you missed the inaugural article, please read, as that article sets up the entire series and covers William Street. I’d like to reiterate the importance of reader feedback, correction, and contributions. By all means, let us make this an open discussion.

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In this installment, we will swing 180 degrees and go from being unsure why the street was named, to being positive of its origin. Kempton Street is one of the most trafficked streets in the city, and the Kempton family name is one of that goes back to the very origins of New Bedford and the arrival of the first Europeans in the New World.

The first mention of a Kempton in the historical record is from 1623. The names Manasses/Mannasseh and Ephraim Kempton (though other documents suggest he came later) are mentioned as arriving on the ship Anne, or possibly on the Little James, vessels that were contemporaneous with the Mayflower. Both were born in Berwick-Upon-Tweed, Northumberland, England of parents George Kempton and Mary Jersey.

Mannasses’ soon-to-be wife Juliana (nee Carpenter) Morton, recently widowed, was also aboard the vessel, as was Ephraim’s two-year-old son Ephraim. Ephraim Sr.’s wife Elizabeth nee Wilson had already passed away so father and son made the journey without. A two-year-old surviving the journey across the Atlantic is a minor miracle unto itself, perhaps one could say he was destined to a future in the New World. They were some of the very first inhabitants of Plymouth Bay Colony or New Plymouth.

Mannasses Kempton (1589-1663)
By 1627 Mannasses married Juliana, and while they had no children of their own, Mannasses had five stepchildren to rear. Mannasses shared in the division of cattle, and by 1633 became a Freeman, eventually serving as deputy to the Plymouth General Court.

He was also one of the original proprietors of Old Dartmouth spearheaded by William Bradford. The land purchased in 1652 was from “the west side of Acoughcusse to a river called Accusshaneck and three miles to the eastward of the same, with all islands, meadows, woods, waters, rivers, creeks, and all appurtenances, thereunto belonging…” or in today’s parlance the land on the west side of the Acushnet River, beginning at Clark’s Point and following the County Road to the head of the River. The original group broke up the territories purchased from Wamsutta and Massasoit into 34 shares, and Mannasses Kempton owned one full share.

Ephraim Kempton Sr. & Jr. (1591-1645)
Ephraim Kempton, Sr. a tailor, and his son Ephraim Jr., eventually moved onto land owned by Mannasses in Scituate by 1640. Ephraim Sr. had other children, John who stayed behind in England, Mannaseh and Lettice who did emigrate, and Annis of whom very little is known. There were rumors of other children, most likely daughters, however. there are scant records to confirm this.

Ephraim Jr. married Joanna Rowlins in 1646, and they had six children, two Joannas (one had passed away within a year), Patience, Ephraim III, Mannasseh, and Ruth. After wife Joanna died, Ephraim re-married Sarah Maddox in 1656, and they had two sons Nathaniel and Thomas. Ephraim was a prominent figure in the region and held many positions. He served on the grand jury, was a surveyor, town committee official, constable, and deputy to the general court, before becoming a freeman himself in 1631.

These Kemptons were the very first Kemptons in the New World that our Kempton Street was named after. By the time of the first U.S. Census in 1790 , thirteen Kemptons are named as residents in New Bedford. The census also lists the number of children of these thirteen residents, effectively raising the number to over a hundred. Thus are the humble beginnings of the Kempton Family, that would leave an indelible mark on New Bedford’s history.

Street Name Origins
Kempton Street was originally called Smith Mills Road, a road that led from Westport to New Bedford and passed through a village of the same name, that is now North Dartmouth. It included Rockdale Avenue and Hathaway Road. One of the region’s earliest settlements, the village was the home of many shipowners, had a large general store, two blacksmiths, and stone-grist and sawmills. This is a road that most people in the region travel often, as it is now called the Grand Army Highway or State Road (Route 6).

The mills were powered by the Paskamansett River, which can be seen off of State Road between Rose & Vicki’s and Midas Brake and Muffler. On the site now sits Paskamansett Landing, a small historic park, picnic area, and canoe launch. There are anecdotes that the village was dubbed Smith Mills Village when Elisha Smith (1680 -1766) purchased the property, mill and water rights in 1706. However, I have been unable to corroborate this. I have come across mention that it was named because of the two Blacksmiths that utilized the mill and river to work, or that it was named after any other number of important “Smiths” that lived in the region. The latter is true.

John Smith (1618-1691) was born in England and was apprenticed to an Edward Doty. He attained Freeman status in 1633, built a home and began to acquire land in the area. A tract of land that he purchased from Edward Doty Jr. came to be called Smith’s Neck. His son, Eliashub Smith bought land and “all mill interests” from Abraham Tucker on May 4th, 1707 and from this Smith, was the name Smith Mills adopted.

As the Kempton family grew in prominence and significance, and the villages grew into towns and cities Smith Mills Road became Kempton Street as it crossed into New Bedford and became what it is today.

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Kempton Street Timeline
1769: Thomas Kempton leaves his homestead between what would be Kempton and Hillman Streets to his son Ephraim.
c1775: Ephraim Kempton house is built on the northwest corner of County and Kempton streets, where the Haven Baptist Church is today.
1778: Smith Mills Road officially becomes Kempton Street as it cross the New Bedford and Dartmouth town lines. It is opened for the first time as a “traveled lane” and served and as a division property line for brothers William and Thomas Kempton. William Kempton wills the section between Elm and Kempton streets to three other sons, Benjamin, Manasseh and Ephraim.
1826: In the “Hard Dig” neighborhood a body is discovered by some boys picking huckleberries just west of what was to later become a baseball park. Sgt Wm H Carney Academy‎? When they alerted adults and returned, the body was gone and a mob was formed and began to burn down houses.
1842: Historic Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church is built.
1845: First documented mention of Cannonville Village which is located at the intersection of Kempton Street and Rockdale Avenue, to the east on Kempton St.
1855: Historic Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church is destroyed by fire.
1868: Benjamin Butler is born at the old Ephraim Kempton house.
1898: West End Police Station is erected on the corner of Kempton Street and Cedar Street.
1904: Station 3 is located at the corner of Kempton and Reed Streets.
1907: West End Library opens above the West End Police Station.
1923: St Mary’s Church is founded.
c1925: A building modeled after the Butler Flats Lighthouse is built on the corner of Mill and Kempton and used as a headquarters for Pacific Oil Company for a gas station.
c1928: Table Talk Bakery, based in Worcester opens a facility.
1929: Battery Park, a minor league baseball park is built where Kempton Street runs into Route 6 in front of the old Silverstein’s.
1950: West End Library moves to a building on the southeast corner of Kempton Street and Rockdale Avenue, and later becomes a pharmacy and T-Mobile Store.
1951: United House of Prayer For All People is built and the church organized by Bishop Charles M. Grace.
1953: Angelo’s Orchard Diner opens up on the corner of Kempton Street and Rockdale Avenue.
1960: The St. Ambrose African Orthodox Church on 416 Kempton Street has a wall completely destroyed after a condemned 4 story building that is being torn down by the J.J. England Construction Company accidentally strikes the church. No one is injured.
c1961 Coca-Cola opens a bottling and canning plant and operates it through the 60s.
1970: Race Riots broke out here and over much of the West End. Details go beyond the scope of this article. National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) building is erected.
1973: Historic Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church is purchased and demolished by the Redevelopment Authority.
1979: North Bedford Historic District which is roughly bounded by Summer, Park, Pleasant and Kempton Streets is placed on the National Historic Register.
1980: Construction of Routes 195 & Route 18 cause the loss of 122 blocks of houses and businesses. Memorial Square Plaque is erected by the 20th Century Club in memory of African-American men and women who contributed to the civic, cultural, and social life of the community. Corner of Cedar and Kempton.
1985: The St. Mary’s building is transformed into the Eastern Massachusetts Correctional Addiction Center.
1991: Fire Station 3 is disbanded and the building temporarily houses the Bureau of Fire Prevention.
1995: Rescue Company No. 1 is organized as a specialized “Special Hazards” unit and was stationed in Engine 3’s former quarters at the corner of Reed and Kempton Streets.
2000: Buttonwood Park is added to the National Historic Register
2002: Rescue Company No. 1 is disbanded. Today the New Bedford Emergency Management Agency and New Bedford Animal Control use the building.

If you have any corrections, additions, advice or anecdotes to share please comment below or e-mail us at ngbarts@gmail.com.

Have you ever wondered what the Seamen’s Bethel really is? Have you wondered why it was built to begin with? The Port Society, in conjunction with New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park, is proud to announce special Seamen’s Bethel tours each Monday afternoon.

The tours start at New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park visitor center, 33 William Street, downtown New Bedford, where, beginning promptly at 1:00pm, a Port Society volunteer will offer a guided tour of this historic and much-photographed New Bedford building. No tickets are required, and admission is free.

You can also read more about the Seamen’s Bethel here.

Standing near the corner of Rockdale Avenue and Hawthorn Street is the Holocaust Memorial, a stark reminder to the horrors taken place between the years 1939 and 1945.  It was the dream of the late Abraham Landau, a Nazi concentration camp survivor, to see a statue erected in honor of the 6,000,000 Jews murdered.  In 1998 his dream became a reality.

Abraham Landau was imprisoned as a teenager from 1940 to 1945 in 13 different labor and concentration camps.  Upon release, he, and his wife Freida, moved to New Bedford in 1950.  During his lifetime in New Bedford, Landau opened a small tailor shop on Pleasant Street, became a cantor like he was taught in his native Poland, visited local schools and talked about his wartime experiences, and became an active member of the Holocaust Committee.  Landau died in 2000, however, his soon to be published book Branded on my Arm and in my Soul will be released this September.

The Holocaust Memorial was designed by Dr. Peter London, Chairman of the Art Education Department at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth.  It stands with a hand reaching towards the sky with the number “141282” sculpted into the arm.  The same number was tattooed on Landau’s arm during the Holocaust.  The hand was sculpted by artists Stacy Latt-Savage and Erica Lintala, Professors of art at University of Massachusetts Dartmouth.  On the front of the statue is a list with the names of different concentration camps, with some very familiar, such as Auschwitz.  On both sides of the list is an inscription, in English and Hebrew:

In memory of the six million and millions of other victims slaughtered by the Nazis during the Holocaust of 1939-1945.
The young, the promising, the aged, our scholars, rabbis, leaders, mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters, entire families, an entire generation
Murdered, Murdered, Murdered
But Never Forgotten
Erected by the citizens of Greater New Bedford and friends
1998

There were many people who contributed to the design, work, and production of the Holocaust memorial.  However, it could not have been possible without the donations and volunteerism of over 500 individuals and organizations.  The Jewish Federation formally endorsed this project.

With some very interesting dates in World War II history just passing (July 16th will be the 69th anniversary of the Velodrome d’hiver Roundup which took place in France, 1942) it would be an experience to see the statue in person, and remember what our generation never had to endure.

To learn more about the Vel d’hiv Roundup: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vel’_d’Hiv_Roundup

New Bedford’s downtown area is filled with beautiful cobblestone streets, quaint shops and restaurants, and historic landmarks. Having an intrinsic tie with the ocean, New Bedford’s rich history never seems to end! Located in downtown is the historic Johnny Cake Hill, and placed on the Hill next to the Seamen’s Bethel is the Mariner’s Home. The Mariners’ Home has a deep and interesting tie to New Bedford and one of the city’s most prominent families-the Rotch family.

Built in 1787, the Mariners’ Home was first a home for William Rotch Jr., located on what is now the corner of Water and William Streets. However, the history of the Home could be traced back to 1765, which is when the Rotch family moved from the island of Nantucket to New Bedford.

Joseph Rotch, the grandfather of William Rotch Jr., was an accomplished sailor and captain, and laborer in the shore side of the whaling industry. After living and working on Nantucket for years, at the age of 61, Joseph Rotch decided to move himself and two of his adult sons to New Bedford. His wife, Love Rotch, and eldest son, William Rotch, continued to live on Nantucket. The whaling industry in Nantucket had slowly started to decline, but the whaling in New Bedford continued to prosper. Joseph Rotch bought a 10-acre plot of land and built his first home upon it. Interestingly, the auditorium of the Whaling Museum now sits upon the location of his first home on the southwest corner of William and Water Street.

From 1765 through 1775 whaling continued to grow due to the influence and finances of the Rotches. However, at this time the Revolutionary War broke out and in 1778 British troops landed in Clark’s Cove and made their way to downtown New Bedford. The troops destroyed whaling facilities, major homes built by prominent people of New Bedford, and businesses. Joseph Rotch’s house was destroyed by torching. Thankfully, Joseph Rotch had moved back to Nantucket and spent most of his time there since the outbreak of the war in 1775. However, due to their prominence, the Rotches had to be careful of where to place their allegiance during the war, and instead tried to remain neutral. During this time Joseph Rotch’s whaling and merchant business came to a standstill.

After the war, the Rotches built up their whaling and mercantile industry both on Nantucket and New Bedford. Joesph Rotch did not return to New Bedford, and died at the age of 81 on the island of Nantucket.

The next era of Rotches to return to New Bedford were William Rotch Jr., the grandson of Joseph Rotch and the son of William Rotch, and his wife, Elizabeth, and their daughter, Sarah. Having received the 10-acre plot that his grandfather owned, William Rotch Jr. built his home on the same southwest corner of William and Water Streets in 1787. In 1828 William Rotch Jr’s first wife died, and a little over a year later he remarried a woman by the name of Lydia Fox. By this time in the 1830’s it was no longer fashionable to live near the waterfront, and Lydia preferred to live higher up on a hill where wealthier people lived. The Rotches lived in their first home until 1834, and then moved to County Street into what is now the Rotch-Jones-Duff House and Garden Museum. Their first home was donated in 1850 by Sarah Rotch-Arnold to the New Bedford Port Society and became the Mariner’s Home.

Little is known about what the house was used for between 1834 and 1850. Nevertheless, the house was left to William Rotch Jr.’s daughter, Sarah Rotch Arnold, after his death in 1850. It was relocated to its present site upon Johnny Cake Hill and, supposedly, it was moved by using oxen to drag it about a city block. Also, $3,000 was raised by the Ladies Branch of the Port Society to furnish the home and make it comfortable for sailors.

The Home was opened in 1851 and it was originally called the Acushnet House. The house was built for seamen who wanted a clean and wholesome place to board and take shelter in for some time. Within the House there were kitchen and dining facilities, bedrooms, a front room, a parlor room, a bedroom for Mary Dodge who was the live-in superintendent when the Home first opened, a library, a recreational room for the mariners, and a hospital room.

During the early years, the Home was active and full with men shipping out to sea, men coming back from voyages, and men infected with tuberculosis.  Tuberculosis was a rampant problem among seamen and the close quarters of the ships made it impossible to become infected. The private enterprise hospital only lasted a few years, and subsequently the women of the Ladies Branch of the Port Society catered to the whalers sick with tuberculosis.

As the years went on the Mariners’ Home became less active allowing for more people to have rooms. In 1889 the Port Society started providing living quarters in the Mariners’ Home to the chaplains of the Seamen’s Bethel. From that time on most chaplains and their wives lived in the Home.

Over the years the Mariners’ Home has changed. At one point it was used as a retirement place for old mariners, a place of refuge for homeless, and up until two years ago rooms could still be rented for use. The Mariners’ Home closed two years ago and tours are not available. However, the Home can still be looked upon and viewed as one of the most historical places of New Bedford.

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Stepping back in time might seem to be the stuff of movies and lore. However, when given the opportunity to visit the Rotch-Jones-Duff House and Garden Museum you will be engulfed by the history and culture of New Bedford in the 19th century. Located at 396 County Street, the Rotch-Jones-Duff House (RJDH) displays Greek Revival architecture and occupies an entire city block.

As the only whaling mansion still open to the public in New England to retain its original design, the RJDH stands as a reminder of New Bedford’s rich history in trade, commerce, and culture-especially through its historical whaling industry. In 1981, the Waterfront Historic Area LeaguE (WHALE) purchased the RJDH to save it from commercial development. In 1983 the house and gardens became a museum dedicated to preservation and education of the National Historic Landmark.

The Families
Built in 1834, William Rotch, Jr. and his family were the first of the three families to live in the House. As one of New Bedford’s most influential townsmen and entrepreneurs, Rotch was involved in the foundation of many establishments, including the New Bedford Institute for Saving, Friends Academy, and the New Bedford Horticultural Center. In addition, from the late 1770’s and onward, the Rotch family owned and built whaling vessels, transported whale oils and other goods, owned wharfs and storehouses in New Bedford and Nantucket, and so much more!

The second family to own the House was the Jones family. Bought in 1851 by Edward Coffin Jones, the Jones family had a fulfilling and lengthy life there. Jones moved to the RJDH with his second wife, Emma Nye Chambers Jones, and their three daughters; a fourth daughter soon followed after moving into the mansion. Starting as a mere clerk, Jones invested in whaling vessels and eventually became an agent and owned sixteen whaling ships.

Life, however, was not always easy for the Jones family. Within a year of moving into the house both Jones’ wife and oldest daughter died of scarlet fever. He continued to raise his three young daughters, and his daughter, Amelia, continued to live in the House for 85 years. Amelia Jones was also an integral part of the New Bedford community, taking part in different philanthropic charities until her death in 1935.

The last family to live in the House was the Duff family starting in 1936. Mark M. Duff bought the mansion, and also became an important part of the New Bedford community. Duff was a leading businessman owning  not only his own business, but mandating many others as well. Duff and his wife redecorated the House and gardens when they purchased it, the restorations are evident in the current bathrooms and wall treatments. The Duff tenure ended in 1981, and henceforth the House was converted into the museum.

The Gardens

Each family had their own special influence over the gardens. Even though there are no documented garden plans, the Rotch family did have ornamental gardens. Seeing as Mr. Rotch was a founding member of the Horticultural society, with the assistance of his Irish gardener William Howard, his garden consisted of fruits, vegetables, and flowers.

The current landscape is more closely aligned with the Jones’ plot. With a Victorian flair, the gardens retain some of the original décor, including a pergola. Photographs from the 19th century showcase the pergola laden with vines, wisteria, varieties of roses, and many more. Also, the Duff family influence is evident throughout the garden design. The Duff family hired a Bostonian landscape architect by the name of Mrs. John Coolidge, and she revitalized the garden with ornamental beds, reflecting pools, and graceful walkways.

The gardens today are a fine mix of all three generations including different specimens from each. This award winning garden serves for many occasions including education purposes, weddings, summer concerts, etc.

Visiting the House and Other Opportunities

The Rotch Jones Duff House is open Monday-Saturday, 10:00 A.M.-4:00 P.M. and Sunday from noon-4:00 P.M. It is also open the second Thursday evening of each month free of charge. Rates for admission and information on tours can be found on their website or by calling (508) 997-1401.

The RJDH also has many programs and events open to the public, including the Fourth Grade Woodland Garden Program, which introduces students to the nature of flowers and includes many topics on the environment, habitat, and plant life cycles; The Fifth Grade Apiary Program, which educates children on the importance of the honey bee; and the History Program for Fifth Graders that educates children on 19th century New Bedford. More information on these programs, future events, and volunteer work can be found on their website.

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As you know, February is “Black History Month” in the United States.  What you may not know is that New Bedford has deep roots when it comes to African-Americans.  The city was an integral part of the Underground Railroad that helped bring slaves from the southern slavery states into the north.  In 1833, the first anti-slavery society was founded in New Bedford.  Here are some notable New Bedford African-Americans and their accomplishments:

• Frederick Douglass – Runaway slave who became a famous abolitionist and lived in New Bedford in the late 1840s.
• William Harvey Carney – Received the Medal of Honor for his actions at the Battle of Fort Wagner, which took place during the Civil War.  W.H. Carney Academy elementary school is named in his honor.

• Robert H. Carter III – Carter paved the way for African-Americans by being the first to practice pharmacy in Massachusetts, which he did by earning his license in 1886.
• Lewis Temple – Invented the toggle iron harpoon in 1848, helping put New Bedford on the map.  By the 1890’s, thanks to the Whaling industry, New Bedford was the fourth largest cargo terminal in the United States, behind New York, Philadelphia, and New Orleans.
• James E. Reed – James E Reed left an abundance of photos behind capturing the city and region for three decades giving us a window to the past.
• 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry -Many New Bedford African-Americans (including William Harvey Carney) joined the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, one of the first black units during the Civil War.  The movie Glory, starring Matthew Broderick, Denzel Washington, and Morgan Freeman, detail the story of this unit.
• Charles Manuel “Sweet Daddy” Grace – Founded the United House of Prayer for All People.
• Mary J. “Polly” Johnson – First home in freedom to renowned fugitive Frederick Douglass.
• William Bush – Instrumental in the Underground Railroad.

Places to Visit:

• William Harvey Carney is buried in New Bedford’s Oak Grove Cemetery.

• Charles Manuel “Sweet Daddy” Grace is buried in Pine Grove Cemetery.
• William Bush is buried Rural Cemetery.
• The Lewis Temple monument is located just outside the New Bedford Library.
• The New Bedford Historical Society at The Nathan and Mary (Polly) Johnson properties, where you can learn about the Underground Railroad, Fredrick Douglas, and much more! (Website)
• Check out some of the Underground Railroad locations and other historic sites in New Bedford.