Welcome to New Bedford, Massachusetts-a city on the Acushnet River and Buzzards Bay, continually rising and falling with the American story.
In the first extensive city history to be published in decades, A Picture History of New Bedford in two volumes captures the city's journey with hundreds of photographs and stories.
In this first volume, spanning the 1600s to 1925, Spinner Publications traces New Bedford's story from native Wampanoag hunting ground, straight-laced Quaker enclave and world-class whaling powerhouse to Underground Railroad stronghold, prolific textile center and fledgling fishing port.
Flip through these pages and find the stories of significant events about the founding of New Bedford, industrialization, war and economic development as well as tales of personal downfalls and triumphs. Read about the native Wampanoag, early settlers, King Philip's War, African American contributions and the Underground Railroad. Witness the waves of immigrants-English, Portuguese, French Canadian, Irish, Italian, Cape Verdean, Polish, Jewish and others-who shaped the character and culture of the city's architecture, recreation, industry, religions, artwork, politics, literature, language, cuisine and song.
Watch New Bedford as it rises to world leader of whaling and textiles. See the ships that brought home the riches. Step inside the mansions on the hill. Enter the workplaces of craftsmen and mill operatives. Listen to the church bell warn of slave catchers. Fight a fire with a hand pump engine. Witness the rowdy Ark Riots. Discover the historical basis of public school issues. Relive the controversy of naked Narcissus, the widening of Purchase Street and the rhythm of Lincoln's lecture. Send off the troops, and welcome them home. Ride along at the horse races, and take a trip on the first ferry, trolley and railroad.
Travel back with us and experience New Bedford. Everyone should know the story of where they live. I grew up in Little Compton, R.I., and as a kid I could've told you that Little Compton was incorporated in 1682 - exactly 300 years before I was born - and that we are the home of the Rhode Island Red.
I could've told you that the area was once called "Sakonnet" and belonged to the Sakonnet tribe, that one interpretation of that name is "the black goose comes" and that two black geese are depicted on the Little Compton town flag.
But I never knew much about New Bedford's history except the big key terms: Whaling, Melville, Frederick Douglass.
So I was absolutely fascinated by "A Picture History of New Bedford: Vol. 1: 1602-1925," by Joseph D. Thomas, Alfred H. Saulniers, Natalie A. White, Marsha L. McCabe and Jay Avila, published by New Bedford's own Spinner Publications (2013).
With hundreds of glossy pictures, and an easy-to-read format - no dense historical writing here, but more of a news magazine-style of journalism and story-telling - I recommend this book not only as an interesting summer read, but as a book every middle school and high school history teacher in SouthCoast should use in their classrooms this fall.
This book is easy enough for a middle school student, compelling enough for a history professor, and a must-read for natives and summer residents of SouthCoast, from Cape Cod to Little Compton.
