Springing Forward

March, 2025

WHALE seems to have been springing forward on several fronts this past month. And while we are not quite ready to share some our projects just yet, we can celebrate others. Most notably, the Hillman Street Firehouse is now underway. This was truly a moment a long time in the making. WHALE and CMK Development Partners formed Hillman Firehouse, LLC last year to complete this project and to see it undergoing stabilization is exciting. If you have driven up County Street recently, it’s hard not to notice the massive steel beams holding the building together. There’s much more to come but like many, we are thrilled to have work starting. The Standard Times wrote about the project earlier in March.

As the days get brighter (and warmer), we’re looking forward to more programs and opportunities to gather and connect with our members, partners and community. Stay tuned for more updates and be sure to follow us on social media as well. We’ve got some exciting things in store!

Erin Miranda - Executive Director

Hillman History

This photo from the early 1900's shows the firefighters just outside Firehouse No. 5 on Hillman Street.

Laura Parrish shared her inspiration, insight and enthusiasm for old homes as our 2025 "Living the Old House Dream" series wrapped up.

Living the Old House Dream Wraps Up!

The second year of “Living the Old House Dream” wrapped up on March 25. Laura Parrish shared her experiences restoring not one but two old houses: New Bedford’s own Whalehouse and the Old Crowell Farm in Sagamore. Without a background in restoration, she shared how she used her own skillset to take on projects that breathed new life into these homes.

From DIY to finding great local craftsman, she shared the importance of connections and community for owners of older homes. “Old houses are about stewardship” and “if I can do it, you can do it” were the great takeaways of the evening. Be sure to follow Laura on Instagram @_thewhalehouse_ or see her story on “Diary of an Old House” on the Magnolia Network.

Many thanks to Laura and all of our speakers, Lee McColgan and Patricia Miller, and our attendees for making this series a success! And of course, thanks to our partners, the Rotch-Jones-Duff House Museum and Gardens for hosting and collaborating with us. We look forward to another slate of informative and inspiring speakers in 2026.

What would you like to hear about? Tell us!

The Old Crowell Farm, Sagamore

The Whalehouse, New Bedford

Thank you to all who attended our winter speaker series!

Hillman Transformation

Work is now underway at the corner of Hillman and County Street! The building was acquired by Hillman Firehouse LLC, a partnership between WHALE and CMK Development Partners, in February. Now the building is undergoing stabilization and shoring that will allow the next steps of its rehabilitation to start. The stabilization work intrigued The Standard Times, who recently covered the project in an article. Firehouse No. 5 was built in 1894 and eventually served as the city’s Civil Defense headquarters.

Vacated in 1994, it was slated for demolition, but WHALE was awarded the firehouse’s restoration in 2019. Flash forward five years (and a global pandemic) later, Hillman Firehouse, LLC was formed in 2024 with CMK Development Partners, to move the project forward. CMK did the successful restoration of the former Holy Family High School right around the corner from the firehouse.

There’s a lot more to come but for now, we’re looking forward to celebrating the start of this project and its successful completion next year. Once open, it will provide 8 units of housing, 5 of which will be affordable. The project is funded by a mix of private financing from BayCoast Bank, state funds from the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities, New Bedford CPA Funds, New Bedford HOME and ARPA funding, as well as state historic tax credits.

Many thanks to CMK, all our funders, the City of New Bedford and of course, the community for their long-standing support of this project. We look forward to sharing more details about the project as we progress.

Historic photo of Firehouse No. 5, circa

Once rehabilitated, Hillman will be 8 units of housing.

NB Creative Directory

New Bedford is home to a tremendous number of creatives, from individual artists to organizations and culture bearers. WHALE is proud to be a part of the New Bedford Creative Consortium and are excited to promote the New Bedford Creative Directory. If you are looking to connect or engage with a local creative, this is a great resource to check out! Supporting our local creative and cultural community is part of what makes New Bedford so incredible and amazing.

Bloomberg Connects: NB!

Springtime is a great time to get out and explore and what better place to start that right in New Bedford. Through Bloomberg Connects, a free app, you can view digital guides and enhanced experiences for a variety of cultural institutions. In New Bedford, we have three offerings on Bloomberg Connects, the New Bedford Whaling Museum, the New Bedford Art Museum and Public Art in New Bedford, offering different art and cultural trails through the city. The app is free to download and a joy to explore!

Speaking of Apps...

Did you know that you can tour some of New Bedford’s historic sites from your phone? AWEgmented is a free app that is like your “personal guide to immersive, self-paced walking tours. Discover fascinating stories, hidden gems, and local insights through expertly crafted tours created by knowledgeable locals, museums, and historical sites.”

The New Bedford Historical Society has three tours on AWEgmented, including the Johnson House, Abolition Row Park and Abolition Row. Visit www.awegmented.com to experience it for yourself!

From the Archives:

Each month we will revisit a former WHALE project that shows the impact of our work and just how far we, and the city of New Bedford have come.

Lighting the Way: The Rodman Candle Works

72 North Water Street, New Bedford

The mauve colored building that sits like a gateway to the waterfront district is a visual landmark to many in New Bedford, but it’s also an important landmark in preservation achievement.

The Rodman Candle Works was constructed around 1810 for Samuel Rodman Sr., who was from Newport, RI. and had apprenticed in candle making. He married Elizabeth Rotch, daughter of William Rotch Sr., in 1780 and joined the family firm on Nantucket. Rodman started his business in New Bedford in 1798 and the site for their second house and the candle works was a gift from William Rotch, Sr.

The three-story Federal Style building was a chandlery, making candles from whale spermaceti. Rodman’s bringing his knowledge to New Bedford is seen as one of the first major events that lead to the city’s prominence in the whaling industry.

Several family members and notable names were associated with the candle works site, Charles W. Morgan (Rodman’s son-in-law) and Andrew Robeson (another son-in-law) both had offices and plants on the site.

Declining along with the rest of the district and damaged by fire in the 1960’s, the candle works site was abandoned and falling apart. The New Bedford Redevelopment Authority slated it for demolition, which was extremely concerning to WHALE. As a result, WHALE became developers as well as preservationists. They worked with Andy Burns and Roger Webb and the newly formed Architectural Conservation Trust (ACT). ACT was the first restoration revolving fund in the country. Together they put a plan and financing package in place for the building. It was “a patchwork” of funds, from WHALE, ACT, the city, New Bedford Five Cents Savings Bank (then Compass Bank), and in hindsight “a house of cards”.

But it worked. With banking space and offices on the upper floors, a restaurant was envisioned for the lower floor. In March 1979 the property opened with Maurice Jospe’s Candleworks Restaurant in the lower level, quickly becoming an institution in downtown. The restoration of the Rodman Candleworks became a leading model for public private restoration partnerships in the country, showing what was possible with creativity, vision and some tenacity. The property is still home to a bank, Bristol County Savings Bank and the lower level still serves as a restaurant, Candela Cucina, which recently opened its doors.

Do you have a favorite WHALE project that you would like to see featured on “From The Archives”? Let us know!

For more past WHALE projects, visit our website.

Source: Not Just Anywhere - Marsha McCabe & Joseph D. Thomas, from Spinner Publications, MACRIS Inventory Form, Rodman Candle

Photo Credits: WHALE, NPS.gov

Historic view of the Rodman Candlworks.

Declining in the 20th century.

Future uncertain.

The "house of cards" under construction.

A model for others to follow.

The Candleworks Restaurant

Mark Your Calendars

May 8, AHA! Preservation Month

Downtown New Bedford

We have something exciting in the works that will debut for AHA!'s Preservation Celebration. Stay tuned!

June 25: WHALE Annual Meeting and Preservation Awards

Rotch-Jones-Duff House Museum & Gardens, 5:30 PM

Join us as we reflect on a busy year and celebrate some remarkable contributions and accomplishments in preservation. More details coming soon.

Join WHALE Today!

Your Support Means Everything

One of the constants in our 63-year history is the support of our members. We could not do the great work of saving, restoring and revitalizing the city’s amazing historic buildings without you and your support! We hope that you will join (or renew) as a member today and work with us to open doors for great things in New Bedford!

Thank You!

Did You Know...

Donations of $1,000 or more to WHALE are eligible for a 50% state tax credit? As a CDC, WHALE participates in the Community Investment Tax Credit Program and recently received $300,000 in tax credits to pass along to those who make a signifiant investment in our organization. Learn more about how your donation can make an even bigger impact on WHALE here.