The Moving Pieces of Preservation: The Selmar Eggers Building
One Johnny Cake Hill, New Bedford
Driving along Union Street, you may miss the modest Greek Revival Building situated at the bottom of Johnny Cake Hill. And while it may be unassuming, it’s certainly seen its share of excitement.
Like many buildings in the waterfront district, the Selmar Eggers Building was moved. It originally was located on William Street, where the entry plaza to the Whaling Museum is now. It was built in 1872 for Selmar Eggers, a gunsmith and whalecraft manufacturer who was born in Germany in 1834. His “four square rods of land” were purchased from Mr. Theodore W. Cole for $900. First mention of the building was in the Event Standard on August 28, 1872 when “Mr. Eggers, gunsmith, has moved into the new building on Wiliam Street near Water, built for him by Foster and Brown”. The first floor was his shop, with a workroom at the back with offices on the upper floors. Eggers died in 1898, after having pass his business to his son George. The family owned the building until 1925.
In 1974, the Old Dartmouth Historical Society (the New Bedford Whaling Museum) bought the property and did a partial restoration, under the direction of John Bullard, who was agent for WHALE, the ODHS and Bedford Landing Taxpayers Association at the time.
By 1977 there were three tenants, an art store, an artist-photography space and an attorney. Then on January 18, 1977, the city experienced three gas explosions in the early morning hours. The third, at 7:08 am, had enough force to blow the front of the building out and the roof collapsed. In the wake of the many buildings destroyed, the Eggers Building seemed next on list, if not for WHALE and John Bullard.
He gave an interview that stated of the Eggers Building (then referred to as the Whittle Building for a former owner) and the Sundial Building were the two most important to save “if there’s the desire to do so”. A few days later the City Building Superintendent said the buildings could be saved and it was secured – with WHALE paying for a night watchman to guard the property until that happened.
In April, the Eggers Building was purchased by new owners with plans to move the building to the site at One Johnny Cake Hill. Working with John Bullard and WHALE’s architect Thomas Hauck, plans came forth to restore the Eggers building and combine it with a contemporary annex that would be “the first new commercial building in the Waterfront Historic District”.
Work began in the fall of 1977 and in April, 1978, the Eggers Building was moved onto its new foundation. Construction wrapped up in July of 1978 at an estimated cost of $90,000. Tenants included Kjeld Jenson of Newport, Tim Silvia’s Coastway Photography and Seahawk Industries. A new restaurant, The Baggy Wrinkle, was housed in the new annex portion, on the upper deck. And of course, the now iconic large metal “coffee pot” was on the side of the building.
Over the years tenants changed, as did the district and downtown community. In 2022, new owners began a new restoration to breath new life into this unique part of New Bedford’s history and ensuring its story continues. Businesses continue to call One Johnny Cake Hill Home, from the Kettle Black Gallery to the Cozy Crib and (soon to be opened) Coastal Bubbles and Wine Bar. The story of the Eggers Building is really the story of preservation (it’s never done) and stewardship for future generations and opportunities.
For more past WHALE projects, visit our website.
Source: Not Just Anywhere - Marsha McCabe & Joseph D. Thomas, from Spinner Publications, MACRIS Inventory Form, WHALE Archives – Form B and Interview with John Bullard by Peggi Medeiros, July, 1979
Photo Credits: WHALE Archives.
| 
