11 14 DOWNTOWN NEW BEDFORD Lighting the Way: Historic Women of the South Coast Walking Tour 13 8 ALLEN ST HAWTHORN ST COUNTY ST COUNTY ST COUNTY ST 1 New Bedford Whaling Museum 10 First Unitarian Church 20 Friends Meeting House 12 18 Johnny Cake Hill 71 Eighth St. 83 Spring St. 16 17 18 10 9 Emily Howland Bourne Lydia Grinnell Brown Maja Capek Rachel Howland SEVENTH ST 15 Edith Guerrier Marian Shaw Smith CHERRY ST CHERRY 19 20 Lang, Xifaras & Bullard Labor Mural Florence Waite 11 21 TRAIL MAP SIXTH ST SIXTH ST SIXTH ST SIXTH ST WILLIAM ST SIXTH ST 115 Orchard St. Sixth and Spring Streets SCHOOL ST ELM ST

UNION ST The Bedford Merchant SPRING ST

MIDDLE ST MarDee Xifaras Margaret Ryckebusch SCHOOL ST WALNUT ST RUSSELL ST RUSSELL BEDFORD ST BEDFORD MADISON ST 21 22 7 6 2 28 William St. Historic Location of Helen Ellis’ Bookstore Rotch-Jones-Duff House & Garden Museum 22 PLEASANT ST PLEASANT ST PLEASANT ST PLEASANT ST PLEASANT ST Eliza Bierstadt 12 “The Whaler Book Shop” 396 County St. 106 School St. 3 New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park Amelia Jones 33 William St. Helen Elizabeth Ellis 24 Annie Ricketson 13 Grinnell Mansion Zeiterion Performing Arts Center PURCHASE ST PURCHASE ST PURCHASE ST PURCHASE ST PURCHASE ST 379 County St. 23 Marial Harper Martha Bailey Marie Equi Lydia Grinnell

ELM ST 684 Purchase St.

UNION ST Location near Rosetta Douglass Birthplace Cornelia Grinnell Harriet Jacobs SPRING ST MIDDLE ST WALNUT ST SCHOOL ST WILLIAM ST Briggs Brown ST RUSSELL BEDFORD ST BEDFORD MADISON ST 23 4 WING’S COURT 157 Elm St., about 7 blocks west of Elm Street Parking Sarah R. Delano John Briggs House at New Bedford Pest Control Lillian B. Lamoureux 25 P Garage, 51 Elm St. 14 Rosetta Douglass (site of plaque) 113 Allen St. ACUSHNET AVE ACUSHNET AVE ACUSHNET AVE ACUSHNETVE AVE ACUSHNET AVE Cape Verdean American Veterans Association Martha Bailey Briggs 24 CUSTOM HOUSE 54th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Memorial Hall 5 SQUARE 5 26 4 P Infantry Plaza 15 Historic Home of Mary Rotch 561 Purchase St. SECOND ST SECOND ST SECOND ST SECOND ST SECOND ST Corner of William St. and Acushnet Ave., 47 South Sixth St., (rear, green vinyl-sided house behind Valentina Almeida

3 ELM ST Our Lady of Assumption Church)

WILLIAM ST and nearby mural at 41 William St. 2 Cape Verdean Ultramarine Band Club 27 Martha Bush Gray Mary Rotch 25 185 Acushnet Ave. JOHNNY CAKE HILL BETHEL ST WW New Bedford City Hall Hetty Green Birthplace Archangela Fortes 1 6 16 28 133 William St. 43 Seventh St. N. WATER ST Hetty Green 26 Location near Marie Equi Birthplace

ELM ST Rosalind Poll Brooker Jennie Horne UNION ST South Second and Union Streets SCHOOL ST New Bedford Free Public Library Historic Home of Phebe Hart Mendall Marie Equi 7 17 195 37 Seventh Street CENTRE ST . RODMAN ST NN ROSE ALLEY E 613 Pleasant St. 29 ST HAMILTON RT To Phebe Mendall 27 Mariners’ Home SS FRONT ST (pedestrian only) Sylvia Ann Howland (marble tablet for her philanthropy) (Her house was next to the house pictured.) 15 Johnny Cake Hill ROUTE 18 (JFK BOULEVARD) New Bedford Public Schools Sarah Rotch Arnold MAC ARTHUR DR R 8 crossing T 455 County St. Nathan and Polly Johnson House E 18 .

6 21 Seventh St. Casa dos Botes Discovery Center (site of New Bedford High School 1909-1972) T 28 crossing O N. Water St. or 18 Johnny Cake Hill F

A Laurinda C. Andrade Elizabeth Carter Brooks Juan Bennett Drummond C EE I

O R

H A Polly Johnson Mary Vermette A

L Rosamond Guinn Carol Haney S

V

P T PIER 3 E

ISHMAEL

O E

HOMER’S WHARF N

LEONARD’S WHARF A

C Marial Harper Mary Elizabeth Hartley

Please note: Map is not to scale & K M New Bedford Ship Supply Co., Inc.

E Abolition Row Park

P 29 S

T O 19

H Mary Hudson Onley

P P

I 108 Front St P

I Corner of Seventh and Spring Streets

’S LANDING STATE PIER E E

P S R

I I E S Harriet Didriksen

R L Stephen Taber House Amelia Piper Emma Louise Piper A 9 FERRY TERMINAL FISH ISLAND N D 446 County St. AMPLIFYING HISTORY Elizabeth Taber

POPES ISLAND MARINA

Marian Shaw Smith 1 Jennie Horne 6 Marial Harper 8 New Bedford Whaling Museum City Hall New Bedford Public Schools Continued Continued Continued Marian Shaw Smith (1866-1913) sailed The War on Poverty initiatives of the New Bedford educator Marial Harper the world’s oceans as a whaling captain’s 1960s had a dedicated New Bedford foot (1934-2016) positively impacted numerous wife, log keeper, photographer, navigator, soldier in Jennie Horne (1920-1998). Within lives at New Bedford High School, from where 1 correspondent, and business partner. Over the 3 5 ONBOARD (Organized New Bedford Opportu- 8 she graduated in 1952, and was the first course of 18 years and 10 voyages, she wrote detailed letters to nity And Resource Development), Jennie rose up to become woman and minority to be appointed a Housemaster there. family and friends and took some of the earliest photographs contact worker and then director of the West Central Commu- Of Mashpee Wampanoag and Cape Verdean descent, she Emily Howland Bourne of whale hunting and processing. One of Marian’s photographs Annie Holmes Ricketson Martha Bush Gray nity Center, where she initiated several programs to aid the Laurinda C. Andrade became active with the Mashpee Wampanoag as a member New Bedford Whaling Museum is on display at the New Bedford Whaling Museum. New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park 54th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer disadvantaged. While at Model Cities, Jennie was involved in New Bedford Public Schools of its Council of Elders in her retirement. Infantry Plaza Emily Howland Bourne (1835-1922) showed Annie Holmes Ricketson (1841-?) accompanied public school reorganization, public housing development, From immigrant textile mill worker to Ivy the same careful planning in her inspired Florence Waite her husband on whaling voyages and filled Known as the “Mother of the 54th,” Martha and improvements in relations between police and the League student to pioneering New Bedford Mary Elizabeth Hartley New Bedford Whaling Museum New Bedford Public Schools philanthropy that her father Jonathan showed journals with details about life as the lone Bush Gray was an African American Civil War community. As a member of the Mayor’s Citizen Advisory educator, Laurinda C. Andrade (1899-1980) as one of New Bedford’s most successful Humble philanthropist Florence Waite (1861- woman aboard ship. Annie lost her newborn nurse who served the troops of the 54th and Committee, Jennie helped to channel federal Community overcame barriers of tradition, poverty, lan- A U.S. military veteran with overseas tours whaling merchants. She administered her wealth with a 1946) left the bulk of her large estate to be daughter in Faial, Azores, as well as her husband on a return 55th Massachusetts Regiments in the South. Married to First Block Grants during several mayoral administrations. guage, and discrimination to establish the first high school during three wars, Lieutenant Colonel Mary conscience that both honored her family and enriched its distributed among more than 20 New Bedford trip home. Annie and other whaling wives endured rough Sergeant William H. W. Gray of the 54th Regiment, Martha was Portuguese language department in the United States at New Elizabeth Hartley (1920-1999) served in the communities. Emily gifted the Jonathan Bourne Whaling organizations, many of which she had helped seas, terrible tragedies, painful homesickness, and limited concerned for her husband’s health and wanted to be useful to Bedford High School. For 25 years she taught English, French, Army Nurse Corps for 25 years, from 1942 to Museum and its half-scale model of the whaling bark Lagoda for decades. She anonymously gifted the copper sign above companionship of other women. She is represented here at the young New Bedford men during the war. “I am anxious to and Portuguese to New Bedford High students. 1967. A graduate of both New Bedford High School and St. to the Old Dartmouth Historical Society in her father’s memory, the New Bedford Whaling Museum’s original entrance on North the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park, which do all that I can for them, and my country also,” she wrote to Luke’s Training School for Nurses, Lt. Col. Hartley contributed preserving the history of the waning whaling industry for Water Street, which bears the name of the governing body of tells the story of the American whaling industry. her congressman, and became one of the few African American Elizabeth Carter Brooks to the evolution in trauma and casualty care that was future generations. the Museum, the Old Dartmouth Historical Society. women allowed to serve the troops in the field. New Bedford Public Schools spearheaded by the U.S. Army. 7 The first female African American public school Lydia Grinnell Brown teacher in New Bedford, Elizabeth Carter Rosamond Guinn New Bedford Whaling Museum New Bedford Public Schools Brooks (1867-1951) was an educator, social New Bedford’s Lydia Grinnell Brown Sylvia Ann Howland activist and architect. Elizabeth taught at the The first African American woman to become (1895-1945) became the first African American New Bedford Free Public Library Taylor School for over 25 years, founded and designed the a registered pharmacist in southeastern graduate of Simmons College in Boston. Her New Bedford Home for the Aged, and helped to preserve the Massachusetts, Rosamond Alice Guinn 4 Once described as the wealthiest woman in dedication to academic excellence and 2 6 New Bedford, philanthropist Sylvia Ann Sergeant William H. Carney House. In 1957, New Bedford (1892-1923) graduated from New Bedford High commitment to the study of languages led to her becoming a Howland (1806-1865) provided a legacy that Public Schools named the Elizabeth Carter Brooks School School and the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy. While a translator of French, German and Spanish for the Pan-African benefited not only family members, caretakers, in her honor. pharmacy student, Rosamond was one of eight women who Congress in Paris, London and Brussels. The Brown Family Eliza Bierstadt Rosetta Douglass Rosalind Poll Brooker and charitable organizations, but also the residents of New founded a club that became Lambda Kappa Sigma, the oldest Papers at the New Bedford Whaling Museum include Location near Rosetta Douglass Birthplace Carol Haney professional fraternity for women in pharmacy. Rosamond New Bedford Merchant City Hall Bedford through trusts to support education and business. Lydia’s notebooks. New Bedford Public Schools returned to New Bedford and joined her father John, also a Abolitionist and social reformer Rosetta Upon her death in 1865, approximately half of her estate was Active in the local 19th-century art community Rosalind Poll Brooker (1928-2016) was a “druggist,” in the pharmacy business Guinn and Co. Douglass (1839-1906) continued a family legacy distributed to her niece Hetty Robinson Green. A marble tablet The performing roots for Tony Award-winning Edith Guerrier of William Street, New Bedford’s “Gallery Row,” trailblazer for women in the fields of law and of activism that began in New Bedford with her in New Bedford Free Public Library commemorates Sylvia’s actress, dancer and choreographer Carol New Bedford Whaling Museum Eliza Bierstadt (1833-1896) was likely America’s politics. In spite of polio and post-polio Mary Hudson Onley parents, Frederick and Anna Murray Douglass. gift of $200,000 to the city of New Bedford. Haney (1924-1964) started in New Bedford. first female art dealer. Eliza’s work started syndrome, Rosalind overcame every obstacle New Bedford Public Schools The first woman supervisor of branch libraries Rosetta delivered her most notable speech, a paper entitled While a student at New Bedford High School, in New Bedford at the Ellis Art Gallery (now The Bedford to become a tenacious lawyer and dedicated public servant. of the Boston Public Library, Edith Guerrier “Anna Murray Douglass – My Mother as I Recall Her,” as an she often performed in student productions and opened her Pioneering educator and community activist Merchant) and later expanded with her move to Niagara After her 1969 election to New Bedford’s City Council, Rosalind (1870-1958) included social reform in library acknowledgement of the essential part that Anna played in own dance studio, Miss Haney’s School of Dance. She went Mary Hudson Onley (1889-1980) was one of the Falls, New York, where she added Hudson River artists’ works stated, “I’m not going down in history, I’m going up.” Rosalind programs. Edith organized library clubs for Frederick’s rise to becoming a renowned author and orator. on to choreograph and perform in Hollywood and New York. first African American graduates of Bridgewater to her stock. Correspondence to Eliza from several artists rose up throughout her life and brought other women up with immigrant girls to encourage reading, storytelling, and Rosetta was born at 157 Elm Street, about seven blocks In 1955, Carol won a Tony Award for her performance in “The State Normal School in 1912. A 1908 New and friends reveal her savvy business skills, her knowledge her. In 2005, a new public meeting room in New Bedford City exchanging ideas and co-founded Paul Revere Pottery to west of here. Pajama Game” and later earned three Tony nominations. Bedford High School graduate, Mary taught in New Bedford of art supplies, and a busy social life. Hall was named in her honor. provide girls employment with decent wages in a healthy public elementary schools for 19 years. She was one of the environment. The Edith Guerrier Papers at the New Bedford founders of the Martha Briggs Literary Club and a member Whaling Museum include Edith’s autobiography, where of the Martha Briggs Educational Club. she remembers her childhood in New Bedford. 9 13 16 19 23 26 AMPLIFYING HISTORY by lifting women’s voices and inspiring Elizabeth Taber Cornelia Grinnell Hetty Green Amelia Piper Sarah R. Delano Marie Equi generations to come Stephen Taber House Grinnell Mansion Hetty Green Birthplace Abolition Row Park Zeiterion Performing Arts Center Location near Marie Equi Birthplace Born in Marion, Elizabeth Sprague Pitcher Abolitionist, women’s rights advocate and Known as both “The Witch of Wall Street” and As one of the managers of the New Bedford “If you bulldoze your heritage, you become just New Bedford prepared physician and political Lighting the Way: Historic Women of the SouthCoast Taber (1791-1888) married clockmaker Stephen women’s club founder, Cornelia Grinnell Willis “The Queen of Wall Street,” Henrietta “Hetty” Female Union Society, abolitionist Amelia Piper anywhere,” have become the most repeated agitator Marie Equi (1872-1952) for a lifetime explores the historical impact of women from diverse Taber and settled in New Bedford. After her Howland Robinson Green (1834-1916) was (1796-1856) organized one of the first of social justice advocacy. Marie’s Oregon (1825-1904), who grew up in the Grinnell words of Sarah Ashley Delano (1904-1994). cultural and ethnic backgrounds who shaped their husband’s death, Elizabeth lived in seclusion in Mansion, advocated for and secured Harriet the richest woman in the world, her worth anti-slavery fairs in New Bedford on January Throughout her presidency of the Waterfront medical practice and nationwide activism were SouthCoast communities, the nation, and the world. this County Street home, where she amassed a fortune through Jacobs’ freedom, making it possible for Harriet to write and estimated at over $100 million, the equivalent of about 1, 1840. Amelia and her husband helped many fugitives who Historic Area LeaguE (WHALE), bulldozing was usually averted, influenced by her working class experiences while growing up Lighting the Way is unearthing remarkable stories of her own wise investments. In 1876, at the age of 85, she publish what became an edifying “slave narrative.” In 1852, $2.5 billion today, at her death in 1916. As a model of came to New Bedford, including John Jacobs, brother of writer and New Bedford kept its historic heart. Sarah steered WHALE in New Bedford, where she was born on South Second Street. women’s callings that required grit, tenacity, and founded Tabor Academy. Cornelia sent Harriet to the Grinnell Mansion to shelter Harriet groundbreaking financial intelligence and independence, she and abolitionist Harriet Jacobs. The Piper family lived at 58 through the process of saving the deteriorating State Theater Marie worked for women’s suffrage, reproductive rights, from her “owner.” was called “Mrs. Hetty Green” while her husband was known as Bedford Street, about six blocks south of here, near Lewis from demolition and transforming it into the Zeiterion Per- and workers’ rights. In 1918, Marie served 10 months in enduring commitment to their families, careers and the husband of Hetty Green. Hetty was born at this location. Temple. The mission of Abolition Row Park is to tell the story forming Arts Center. San Quentin for sedition. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt communities. Harriet Jacobs of abolitionists who once lived in the neighborhood. pardoned her in 1933. This Lighting the Way Walking Trail Map guides you Grinnell Mansion Lillian B. Lamoureux Emma Louise Piper to locations associated with 44 of these inspiring After escape from enslavement, abolitionist and Zeiterion Performing Arts Center women. Learn the stories of educators, philanthropists, Abolition Row Park reformer Harriet Jacobs (1813-1897) worked Lillian B. Lamoureux (1921-2017) was an ac- abolitionists, crusaders for social justice, investors, 10 as a nursemaid for the family of abolitionist Emma Louise Piper (1845-1915) was the first Af- complished pianist, devoted Francophile, and sister sailors, and millworkers as you walk through rican American teacher in Cambridge, MD after Nathaniel Parker Willis and his second wife skilled business partner at Lamoureux Funeral downtown New Bedford. Cornelia Grinnell Willis. There are several recorded instances 17 the Civil War. Emma was one of 41 New Bedford Home. Lillian was an active board member Download the Lighting the Way app from the Apple Maria “Maja” Capek of Harriet being sent to New Bedford to stay with the Grinnell men and women, both Black and White, who of La Ligue des Franco-Americains. For 18 years, she served 27 Store or Google Play to find these women and more First Unitarian Church family on County Street to shelter her from the Norcom family, participated in the efforts to educate the newly freed people. as president of the New Bedford Symphony Orchestra, which who sought to re-enslave her. Nathaniel and Cornelia bought Phebe Mendall Emma, granddaughter of Amelia Piper, was born and raised in performs at the Zeiterion Performing Arts Center. on your mobile device. Unitarian church leader Maja Capek (1888- Harriet’s freedom in 1852, and the next year Harriet began Location near Phebe Hart Mendall Home New Bedford, and after teaching in Maryland returned to New Sarah Rotch Arnold Visit www.historicwomensouthcoast.org to read 1966) served New Bedford’s North Unitarian work on Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, the most important Bedford to marry and raise a family. Wedding cakes became the specialty of baker Mariners’ Home full profiles of 100 historic SouthCoast women featured Church, where daughters of immigrant mill slave narrative by an African American woman. workers from Central Europe could meet for Phebe Hart Mendall (1801-1887) who was Nineteenth-century New Bedford’s Sarah Rotch in Lighting the Way. There you will also learn about games and classes in sewing, millinery, and cooking. In 1943, widowed at age 35 when her husband Elihu Arnold (1786-1860) was dedicated to her the project’s initiatives to commemorate the 100th Maja served with the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Mendall was lost at sea. With two children to community, social reform, religious tolerance, Anniversary of passage of the 19th Amendment, which Agency, helping to provide relief for Europeans ravaged by care for, Phebe applied herself to become the finest cook she and horticultural beauty. Sarah oversaw guaranteed some women the right to vote. World War II. North Unitarian Church was its own congrega- could be. She ran a successful catering/baking service from 24 charitable work amongst families of seamen, supported These include: tion when Capek was minister but merged back into this First her home. abolitionist causes, and believed “the spirit of Truth is not • Highlighting the stories of women who were Unitarian in the 1970s. 20 limited to any sect” of religious denomination. In 1851, civically engaged to make their communities 14 Valentina Almeida Sarah presented her late father’s mansion to the New Bedford a better place for all Cape Verdean American Veterans Association Port Society for a “Mariner’s Home” to support seamen. Rachel Howland Memorial Hall • Artworks in New Bedford inspired by Lighting Martha Bailey Briggs Friends Meeting House the Way The child of Cape Verdean immigrants, women John Briggs House at New Bedford Peace, love, and understanding were hallmarks Valentina Almeida (1913-2009) is best known for • Educational forums Pest Control 18 of Rachel Howland (1816-1902). Rachel her advocacy work with immigrants within the 11 Martha Bailey Briggs (1838-1889) lived at negotiated peace in labor disputes, was a local Cape Verdean community. She assisted immigrants this Allen St. home. Born to African American respected minister in the Society of Friends, by facilitating all aspects of their transition to a new country. www.historicwomensouthcoast.org abolitionists, she realized at a young age that Juan Bennett Drummond and founded the Association for the Relief of Aged Women In 1998, the Cape Verdean government named Valentina an 28 Margaret “MarDee” Xifaras education was essential to ending slavery. Her life is a testament Nathan and Polly Johnson House of New Bedford based on the principle, “Not Alms Alone, auxiliary vice consulate. Uncomfortable in the spotlight, to the leadership that African American women provided in But a Friend.” Valentina was twice honored at testimonial banquets held at Lang Xifaras & Bullard Juan Bennett Drummond (1864-1926) was the the field of education during the 19th century. Her extensive the Cape Verdean American Veterans Association Memorial Hall. Mary T. Vermette Hailed as “the first woman of SouthCoast first African American woman licensed in the experience as both teacher and administrator was invaluable Casa dos Botes Discovery Center politics,” New Bedford lawyer MarDee Xifaras in the development of teacher training programs, predecessors state of Massachusetts to practice medicine. Her close friends lovingly called her MTV, so (1945-2019) was a trusted confidante of pres- to modern college and university education departments. She was a member of the New Bedford High idential candidates, governors, senators and School Class of 1883. Juan graduated from the Women’s Med- appropriate for a woman who channeled Explore Lighting the Way congressmen. She was a driving force behind creation of the ical College of Pennsylvania in 1888 and practiced medicine everything Portuguese in a way that no other state’s first public law school, the University of Massachusetts for 34 years. She was one of several women who were instru- SouthCoast woman has done. Deeply rooted in Download the Lighting the Way app from the Apple mental in founding the New Bedford Home for the Aged. Her 21 her Azorean heritage, Dr. Mary T. Vermette (1934-2003) worked School of Law in Dartmouth. She was a delegate and superdel- Store or Google Play to follow the Lighting the Way: egate to Democratic National Conventions for 30 years. diploma is on display at the Nathan and Polly Johnson House. 25 with the Azorean Maritime Heritage Society and the New Bedford Whaling Museum to promote Azorean culture and the Historic Women of the SouthCoast Trail using your Mary J. “Polly” Johnson Margaret Ryckebusch shared whaling heritage between New Bedford and the Azores. mobile device, and read biographies of these and 15 Nathan and Polly Johnson House Labor Mural, Sixth and Spring Streets Archangela Fortes Mary oversaw the construction of Azorean whaleboats at the other women. Casa dos Botes. Confectioner and abolitionist Polly Johnson Educator and labor leader Margaret A. Cape Verdean Ultramarine Band Club (1784-1871) specialized in sweets and provided Mary Rotch Duggan Ryckebusch (1940-1998) was a A tireless leader in New Bedford’s Cape safe lodging to freedom seekers in professor, department head, and union leader Verdean community, Archangela “Canja” Fortes Historic Home of Mary Rotch 12 New Bedford along the Underground Railroad. at Bristol Community College. Margaret was (1919-2009) initiated numerous events that A leading intellectual and deep religious The Nathan and Polly Johnson House, her home with her also a leader in the area’s labor movement, serving on the celebrated Cape Verdean women. As president thinker, Mary Rotch (1777-1848) remained husband Nathan, became the first safe house of freedom New Bedford Central Labor Council and on the Advisory of the Cape Verdean Women’s Social Club from 1957 to 1962, seeker Frederick Douglass and his wife Anna. A business Amelia Jones true to her belief in the Light Within. Mary Committee of the Labor Education Center at the University of she launched its annual Tea, as well its annual Mother’s Day Visit www.historicwomensouthcoast.org to learn about became a leader of the New Lights, progressive partner with her husband in confectionery and catering Massachusetts Dartmouth. Margaret is memorialized for Procession. The Cape Verdean Ultramarine Band Club was one 29 Rotch-Jones-Duff House & Garden Museum more inspiring women across the SouthCoast, or to find Quakers who believed in the Light Within as a sufficient guide, businesses, Polly worked hard so that freedom her union work as part of this labor mural alongside other of the meeting locations for the Cape Verdean Women’s Social out about upcoming Lighting the Way activities. Philanthropist Amelia Hickling Jones more important than the Old Light rules of organized religion. seekers could find “sweet freedom” in New Bedford. community activists. Club. Canja was also active in other local organizations and (1849-1935) focused on giving that benefited Disowned by New Bedford Friends in 1824, “Aunt Mary” united chaired the Cape Verdean Debutante Ball for nine years. Harriet Didriksen Email [email protected] for children. Amelia donated $1,000,000 and the with Universalists and held fast to her convictions, refusing New Bedford Ship Supply Co., Inc. family’s Dartmouth farm to St. Luke’s Hospital to participate in certain rituals and referring to the Supreme questions about the Lighting the Way project in 1923 for a children’s hospital, Sol e Mar. Amelia lived at the Being as “that Influence” instead of God. Considered the matriarch of New Bedford’s Jones mansion (now The Rotch-Jones-Duff House & Garden working waterfront, Harriet Didriksen (1943- Museum) for 85 years. 2019) advocated for fishermen, their families and the fishing industry. A boat owner as well Acknowledgments 22 as owner/operator of New Bedford Ship Supply, Harriet was armed with a lifetime of fishing knowledge in her fight for Lighting the Way: Historic Women of the SouthCoast reasonable regulation. Backed by research, Harriet worked is grateful for the generous support from: Helen Elizabeth Ellis with politicians in convincing regulators to open closed Historic Location of Helen Ellis’ Bookstore, fishing areas. Arcadia Charitable Trust “The Whaler Book Shop” “The whaleboats are a The Island Foundation What do a tea room in Westport, a bookstore Individual donors bridge between here and in New Bedford, special exhibits at the New “I am anxious to do all that Bedford Whaling Museum, and a children’s “A girl should be brought up as the Azores; something physical of “I’m not going down in history, museum in Dartmouth all have in common? These are just “I’m a back-burner person. I can for them, and my to be able to make her own living, our past that we can see, I’m going up.” some of the creative projects conceived by teacher, woodcarver I like to do, but I don’t like country also.” and entrepreneur Helen Elizabeth Ellis (1889-1978). In 1928, whether or not she’s going to that shows the presence of the — Rosalind Poll Brooker Helen opened The Whaler Book Shop with Imogene Weeks in a to talk about it.” — Martha Bush Gray rented house here. The bookstore sold books for children and inherit a fortune.” Azorean people here.” adults and offered special programs. — Valentina Almeida — Hetty Green 18 Johnny Cake Hill, New Bedford, MA 02740 — Mary T. Vermette www.whalingmuseum.org | 508-997-0046