12 DOWNTOWN NEW BEDFORD Lighting the Way: Historic Women of the South Coast Walking Tour 11 8 New Bedford Whaling Museum Hetty Green Birthplace
ALLEN ST HAWTHORN ST 1 14 18 Johnny Cake Hill 43 Seventh St. COUNTY ST COUNTY ST COUNTY ST 10 Emily Howland Bourne Lydia Grinnell Brown Hetty Green 14 15 16 9 Edith Guerrier 15 Historic Home of Phebe Hart Mendall SEVENTH ST The Bedford Merchant 35 Seventh St. 13 2 CHERRY ST CHERRY 17 18 28 William St. Phebe Mendall AMPLIFYING HISTORY Eliza Bierstadt (Her house backed up to the Homer House on County Street) SIXTH ST SIXTH ST SIXTH ST SIXTH ST WILLIAM ST SIXTH ST SCHOOL ST ELM ST
by lifting women’s voices and inspiring UNION ST New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park Nathan and Polly Johnson House SPRING ST MIDDLE ST SCHOOL ST WALNUT ST RUSSELL ST RUSSELL BEDFORD ST BEDFORD MADISON ST 19 3 20 7 6 16 generations to come 33 William St. 21 Seventh St. Annie Ricketson Polly Johnson PLEASANT ST PLEASANT ST PLEASANT ST PLEASANT ST PLEASANT ST Lighting the Way: Historic Women of the SouthCoast 4 Location near Rosetta Douglass Birthplace 17 Abolition Row Park explores the historical impact of women from diverse 157 Elm St., about 7 blocks west of Elm Street Parking Garage, Corner of Seventh and Spring Streets 51 Elm St. cultural and ethnic backgrounds who shaped their Amelia Piper 22 Rosetta Douglass (site of plaque) SouthCoast communities, the nation, and the world. 18 Friends Meeting House PURCHASE ST PURCHASE ST PURCHASE ST PURCHASE ST PURCHASE ST Lighting the Way is unearthing remarkable stories of 5 54th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Plaza 83 Spring St. ELM ST UNION ST SPRING ST MIDDLE ST WALNUT ST SCHOOL ST WILLIAM ST RUSSELL ST RUSSELL Corner of William St. and Acushnet Ave., BEDFORD ST BEDFORD women’s callings that required grit, tenacity, and MADISON ST 21 Rachel Howland WING’S COURT and nearby mural at 41 William St. enduring commitment to their families, careers Labor Mural 23 P Martha Bush Gray 19 and communities. Sixth and Spring Streets ACUSHNET AVE ACUSHNET AVE ACUSHNET AVE ACUSHNETVE AVE ACUSHNET AVE 6 New Bedford City Hall Margaret Ryckebusch This Lighting the Way Walking Trail Map guides you 133 William St. CUSTOM HOUSE Historic Location of Helen Ellis’ Bookstore 5 20 to locations associated with inspiring women. Learn the SQUARE Rosalind Poll Brooker Jennie Horne 24 4 P “The Whaler Book Shop” stories of educators, philanthropists, abolitionists, New Bedford Free Public Library 7 106 School St. SECOND ST SECOND ST SECOND ST SECOND ST SECOND ST 613 Pleasant St.
crusaders for social justice, investors, confectioners, ELM ST 3 Helen Elizabeth Ellis WILLIAM ST Sylvia Ann Howland (marble tablet for her philanthropy) sister sailors, and millworkers as you walk through 26 2 21 Zeiterion Performing Arts Center downtown New Bedford. New Bedford Public Schools JOHNNY CAKE HILL BETHEL ST 8 684 Purchase St. WW 455 County St. (former site of New Bedford High School)
Download the Lighting the Way app from the Apple Sarah Rodman Scudder Ashley Delano 1 Elizabeth Carter Brooks Rosamond Guinn Store or Google Play to follow the trail on your 25 Cape Verdean American Veterans Association N. WATER ST Marial Harper Mary Hudson Onley 22
mobile device. ELM ST Memorial Hall
UNION ST Mary Elizabeth Hartley
SCHOOL ST 561 Purchase St. Visit www.historicwomensouthcoast.org to read full 9 Stephen Taber House 446 County St. Valentina Almeida 195 profiles of all the historic SouthCoast women featured in CENTRE ST . RODMAN ST NN ROSE ALLEY E
HAMILTON ST HAMILTON T To R Cape Verdean Ultramarine Band Club Lighting the Way and to learn about the project’s Elizabeth Taber 23 SS FRONT ST (pedestrian only) 185 Acushnet Ave. Rotch-Jones-Duff House & Garden Museum different initiatives: ROUTE 18 (JFK BOULEVARD) 10 396 County St. Archangela Fortes • A school curriculum framework that supports MAC ARTHUR DR R Location near Marie Equi Birthplace crossing T Amelia Jones E 24 . educators to bring these stories into the classroom 6 South Second and Union Streets
crossing T Grinnell Mansion and provide useful resources. O 11
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of the 19th Amendment and women’s right to vote LEONARD’S WHARF A
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POPES ISLAND Mary Rotch MARINA
Marial Harper 8 New Bedford Public Schools Continued New Bedford educator Marial Harper (1934-2016) positively impacted numerous lives at New Bedford High School, from where 1 2 4 6 7 she graduated in 1952, and was the first woman and minority to be appointed a Housemaster there. Of Mashpee Wampanoag and Cape Verdean descent, she Emily Howland Bourne Eliza Bierstadt Rosetta Douglass Rosalind Poll Brooker Sylvia Ann Howland became active with the Mashpee Wampanoag as a member New Bedford Whaling Museum New Bedford Merchant Location near Rosetta Douglass Birthplace City Hall New Bedford Free Public Library of its Council of Elders in her retirement. Emily Howland Bourne (1835-1922) showed Active in the local 19th-century art community Abolitionist and social reformer Rosetta Rosalind Poll Brooker (1928-2016) was a Once described as the wealthiest woman in the same careful planning in her inspired of William Street, New Bedford’s “Gallery Row,” Douglass (1839-1906) continued a family legacy trailblazer for women in the fields of law and New Bedford, philanthropist Sylvia Ann Mary Elizabeth Hartley philanthropy that her father Jonathan showed Eliza Bierstadt (1833-1896) was likely America’s of activism that began in New Bedford with her politics. In spite of polio and post-polio Howland (1806-1865) provided a legacy that New Bedford Public Schools as one of New Bedford’s most successful first female art dealer. Eliza’s work started parents, Frederick and Anna Murray Douglass. syndrome, Rosalind overcame every obstacle benefited not only family members, caretakers, A U.S. military veteran with overseas tours whaling merchants. She administered her wealth with a in New Bedford at the Ellis Art Gallery (now The Bedford Rosetta delivered her most notable speech, a paper entitled to become a tenacious lawyer and dedicated public servant. and charitable organizations, but also the residents of New during three wars, Lieutenant Colonel Mary conscience that both honored her family and enriched its Merchant) and later expanded with her move to Niagara “Anna Murray Douglass – My Mother as I Recall Her,” as an After her 1969 election to New Bedford’s City Council, Rosalind Bedford through trusts to support education and business. Elizabeth Hartley (1920-1999) served in the communities. Emily gifted the Jonathan Bourne Whaling Falls, New York, where she added Hudson River artists’ works acknowledgement of the essential part that Anna played in stated, “I’m not going down in history, I’m going up.” Rosalind Upon her death in 1865, approximately half of her estate was Army Nurse Corps for 25 years, from 1942 to Museum and its half-scale model of the whaling bark Lagoda to her stock. Correspondence to Eliza from several artists Frederick’s rise to becoming a renowned author and orator. rose up throughout her life and brought other women up with distributed to her niece Hetty Robinson Green. A marble tablet 1967. A graduate of both New Bedford High School and St. to the Old Dartmouth Historical Society in her father’s memory, and friends reveal her savvy business skills, her knowledge Rosetta was born at 157 Elm Street, about seven blocks her. In 2005, a new public meeting room in New Bedford City in New Bedford Free Public Library commemorates Sylvia’s Luke’s Training School for Nurses, Lt. Col. Hartley contributed preserving the history of the waning whaling industry for of art supplies, and a busy social life. west of here. Hall was named in her honor. gift of $200,000 to the city of New Bedford. to the evolution in trauma and casualty care that was future generations. spearheaded by the U.S. Army. Jennie Horne Lydia Grinnell Brown City Hall Rosamond Guinn New Bedford Whaling Museum The War on Poverty initiatives of the 1960s New Bedford Public Schools New Bedford’s Lydia Grinnell Brown had a dedicated New Bedford foot soldier in The first African American woman to become (1895-1945) became the first African American Jennie Horne (1920-1998). Within ONBOARD a registered pharmacist in southeastern graduate of Simmons College in Boston. Her 3 5 (Organized New Bedford Opportunity And 8 Massachusetts, Rosamond Alice Guinn dedication to academic excellence and Resource Development), Jennie rose up to become contact (1892-1923) graduated from New Bedford High commitment to the study of languages led to her becoming a worker and then director of the West Central Community School and the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy. While a translator of French, German and Spanish for the Pan-African Annie Holmes Ricketson Martha Bush Gray Center, where she initiated several programs to aid the Elizabeth Carter Brooks pharmacy student, Rosamond was one of eight women who Congress in Paris, London and Brussels. The Brown Family New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park 54th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer disadvantaged. While at Model Cities, Jennie was involved in New Bedford Public Schools founded a club that became Lambda Kappa Sigma, the oldest Papers at the New Bedford Whaling Museum include Infantry Plaza public school reorganization, public housing development, professional fraternity for women in pharmacy. Rosamond Annie Holmes Ricketson (1841-?) accompanied The first female African American public school Lydia’s notebooks. and improvements in relations between police and the returned to New Bedford and joined her father John, also a her husband on whaling voyages and filled Known as the “Mother of the 54th,” Martha teacher in New Bedford, Elizabeth Carter community. As a member of the Mayor’s Citizen Advisory “druggist,” in the pharmacy business Guinn and Co. journals with details about life as the lone Bush Gray was an African American Civil War Brooks (1867-1951) was an educator, social Edith Guerrier Committee, Jennie helped to channel federal Community woman aboard ship. Annie lost her newborn nurse who served the troops of the 54th and activist and architect. Elizabeth taught at the New Bedford Whaling Museum Block Grants during several mayoral administrations. Mary Hudson Onley daughter in Faial, Azores, as well as her husband on a return 55th Massachusetts Regiments in the South. Married to First Taylor School for over 25 years, founded and designed the The first woman supervisor of branch libraries New Bedford Public Schools trip home. Annie and other whaling wives endured rough Sergeant William H. W. Gray of the 54th Regiment, Martha was New Bedford Home for the Aged, and helped to preserve the of the Boston Public Library, Edith Guerrier seas, terrible tragedies, painful homesickness, and limited concerned for her husband’s health and wanted to be useful to Sergeant William H. Carney House. In 1957, New Bedford Pioneering educator and community activist (1870-1958) included social reform in library companionship of other women. She is represented here at the young New Bedford men during the war. “I am anxious to Public Schools named the Elizabeth Carter Brooks School Mary Hudson Onley (1889-1980) was one of the programs. Edith organized library clubs for the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park, which do all that I can for them, and my country also,” she wrote to in her honor. first African American graduates of Bridgewater immigrant girls to encourage reading, storytelling, and tells the story of the American whaling industry. her congressman, and became one of the few African American State Normal School in 1912. A 1908 New exchanging ideas and co-founded Paul Revere Pottery to women allowed to serve the troops in the field. Bedford High School graduate, Mary taught in New Bedford 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. AMPLIFYING HISTORY AMPLIFYING
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Elizabeth Taber Martha Bailey Briggs Mary J. “Polly” Johnson Helen Elizabeth Ellis Marie Equi Stephen Taber House John Briggs House at New Bedford Nathan and Polly Johnson House Historic Location of Helen Ellis’ Bookstore, Location near Marie Equi Birthplace Pest Control “The Whaler Book Shop” Born in Marion, Elizabeth Sprague Pitcher Confectioner and abolitionist Polly Johnson New Bedford prepared physician and political Taber (1791-1888) married clockmaker Stephen Martha Bailey Briggs (1838-1889) lived at (1784-1871) specialized in sweets and provided What do a tea room in Westport, a bookstore agitator Marie Equi (1872-1952) for a lifetime Taber and settled in New Bedford. After her this Allen St. home. Born to African American safe lodging to freedom seekers in in New Bedford, special exhibits at the New of social justice advocacy. Marie’s Oregon husband’s death, Elizabeth lived in seclusion in abolitionists, she realized at a young age that New Bedford along the Underground Railroad. Bedford Whaling Museum, and a children’s medical practice and nationwide activism were this County Street home, where she amassed a fortune through education was essential to ending slavery. Her life is a testament The Nathan and Polly Johnson House, her home with her museum in Dartmouth all have in common? These are just influenced by her working class experiences while growing up her own wise investments. In 1876, at the age of 85, she to the leadership that African American women provided in husband Nathan, became the first safe house of freedom some of the creative projects conceived by teacher, woodcarver in New Bedford, where she was born on South Second Street. founded Tabor Academy. the field of education during the 19th century. Her extensive seeker Frederick Douglass and his wife Anna. A business and entrepreneur Helen Elizabeth Ellis (1889-1978). In 1928, Marie worked for women’s suffrage, reproductive rights, experience as both teacher and administrator was invaluable partner with her husband in confectionery and catering Helen opened The Whaler Book Shop with Imogene Weeks in a and workers’ rights. In 1918, Marie served 10 months in in the development of teacher training programs, predecessors businesses, Polly worked hard so that freedom rented house here. The bookstore sold books for children and San Quentin for sedition. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt to modern college and university education departments. seekers could find “sweet freedom” in New Bedford. adults and offered special programs. pardoned her in 1933.
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Amelia Jones 13 17 21 25
Rotch-Jones-Duff House & Garden Museum
Onley Briggs Ricketson
Mary Hudson Hudson Mary Equi Marie Bailey Martha Philanthropist Amelia Hickling Jones Holmes Annie (1849-1935) focused on giving that benefited Mary Rotch Amelia Piper Sarah Rodman Scudder Mary T. Vermette children. Amelia donated $1,000,000 and the Historic Home of Mary Rotch Abolition Row Park Ashley Delano Casa dos Botes Discovery Center family’s Dartmouth farm to St. Luke’s Hospital A leading intellectual and deep religious As one of the managers of the New Bedford Zeiterion Performing Arts Center Her close friends lovingly called her MTV, so in 1923 for a children’s hospital, Sol e Mar. Amelia lived at the thinker, Mary Rotch (1777-1848) remained Female Union Society, abolitionist Amelia Piper appropriate for a woman who channeled “If you bulldoze your heritage, you become just Jones mansion (now The Rotch-Jones-Duff House & Garden true to her belief in the Light Within. Mary (1796-1856) organized one of the first everything Portuguese in a way that no other anywhere,” have become the most repeated Museum) for 85 years. became a leader of the New Lights, progressive anti-slavery fairs in New Bedford on January South Coast woman has done. Deeply rooted in words of Sarah Ashley Delano (1904-1994). Throughout her Quakers who believed in the Light Within as a sufficient guide, 1, 1840. Amelia and her husband helped many fugitives who her Azorean heritage, Dr. Mary T. Vermette (1934-2003) worked presidency of the Waterfront Historic Area LeaguE (WHALE),
more important than the Old Light rules of organized religion. came to New Bedford, including John Jacobs, brother of writer with the Azorean Maritime Heritage Society and the New TRAIL MAP bulldozing was usually averted, and New Bedford kept its Disowned by New Bedford Friends in 1824, “Aunt Mary” united and abolitionist Harriet Jacobs. The Piper family lived at 58 Bedford Whaling Museum to promote Azorean culture and the historic heart. Sarah steered WHALE through the process of with Universalists and held fast to her convictions, refusing Bedford Street, about six blocks south of here, near Lewis shared whaling heritage between New Bedford and the Azores. saving the deteriorating State Theater from demolition and to participate in certain rituals and referring to the Supreme Temple. The mission of Abolition Row Park is to tell the story Mary oversaw the construction of Azorean whaleboats at the transforming it into the Zeiterion Performing Arts Center. Being as “that Influence” instead of God. of abolitionists who once lived in the neighborhood. Casa dos Botes.
“ I am anxious to do all that I can for them, and my “ I’m not going down in history, I’m going up.” “ The whaleboats are a bridge between here and the Azores; something physical of our past that we can see, that shows the country also.” — Martha Bush Gray — Rosalind Poll Brooker presence of the Azorean people here.” — Mary T. Vermette
“ A girl should be brought up as to be able to make her own living, “ I’m a back-burner person. I like to do, but I don’t whether or not she’s going to inherit a fortune.” — Hetty Green like to talk about it.” — Valentina Almeida
Acknowledgments 11 14 18 22 26 Lighting the Way: Historic Women of the SouthCoast Cornelia Grinnell Hetty Green Rachel Howland Valentina Almeida Sarah Rotch Arnold is a collaborative project, led by the New Bedford Whaling Grinnell Mansion Hetty Green Birthplace Friends Meeting House Cape Verdean American Veterans Association Mariners’ Home Museum, involving a diverse group of organizations and Memorial Hall individuals who care passionately about including Abolitionist, women’s rights advocate and Known as both “The Witch of Wall Street” and Peace, love, and understanding were hallmarks Nineteenth-century New Bedford’s Sarah Rotch women’s contributions in the history of the SouthCoast. women’s club founder, Cornelia Grinnell Willis “The Queen of Wall Street,” Henrietta “Hetty” of Rachel Howland (1816-1902). Rachel The child of Cape Verdean immigrants, Arnold (1786-1860) was dedicated to her (1825-1904), who grew up in the Grinnell Howland Robinson Green (1834-1916) was negotiated peace in labor disputes, was a Valentina Almeida (1913-2009) is best known for community, social reform, religious tolerance, Project Designer: Chrissie Bascom the richest woman in the world, her worth respected minister in the Society of Friends, Mansion, advocated for and secured Harriet her advocacy work with immigrants within the and horticultural beauty. Sarah oversaw Project Advisor: Akeia Benard Jacobs’ freedom, making it possible for Harriet to write and estimated at over $100 million, the equivalent of about and founded the Association for the Relief of Aged Women local Cape Verdean community. She assisted immigrants charitable work amongst families of seamen, supported Curriculum: Valerie Bassett and Jessica Ross publish what became an edifying “slave narrative.” In 1852, $2.5 billion today, at her death in 1916. As a model of of New Bedford based on the principle, “Not Alms Alone, by facilitating all aspects of their transition to a new country. abolitionist causes, and believed “the spirit of Truth is not Cornelia sent Harriet to the Grinnell Mansion to shelter Harriet groundbreaking financial intelligence and independence, she But a Friend.” In 1998, the Cape Verdean government named Valentina an limited to any sect” of religious denomination. In 1851, Project Advisor: Lee Blake from her “owner.” was called “Mrs. Hetty Green” while her husband was known as auxiliary vice consulate. Uncomfortable in the spotlight, Sarah presented her late father’s mansion to the New Bedford Landmarks: Jan DaSilva the husband of Hetty Green. Hetty was born at this location. Valentina was twice honored at testimonial banquets held at Port Society for a “Mariner’s Home” to support seamen. Digital Initiatives: Priscilla Ditchfield and Harriet Jacobs the Cape Verdean American Veterans Association Memorial Hall. Michael Lapides, NBWM Grinnell Mansion Public Art: Pam Donnelly After escape from enslavement, abolitionist and Emily Bourne Research Fellow: Ann O’Leary reformer Harriet Jacobs (1813-1897) worked Project Organizer: Sarah Rose, NBWM as a nursemaid for the family of abolitionist Development: Maryellen Shachoy Nathaniel Parker Willis and his second wife Project Advisor: Mary Howland Smoyer Cornelia Grinnell Willis. There are several recorded instances 15 19 of Harriet being sent to New Bedford to stay with the Grinnell 23 Events: Margot Stone and Kate Corkum family on County Street to shelter her from the Norcom family, Marketing: Gayle Hargreaves, NBWM who sought to re-enslave her. Nathaniel and Cornelia bought Phebe Mendall Margaret Ryckebusch Graphic Design: Amanda Quintin, NBWM Harriet’s freedom in 1852, and the next year Harriet began Historic Home of Phebe Hart Mendall Labor Mural, Sixth and Spring Streets Archangela Fortes work on Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, the most important Cape Verdean Ultramarine Band Club slave narrative by an African American woman. Wedding cakes became the specialty of baker Educator and labor leader Margaret A. Phebe Hart Mendall (1801-1887) who was Duggan Ryckebusch (1940-1998) was a A tireless leader in New Bedford’s Cape widowed at age 35 when her husband Elihu professor, department head, and union leader Verdean community, Archangela “Canja” Fortes Mendall was lost at sea. With two children to at Bristol Community College. Margaret was (1919-2009) initiated numerous events that 18 Johnny Cake Hill, New Bedford, MA 02740 care for, Phebe applied herself to become the finest cook she also a leader in the area’s labor movement, serving on the celebrated Cape Verdean women. As president www.whalingmuseum.org | 508-997-0046 could be. She ran a successful catering/baking service from New Bedford Central Labor Council and on the Advisory of the Cape Verdean Women’s Social Club from 1957 to 1962, her home. Committee of the Labor Education Center at the University of she launched its annual Tea, as well its annual Mother’s Day Massachusetts Dartmouth. Margaret is memorialized for Procession. The Cape Verdean Ultramarine Band Club was one her union work as part of this labor mural alongside other of the meeting locations for the Cape Verdean Women’s Social community activists. Club. Canja was also active in other local organizations and chaired the Cape Verdean Debutante Ball for nine years. www.historicwomensouthcoast.org Download the App