Whaleman’s Memorial Marker

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New Bedford in Bristol County, Massachusetts — The American Northeast (New England)

Whaleman’s Memorial

By Dawn Bowen, July 9, 2007

1. Whaleman's Memorial Marker

Bronze by Bela Lyon Pratt (1867–1917). Sculpture is approx. ten feet tall.

Inscription. “A Dead Whale or a Stove Boat”

(inscription on back) In honor of the whalemen whose skill, hardihood and daring brought fame and fortune to New Bedford and made its name known to every seaport on the globe. • Gift of W.W. Crapo • 1913

Erected 1913 by William Wallace Crapo (1830–1926), New Bedord lawyer and congressional representative 1875–1883.

Marker series. This marker is included in the Markers Attached to Sculpture, and the Markers with Artwork marker series.

Location. 41° 38.11′ N, 70° 55.628′ W. Marker is in New Bedford, Massachusetts, in Bristol County. Marker is on Pleasant Street. Click for map. It is at the New Bedford Public Library. . Marker is at or near this postal address: 613 Pleasant St., New Bedford MA 02740, United States of America.

Other nearby markers. At least 6 other markers are within 12 miles of this marker, as the crow flies. Lewis Temple (within shouting distance of this marker); Frederick Douglass (within shouting distance of this marker); Commonwealth of Toil (approx. 0.3 miles away); White's Factory (approx. 4.2 miles away); Legend of the Turnips (approx. 10.3 miles away); Prince Henry the Navigator of Portugal (approx. 11.1 miles away).

More about this marker.

Inscription on back of the monument Photo, Click for full size

By Dawn Bowen, July 9, 2007

2. Inscription on back of the monument

Architect Nat C. Smith was responsible for the foundation and the rainwater drainage of the boat. New Bedford whaler Richard Lewis McLachlan posed for the figure.

Regarding Whaleman’s Memorial. The word “stove” in the inscription is the past tense and past participle of “stave” which means to crush or smash. “A dead whale or a stove boat” was a chant of the whaler. A flick of the whale’s tail could smash the small wooden whaleboat to splinters.