The Benjamin Rodman House
Early whaling merchants lived in elegant houses along this street. But by the time Benjamin Rodman built this Federal style home in 1821, many of his wealthy friends were moving uphill away from this shoreside neighborhood.
Though born into a prosperous whaling family, Rodman committed himself to the city's working poor. He and his wife Susan were founding members of the New Bedford Benevolent Society, created "to devise some means for the relief of the physical and moral wants of the poor of this town." In the 1830s he began championing the abolition of slavery. While whaling wealth is apparent in the city's historic houses, the owners' lives reflected some of the powerful social issues of the time.
Yesterday I suppose you know was an awful storm, but I went in the evening to Ben Rodmans party. All that clique were there and all talking abolition.
Deborah Weston, April 15, 1839
By the 1890s Rodmans house was hemmed and on all sides by storefronts and warehouse space. Used as a warehouse for forty years, the mansion was purchased and donated to the Waterfront Historic Area League (WHALE) in 1965. WHALE removed the structures modern additions and restored the building.
Erected by National
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Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Abolition & Underground RR • Charity & Public Work • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical date for this entry is April 15, 1945.
Location. 41° 38.181′ N, 70° 55.458′ W. Marker is in New Bedford, Massachusetts, in Bristol County. It is on North Second Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 50 North Second Street, New Bedford MA 02740, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the South Coast. It is also in the American Northeast and in New England. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Abijah Hathaway House (a few steps from this marker); Wealth with a Conscience (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Benjamin Rodman House (within shouting distance
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on August 8, 2012, by Bryan Simmons of Attleboro, Massachusetts. This page has been viewed 1,608 times since then and 70 times this year. Last updated on September 8, 2014, by Byron Hooks of Sandy Springs, Georgia. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 8, 2012, by Bryan Simmons of Attleboro, Massachusetts. 3. submitted on September 8, 2014, by Byron Hooks of Sandy Springs, Georgia. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
