Agency Details:

New Bedford Preservation Society

The New Bedford Preservation Society's mission is to heighten awareness, provide education and guidance and promote sensitive restoration and preservation of New Bedford's fine historic structures and the neighborhoods in which they are located.

Description:
The Preservation Society is a private, 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization run by private citizens who volunteer their time and effort to an annual Holiday House Tour, Spring House and Garden Tour, Cemetery Tours, a Historic Marker Program, the development of self-guided architectural walking tour brochures, an urban landscaping program (New Bedford Re-Leaf), summer walking tours, lectures on local history and historic preservation, and many other programs.

History:
In 1974 a group of private citizens banded together to try to halt a state plan to widen New Bedford's premier residential avenue and destroy the tall old elm trees that had arched over the street for decades. That group became the New Bedford Preservation Society, which continues its efforts to protect and preserve properties and landscapes of historic and architectural significance throughout the city. Continuing programs involve buildings from whaling mansions to triple-deckers and from city parks to shade trees along the most modest city block.

Contact people:

Catherine Potter, Administrative Assistant, (phone), (email) Joyce Lopes, President, (phone), (email) Jeff Sanders, Treasurer, (phone), (email)

Office fax number: (508) 997-6425

Address:

388 County Street New Bedford, MA 02740 (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.nbpreservationsociety.org

Directions:

From Route 6, head south on County Street to #388 County (a/k/a William Rotch Rodman House. Use rear entrance to the building. The society office is located on the ground floor.

Last updated on March 17, 2009