Waterfront Historic Area League


The Waterfront Historic Area LeaguE, also known as WHALE, is a non-profit historic preservation organization located in New Bedford, Massachusetts. Its mission is: "to promote the value and reuse of greater New Bedford's historic structures through preservation, education and advocacy". The organization often promotes its cause with the words of one of its founders, Sarah Delano. Delano said, "if you bulldoze your heritage, you become just anywhere".

History

The organization was founded by a group of concerned citizens in 1962, at a time when urban renewal threatened much of the city's history and architectural heritage. The original focus was on the city's waterfront district, a dense area of whaling era buildings suffering from severe neglect and disrepair. WHALE took on the preservation/restoration of as many as 20 buildings within the district's boundaries over the years. This became the organization's first neighborhood revitalization project and lead to the establishment of Bedford Landing Waterfront National Register Historic District. With WHALE's leadership, the district would later be designated, New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park. Over time, WHALE expanded to properties beyond this district, taking on preservation projects throughout the city. WHALE has now completed over 45 preservation and restoration projects in the greater New Bedford area between 1962 and 2009.

Significant projects

1960's

Complete Inventory of National Landmark Historic District

Benjamin Rodman House

Reynolds Building



1970's

Abijah Hathaway House

Bedford Landing-Waterfront Historic District

Bourne Warehouse Trust

Caleb Spooner House

Eggers Building

Haile Luther House

Henry Beetle House

MacComber-Sylvia Building

McCullough Warehouse

Seth Russell House

Sundial Building

Rodman Candleworks

William Tallman Russell House

William Tallman Warehouse



1980's

Edward Coffin Jones Carriage House

Hatch Properties

Rotch-Jones-Duff House and Garden Museum

Schooner Ernestina

Zeiterion Theater



1990's

Benjamin Almy House

Connections Project

Corson Block

Custom House Square

Grinnell Congregate Home

Harborvisions Charrette

Nathan and Polly Johnson House

New Bedford Visitor Center

New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park

Paul Revere Sign

Re-Design of Route 18

Current activities

Today, WHALE is run by an elected board of directors and hired staff. WHALE staff positions consist of an Executive Director and an Office and Events Manager along with volunteers and occasional consultants. WHALE works closely with other organizations in the area, including the City of New Bedford, New Bedford Historical Commission, the Massachusetts Historical Commission, the National Park Service and more. Currently, WHALE is working on its Neighborhood Restoration Program, which focuses on the revitalization of the Washington Square Gateway Neighborhood, located in the New Bedford's south end.