Upcoming Events
2024 Annual Meeting and Preservation Awards: June 26
The Steeple Playhouse, 159 William Street,
Doors at 5:00 pm, refreshment served
Program at 5:30 with continued refreshments after
Join WHALE for our annual meeting recapping a transformative year and the introduction of our upcoming strategic plan. We will also celebrate the return of our preservation awards, by recognizing 7 awardees this year. Click for more details about our award recipients.
Doors open at 5 pm for refreshment prior to the start of the meeting.
RSVP to Diane Brodeur at dbrodeur@waterfrontleague.org
or call 508-997-1776
Lunch & Learn: Places that Matter Virtual Training: July 10
Our second training on the newly launched Places that Matter: New Bedford mapping project. The first half covers the basics of the map and online resources, while the second half delves into more advanced features, like running queries to access helpful data and information around places in New Bedford.
Training from 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm. Click here to register through Zoom.
Past WHALE Events
Ask the Experts: For Lovers and Owners of Historic Houses: January – March, 2024
in partnership with the Rotch-Jones-Duff House Museum and Gardens
To download a copy of the Historic Homeowner Resources, click here.
To view WHALE’s Local Contractor List, click here.
To view a PDF of our February presentation, click here. credit: Jeff Gonyeau
“Hometown” Author’s Talk & Book Signing with John K. Bullard
Co-Sponsored by WHALE and the Rotch-Jones-Duff House & Garden Museum in September, 2023
- 2023 Annual Meeting, June 28th, Rotch-Jones-Duff House and Garden Museum
- All Lit Up – Celebration of The Steeple Playhouse Restoration, December 2022
- 2022 Annual Meeting, June 16 at the Rotch-Jones-Duff House Museum & Gardens
- Community Conversation – WHALE hosted a community conversation via Zoom on our Neighborhood Revitalization Program for community stakeholders to gain a deeper understanding of our organization and have a voice in future WHALE projects. This specific program restores vacant and deteriorated historic properties to preserve the character of New Bedford’s historic neighborhoods and create affordable housing and homeownership opportunities. At this meeting, WHALE board and staff shared the history of WHALE, our current projects, and information on the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Abandoned Housing Initiative.
Hillman Firehouse Community Meeting – A meeting was held via Zoom to discuss WHALE’s plans for the Hillman Firehouse located at 109 Hillman Street.
Community Conversation – Location: Seamen’s Bethel 1st Floor, 15 Johnny Cake Hill, New Bedford, MA. Come meet WHALE’s new Outreach Coordinator, Eldric Abreu, and learn about WHALE’s current projects. Exchange information and give input on community preservation work in New Bedford’s historic neighborhoods. Join in collaborating with fellow residents in our city for future WHALE projects. Refreshments served!
Virtual Historic Hooplah with WHALE – Cultivating Colors – WHALE’s first ever virtual event brought together an awesome group of speakers, including WHALE staff, Sherwin-Williams, and Anne Louro the Preservation Planner for the City of New Bedford, to share their expertise on historic colors, important tips, and services available.
Masquerade Beaux Arts Ball- Celebrating the successful restoration of the beautiful and historic 148 Hawthorn Street with a festive and fun masquerade ball.
Legacy Dinner- Elegant sit-down cocktail hour and dinner to honor WHALE’s contributors over the years and raise funds for its future.
Annual Meeting- A night where guests can learn about WHALE’s previous and current projects as well as distinguished, nominated individuals and organizations who are awarded our preservation awards.
Nostalgia Nights – View WHALE’s photo collection and listen to historic era music.
Architectural Bingo – Win prizes, learn and test your architectural lingo.
“Historic Paints and Finishes” – Lectures in honor of Historic Preservation Month.
Kid’s Rule Scavenger Hunt Search for historic architectural details on downtown New Bedford’s historic buildings. Discover which historic buildings WHALE has saved over the last 50 years. Win a prize!
Build a historic house from the WHALE’s “Towers, Turrets, & Tenements” book- Receive one of these great books illustrated by Arthur Moniz. Children get to choose and put together a particular architectural style seen in and around New Bedford and decorate Christmas style while learning about their city’s cultural heritage.
Site Visits of Current Projects- On select nights WHALE has opened up a restoration in progress for a “peak in” of its plans and development timeline. Current sites include the Co-Creative Center and First Baptist Church.
Open House- On select nights, prior to the open of the lottery process, WHALE has invited community members to view the completed, renovated homes that are part of our first-time homebuyer program
