Save This House

Waterfront Historic Area LeaguE {W.H.A.L.E} is taking donations to save the 1834 John Howland Jr. House on 38 South Sixth Street!

Details on the House & the Mission to save it {all taken from link}

"This rare, brick mansion reminiscent of the magnificent architecture built during the whaling era was ravaged by fire in 2005 and has been exposed to the elements for more than five years causing severe deterioration. Making matters worse, its owners improperly removed structural support beams in the house when clearing out debri. As a result, the Howland house is in imminent danger and needs immediate intervention."

"Recognizing this fact and the property's historical and architectural significance, WHALE is purchasing this historic house for $237,000 to prevent its demolition and ensure its reuse."

About the House {all taken from link}

• Built in 1834 for John and Sarah Howland Jr.
• Exceptional example of transitional Federal/Greek Revival style architecture and the substantial wealth that was made in the whaling industry in New Bedford.
• Contributing building in the County Street National Register Historic District.
• One of a complex of three remarkable and extremely rare, brick mansions built for the Howland family on South Sixth Street.

About the Howland Family {all taken from link}

"The Howland family was among New Bedford’s most prominent and wealthy families. A native of New Bedford, John Howland Jr. partnered with his brother James in “J & J Howland Merchants” on Middle Street and he was one of fifteen original trustees of the New Bedford Institution for Savings. The Howland family, unlike many of their Quaker counterparts, chose to build their grand mansions and fine homes along Sixth Street. The County Street Historic District Nomination states that:

Of the city’s wealthiest men, only members of two branches of the Howland family – George Howland Sr. and Jr. and John Howland Sr. and his sons John Jr. and James II – did not build on County Street.

One of Howland’s relatives even “warned his children that building a house on County Street would expose them to ‘pernicious influence’.

This building is currently slated for demolition & is structurally unsound - check out the link to the site above to learn more about the house & family or to donate money to help save it.