Abolition Row facts for kids
Abolition Row is a special neighborhood in New Bedford, Massachusetts. Many families who helped start New Bedford lived here. They lived on Sixth and Seventh Streets. These families were very active in the movement to end slavery. They also owned whaling businesses. These businesses hired many different people. Abolition Row is close to the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park.
A Safe Place for Freedom
This neighborhood covers about one square mile. It was home to both white and black abolitionists. Some of these people were even former slaves. Nathan and Mary Johnson, who were abolitionists, lived on Seventh Street. Their business partners and other anti-slavery friends lived nearby. Famous people like Lewis Temple and Frederick Douglass also lived in Abolition Row.
Slavery was ended in Massachusetts in 1783. However, later laws like the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 allowed slaveholders to capture escaped slaves. They could then force them back into slavery. But New Bedford had a strong network of abolitionists. They made sure that no former slaves would be taken back. Frederick Douglass wrote that New Bedford was a safe place. He said that black children went to school with white children. He also mentioned that people in New Bedford would fight for freedom.
The houses in this neighborhood show different old building styles. You can see Federal, Greek Revival, Gothic Revival, and early Italian designs.
Abolition Row Park
Abolition Row Park is a new park in New Bedford. It is located at Seventh and Spring Streets. The New Bedford Historical Society helped create this park. It is part of the Seaport Cultural District. Here you can find the Friends Meeting House (built in 1820). You can also see the Nathan and Polly Johnson properties (built in 1810).
The Johnson House was a stop on the Underground Railroad. This was a secret network that helped slaves escape to freedom. It was also the first home of Frederick Douglass and Anna Murray-Douglass when they arrived in New Bedford. Both buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. They are very important because of their role in the Underground Railroad. They also played a big part in the Anti-slavery movement.
In late 2018, archaeologists dug at the park site. They looked for historical items. This project was called the Plymouth Archaeological Rediscovery Project.
The park officially started construction in 2017. It will feature a statue of the famous abolitionist Frederick Douglass. There will also be a gazebo and a community garden. Cherry trees will line the borders. Markers will explain the history of Abolition Row. Many groups helped fund the park. These include the Mass Cultural Council and the City of New Bedford. The park was planned to be finished in the summer of 2020.
"Black Spaces Matter" Exhibit
The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth Art Gallery held a special exhibit. It ran from November 2018 to January 2019. The exhibit was called "Black Spaces Matter: Celebrating New Bedford's Abolition Row." It showed many interesting things. Visitors could watch documentary films. They could also take virtual-reality tours of the neighborhood. The exhibit included old photographs and maps. There were also illustrations and 3-D models of the area.
