Long before New Bedford became a world whaling capital, the Rotch family was already shaping New England’s maritime story. Joseph Rotch, born in England in 1704, first settled in Salem before moving to Nantucket in the 1720s. There, through his marriage into the...
New Bedford is home to many historical figures and that includes our very own Sarah Rotch Arnold! Born on June 3, 1786, in Nantucket, Sarah Rotch grew up in a family whose Quaker faith and maritime livelihood anchored their lives. When the Rotches moved to New...
This short film, produced by Wacky Hat Productions, was filmed on location at the New Bedford Port Society’s Seamen’s Bethel. Rather than serving only as a backdrop, the Bethel plays an active role in the film. Its aisles, pews, and quiet presence help anchor the...
Within the quiet walls of the Seamen’s Bethel, stories of loss, survival, and reflection have echoed for generations. The Letter is a short film that draws directly from that legacy, using this historic space as a setting for a deeply personal journey shaped by memory...
Long before the Seamen’s Bethel rose above Johnny Cake Hill, one woman’s quiet conviction helped shape the moral and spiritual foundation of New Bedford itself. Mary Rotch (1777 – 1848) was born into the renowned Rotch family of Nantucket — a family whose whaling...
