Being a historic organization, the New Bedford Port Society is home to many unique artifacts that we believe are pretty cool! Some relics can be found in the Seamen’s Bethel but also the Mariner’s Home too.
This may look like ordinary rope but actually comes with an interesting tale. Prior to our wonderful renovations, the Mariner’s Home harbored whalers and fishermen who needed a place to rest between journeys. Of course, the New Bedford Port Society ensured the safety and wellbeing of it’s guests and provided a way for said individuals to escape incase of a fire or emergency
It may seem odd to us but in times past, whalers and fishermen could use these ropes to throw out the window and climb down. Thankfully such protocols weren’t exercised often and not long after, the New Bedford Port Society built modern fire escapes. To this day, we keep these original ropes hanging in the Mariner’s Home as a reminder of not only how far we’ve come, but also for the sake of preserving our local history as well.
