Spinner Publications

10/01/2024

Walk the Ave with John Bullard, author of Hometown: A Memoir published by Spinner. This Saturday, Oct. 5 at 2pm.

Tag along for a guided stroll through New Bedford’s North End with former Mayor John Bullard and his memoir, Hometown.

RSVP to the free event here: https://southcoastalmanac.com/walking-book-club/

09/12/2024

DO YOU RECOGNIZE ANYONE IN THESE PHOTOGRAPHS? Spinner Pubications is hoping to include these photos in one of their upcoming historical calendars. Kids at Fire Hydrant, August, 1966 taken at South First & Grinnell Streets - New Bedford; Pony Express Ice Cream contest winner on prize pony at City Hall, November, 1939 with Mayor Leo Carney. If you know any of these persons, please email [email protected]. THANKS!

09/11/2024

Do you remember the gas fire in downtown New Bedford? Here is a photo taken in 1977 at the scene of the destruction on Union Street. The photo was donated by Christopher White. Thanks very much for donating the photograph to Spinner!
If you have any interesting photos like this one that you would be interested in sharing, donating, or selling, please call Spinner’s office (508-994-4564) or email ([email protected]). We will preserve your pictures and utilize them to continue telling the story of our region.

09/10/2024

Do you have any family scrapbooks or old photos you’d be interested in sharing? Here are some photos donated by Lisa Saunders. She found an old album in an antique store. Thanks very much for donating the photos to Spinner!
If you have any interesting photos like these that you would be interested in sharing, donating, or selling, please call Spinner’s office (508-994-4564) or email ([email protected]). We will preserve them and utilize the pictures to continue telling the story of our region.

09/04/2024

Imagine a time when letters took months maybe even a year or more to reach their destination if they were even received at all! DWM's WHALING LETTERS dramatic presentation will take you back in time. Friday, Sept. 13 @ 7pm at Gallery X

08/28/2024

EXPLORE HISTORIC NEW BEDFORD during Descendants of Whaling Masters "Whale of a Weekend" 50th Anniversary Homecoming Celebration!

EXPLORE HISTORIC NEW BEDFORD. Join DWM for their 50th Anniversary Celebration “A Whale of A Weekend”. The event will take place from Thursday September 12 to Sunday September 15, 2024 bringing attendees together to enjoy four days of activities pertaining to the whaling heritage in our homeport of New Bedford.
A carefully curated roster of events and tours will explore aspects of the city's rich whaling history. Tickets are available to the public. Due to constraints on attendance at several venues, there may be limited seating. Book early to guarantee your spot. Lodging suggestions: In New Bedford- Fairfield Inn and Suites, New Bedford Harbor Hotel: In Fairhaven- Hampton Inn, Seaport Resort & Marina.
Pricing for the weekend package is $200 per person and includes attendance at the Whaling Letters dramatization featuring actors Lucy Bly and Paul Sardinha, dinner at the James Arnold Mansion, presentation by Joe Thomas, Spinner Publications, “Photographs from a Whaling Port’, and brunch at Moby Dick Restaurant and much more (hotel excluded). Register by September 9, 2024. To RSVP use the registration form found on DWM website: www.whalingmasters.org. Please mail a check payable to: Descendants of Whaling Masters, c/o William Potter, Treasurer, 194 Main Street, Fairhaven MA 02719. For more information call 508-542-6748 or 508-994-3087 or visit DWM website www.whalingmasters.org

08/28/2024

Join the Descendants of Whaling Masters for a special evening with Spinner Publisher, Joe Thomas as they celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Descendants of Whaling Masters at their Annual Meeting on September 14, 2024! Joe will present a slide show of historical photos and talk about "The Making of A Window Back: Photography in a Whaling Port."

08/28/2024

Join DWM for the a dramatic reading of WHALING LETTERS to be held at Gallery X — with excerpts from WHALING LETTERS performed by Paul Sardinha and Lucy Bly in period costume. Fri. Sept. 13 from 7-8:30pm. General admission $10. More info www.whalingmasters.org 508-287-2482 https://www.facebook.com/share/p/aE1rqifxuxRBZxv9/

08/23/2024

07/09/2024

THIS WEEKEND at Your Theatre, Inc's Steeple Playhouse
~ 3 DAYS UNTIL
TWO WHALE TALES

3 DAYS UNTIL
TWO WHALE TALES:
A CAPTAIN’S LOG
At Your Theatre, Inc. Lawrence R. Houbre, Jr. is used to being in charge. He’s directed numerous mainstage shows and special presentations, and serves as YTI’s Technical Director and co-Artistic Director,
He’s also at the helm of this weekend’s TWO WHALE TALES, as director of both of the plays: SISTER SAILORS by Donna W. Guthrie, and his own ONCE UPON A WHALESHIP.
The origin of ONCE UPON A WHALESHIP is a tale in its own right. Says Houbre, “I got the idea several years ago when the Whaling Museum had the panorama on display. The museum had asked us to present something, and this was my answer."
“Challenges included creating a shorter story from the long narrative of the panorama. I wanted to enlighten audiences to the rich history of whaling, with all its rewards and heartaches. I did further research, outside of the panorama narrative, to flesh out the story. And I used some artistic license to create the abbreviated story of the two-year journey."
“You could say the play is ‘based on a true story,’ with the main characters a combination of many whale men I came across during research. The additional characters, Howland, Mudge, and Dana, are based on real people of the same name, and their dialogue is almost word-for-word something they said or wrote about. The captain and ship are based on a captain and ship of the same name. There have been several revisions since the original, to expand the narrative. I think it still works, because after all, who doesn't like a good whaling story?”
TWO WHALE TALES comes to The Steeple Playhouse in New Bedford this weekend for four performances only Friday, July 12 through Sunday, July 14. Admission is complimentary, with donations gratefully accepted. Reservations encouraged: Please call 508-993-0772 or email [email protected]. More info https://yourtheatre.org/wp/two-whale-tales/

06/27/2024

The Sarah R. Delano Preservation Award was presented to John K. Bullard by The Waterfront Historic Area LeaguE (WHALE) in recognition of his memoir Hometown: A Memoir , published by Spinner Publication. John's memoir charts the incredible course of New Bedford from the late 1960s and onward and the embrace of its historic buildings as part of its revival.
The Sarah R Delano Preservation Award is awarded for outstanding contributions to the rehabilitation, restoration, and interpretation of the historic character and environment of Greater New Bedford.

06/27/2024

Last evening at the annual meeting, (The Waterfront Historic Area LeaguE (WHALE) surprised Spinner Publications publisher Joe Thomas by presenting him the George C. Perkin's President's award which was awarded to Joe in special recognition of his efforts to save and preserve numerous historic images of New Bedford and the area that would have otherwise been lost from the Standard Times catalogue. Congratulations, Joe!

05/13/2024

A lot can change in 100 years…here’s a shot of the home of Dr. J. Frank Weeks from a collection donated by the Franklyn H. Weeks Family. The home was located at 2193 Acushnet Avenue near the intersection of Tarklin Hill Road in New Bedford. The property is now the site of Joe’s Tire.

What ways have you seen this area change over the years?

Do you have any interesting shots like this that you would be interested in sharing, donating, or selling, please call our office (508-994-4564) or email ([email protected]). We will preserve them and utilize them to continue telling the story of our region.

05/06/2024

Household Furniture, 984 Purchase Street, New Bedford.

A final shot from the collection of photographs donated by the Blair Sign Company shows the Household Furnishing Company located on the corner of Purchase and Kempton Streets, an intersection that now encompassed by ‘the octopus’. Household Furnishings was owned by W. H. Bassett and advertised that it sold ‘Everything for the Home’ including ‘the Latest and Best’ furniture, a full assortment of crockery, and ‘the World’s Best’ household ranges. By 1941 it had moved to 690 Purchase Street, the State Theatre building, a building you may know better as the Zeiterion Theatre!

Do have any memories or family stories of Household Furnishings or any of New Bedford’s other furniture and house goods stores? Or maybe even a piece of furniture still in your home from a New Bedford furniture store?

The Spinner Photographic Archive is an important community resource–accessible and affordable to the general public. If you have photos you’d like to share, donate, or sell, please call our office (508-994-4564). We will preserve them and use them to continue to tell the story of our region.

04/29/2024

Here's another photo from the Spinner Archives that was generously donated by the Blair Sign Company; the 1912 Elm Rink Auto Show. In 1912 the Elm Rink, which was located at 1194 Purchase Street, was owned by Joseph A. Burke, who also owned the Elm Hotel and Elm Bowling Alley.

The 1912 city directory listed 670 residents as automobile owners with a total of 726 automobiles registered in the city.

Do you recognize the makes or models of any of the cars shown in the photo?

KEEP YOUR TREASURED PHOTOS SAFE & SECURE
Please consider donating your old photographs and negatives to Spinner Publications.

HERE'S WHY….
1. It will preserve the history of your family. Your photos will always be cherished by us.
2. By publishing your photographs in our books, we honor your contribution to the city's history and build upon your legacy.
3. Spinner builds equity through the expansion of our collection, and we value your contribution. This asset allows us to produce work that is personal, dramatic and entertaining.

Spinner Publications is a non-profit 501(3) cultural organization whose mission is to record and promote the history and culture of southeastern New England. We collect oral histories and create documentary, photographic and illustrative accounts that tell the story of the individual, the city, the land; stories of families and their work.

04/25/2024

BOOK SIGNING SATURDAY APRIL 27! Mattapoisett has a new book store, The Book Witch located in the Rope Walk, 33 County Road. The Book Witch is a tiny book nook filled with books for fellow book lovers. Each book is carefully cultivated by owner and self-professed book witch Amélie de Beaumont.
On Saturday, April 27 to celebrate Independent Book Store Day, the Book Witch will be presenting a book signing with local authors. Spinner Publications authors Lynn Donohue author of her memoir BRICK BY BRICK and Catherine McLaughlin, author of the novel BLUE COLLARS will be signing their books. Catherine will sign from 10am-12 noon and Lynn will be signing from 1-3pm. Stop by and say hi to Amélie and local authors. By shopping local and at indie bookstores you receive tailored service and recommendations AND support your local community. The Book Witch email is: [email protected]

04/11/2024

TONIGHT Thursday, April 11, at 5:30pm
BEHIND THE SCENES: The Spinner Photo Archives
Get a glimpse of Spinner's photo collections and archives from an insider’s perspective. The Spinner Archive consists of more than one million historical and contemporary photographs, depicting 150 years of life in the southeastern Massachusetts region. It is also an important community resource. Hear about the formation of the archive from Spinner Publications co-founder, Joe Thomas as he presents slide show of archival photographs. A Q & A will follow. The presentation will be at The Rotch-Jones-Duff House & Garden Museum , 396 County St. New Bedford. Admission is FREE as a part of AHA! New Bedford night.

04/08/2024

THANK YOU to the Blair Sign Company for donating a collection of photographs to the Spinner Archive!
One of the photos from the collection is shown here: Hughes Quick Lunch (1224 Acushnet Avenue, New Bedford MA)

As a result of the construction on Route 195, Marvin Street and the surrounding neighborhood (north of Washburn Street, south of Coggeshall Street) where Hughes Quick lunch was located, unfortunately no longer exists. Do you have any memories of Hughes Place or its neighborhood? Or maybe you remember the infamous Marvin Street?
…

PLEASE CONSIDER DONATING YOUR PHOTOS to Spinner’s archive. We are looking for photos showing historic locations, people enjoying activities especially in local locations.

The Spinner Photographic Archive is an important community resource which is accessible and affordable to the general public. Just as Spinner books celebrate people and culture, our archival images present an inexhaustible exposé of architecture, art, hard work, leisure, celebration, innovation, tragedy, and more.

If you have photos you’d like to share, donate, or sell, please call our office (508-994-4564) or email ([email protected]). We will preserve them and utilize them to continue telling the story of our region.

03/14/2024

PHOTOGRAPHS NEEDED: DO YOU HAVE ANY PHOTOS OF NOELIE HOULE, THE GOAT LADY of Dartmouth? Spinner Publications is working on a publishing a new book about Noelie Houle, the Goat Lady who lived in Dartmouth MA.

Please consider sharing your photographs and negatives of Mrs. Houle with Spinner Publications to help provide illustrations for the new book. (Your contribution will be acknowledged and credit given)

Email your low resolution photograph to [email protected] or bring your photographs or negatives to the Spinner office, 164 William St, New Bedford. Spinner photo archivist, Jay Avila will scan your photo which will then be included and kept safe in the Spinner archives. Your original photo will be returned to you. (photographs must be the property of the donor))

Spinner Publications is a non-profit 501(3) cultural organization whose mission is to record and promote the history and culture of southeastern New England. Spinner collects oral histories and creates documentary, photographic and illustrative accounts that tell the story of the individual, the city, the land; stories of families and their work.
http://www.spinnerpub.com