Andrew Robeson House
Location: 32 William Street
The Andrew Robeson House was built in 1821 on a lot on North 2nd Street across from the Rodman House (Benjamin Rodman was Robeson’s brother-in-law) in downtown New Bedford. Robeson made his money in the candle and printing businesses. Candles were tied to the whaling industry because the brightest candles were made from spermaceti, a liquid found in massive quantities inside the skull of a Sperm Whale.
The original Robeson property covered two city blocks and had a formal garden, but by the 1890s most of the property had been sold off to developers and the house became surrounded by warehouses and other stores. In the 1970s it was facing possible demolition but was rescued by the Waterfront Historic Area League, a New Bedford preservation society responsible for saving and restoring many historical buildings in the area. It was moved to its current location in 1978 to fill a gap left by a building that had been destroyed by fire in 1970. Today the house is owned by a law firm and is not open to the public.
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Last updated on June 11, 2020
