New Bedford Massachusetts has a very interesting history. Now a mainly industrial town, the historic district has been saved from demolition and preserved, thankfully. It is so sad that many of our historic buildings have been demolished in the name of progress. Often a lonely sign is erected...."once the sight of...." But an organization realized the significance of a whole area in this town, and saved these great places. This was one of my favorite, placed close to the shore along cobblestone streets, in what is now a National Park. This was a whaling town, and became the whaling capital of the WORLD! Being a dangerous profession, the sailors were blessed before going out, and they eventually built them a non denominational chapel for that blessing. Beth - El, two words from the Jewish language, meaning house of god. Herman Melville came here often, and just before setting out as a young man on a whaling voyage. A pew inside is marked where he always sat. 10 years after his voyage, he wrote Moby Dick, and this place is mentioned in his story.
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