9 Under The Radar Things to Do in Fairhaven MA: EPCOT in a Seafaring Town

WHY GO.  Fairhaven MA wasn’t a company town. It was a lucky town.  Henry Huttleston Rogers, President of six (out of 13) Standard Oil Trust Companies, was overly magnanimous when it came to his hometown, endowing it with public buildings to rival those in the greatest European cities. (Rogers also happened to be a major benefactor of Mark Twain).

Sharing a harbor with New Bedford MA, Fairhaven has been a center of shipbuilding since the 1700’s. High profile vessels, ferries, fishing boats and freighters come here for repair. In addition, Fairhaven is famous for something quite unique: as home of the first Japanese person to ever live on US soil. In 1843.

In addition, Fairhaven is a pilgrimage site for Seventh Day Adventists, as one of the Church’s founders, Joseph Bates, was born and raised here. This trip, which can be paired easily with New Bedford across the Historic Route 6 Bridge, brings Rogers, Twain, shipbuilding and Japanese-American History together in an enlightening, unexpectedly entertaining Getaway.

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Things To Do In Fairhaven MA

VISIT: Fairhaven Visitor’s Center

Visit the Fairhaven Visitors Center, inside Fairhaven’s 1798 One Room Academy, for a gander at relics from Fairhaven’s far, as well as recent, past.  From 1909-1985, Fairhaven was the manufacturing home of Gold Bond Power. Early on, according to a local,  “it was just four or five guys packing the stuff” in a small factory by the river.

In addition, from 1867-1985, Atlas Tack Company turned out millions of these office staples (favored, too, by school pranksters). Most industry has left this seaside town, but you’ll find remnents at the Fairhaven Visitor’s Center. Huttleston Marketplace Saturdays from 10:00 to 3:00 from mid-May through the end of September.

WALKING TOUR: Henry Huttleston Rogers Tour

Take an illuminating 90-minute walking tour of Henry Huttleston Roger’s life and legacy in Fairhaven. Partners with Rockefeller in the successful Standard Oil Co, Rogers was purportedly ruthless in business but gentle and generous with his homies.

He befriended and financially supported Mark Twain and funded Helen Keller’s education, in addition to “creating an EPCOT in this little Yankee seafaring town.”  The French-Gothic Town Hall, dedicated by Twain, the Italian Renaissance Millicent Library – built in memory of Roger’s daughter who died at age 17 – and the English Perpendicular Gothic Unitarian Church, a 15^th Century Cathedral with 1 ¼ ton cast bronze doors, are among the incredible buildings you’ll visit.

If you are a Mark Twain groupie (like this Maven), you’ll thrill to see his handwritten notes to the Library Trustees, as well as his Town Hall dedication speech, innocently hanging out above a periodical cabinet in the Millicent Library. Just ask the friendly folks at the desk, and they’ll point them right out. Roger/Fairhaven Center Tours are Tuesdays only at 10:00 a.m. with veteran tour guide Bob Foster alternating weeks with new volunteer Mike Hevey. (June, July, August)

TOUR: Pirates & Privateers Presentation at Fort Phoenix

Attacked and destroyed by the Brits on September 5^th 1778, Fort Phoenix “rose again,” and went on to guard Fairhaven during the War of 1812 and the Civil War. It’s a swell setting for this myth-busting presentation about pirates and privateers back in those days. Chris Richard MC’s, with high-jinx and his special brand of expertise. Friday mornings at 10:00. (June, July, August, September.)

SEE: New Bedford-Fairhaven Hurricane Protection Barrier

The hurricanes of 1938 and 1954 nearly decimated New Bedford and Fairhaven. So, in 1962, the Army Corps of Engineers built this bad boy.  At twenty feet tall and 3.5 miles long, the Hurricane Barrier is is the largest manmade stone structure on the East Coast. It’s so large, in fact, you can see it from many vantage points – including from space. Besides via boat going through the 150 ft wide gates, or from a helicopter, your best view of the exterior barrier wall is from Fort Phoenix.

VISIT: Joseph Bates Boyhood Home, Co-Founder of Seventh Day Adventist Church

First a Merchant Ship Captain, and then a follower of William Miller, Joseph Bates suffered a “Great Disappointment” when Miller’s prophecy of a Second Coming did not happen on the first, and then the second, appointed date.

Bates surmised that when Christians began to celebrate the Sabbath on the first, not the seventh day of the week, it threw Miller’s calendar completely off. To rectify this, he called for worship on Saturday, becoming the “Father of the Sabbath Message.”

There are currently millions of Seventh Day Adventists all over the world. Joseph Bate’s Boyhood Home is open for guided tours through rooms with original floors and 18th century wallpaper and another (in a space added on at a later date) designed like a ship’s hold.

Don’t miss the stone ruins of a ten foot wide fireplace behind the house. This is all that is left of the thatched roof cottage built in the mid 1600’s by Thomas Tabor, son-in-law of Mayflower passenger, John Cooke. Cooke lived with his daughter and son in law for a time, and might very well have warmed himself by the fire here.

It remains a mystery why William Wood built this home, in 1742, inches from the ruins. In any event, Wood sold his house to Joseph Bates, Sr. in 1793, and it’s now a pilgrimage site for 7th Day Adventists. Tours by appointment relate stories of those who lived here and their influence worldwide.  

VISIT: Whitfield-Manjiro Friendship House

In 1841, Whaling ship Captain William Whitfeld discovered 14 year old Manjiro Nakahama shipwrecked on an uninhabited Pacific Island.  The widower Whitfeld brought the Japanese boy back to America with him, and arranged to have him stay with a local family. Manjiro attended the The Old Stone Schoolhouse (see below) to learn English.

After nearly 11 years, Manjiro returned to Japan, where he influenced his countrymen to trade with the United States. Perhaps not so surprisingly, Manjiro became an instructor in navigation and ship engineering at the Naval Training School, in what is now Tokyo.

Relations were strained with Japan after WWII (to say the least). Despite this, in 1987, Crown Prince Akihito – former Emperor of Japan – visited Fairhaven in memory of Manjiro and to promote peace between communities.

In 2008 Dr. Shigeaki Hinohara (97 year old physician and philanthropist) led a fund-raising effort to buy and restore Capt. William Whitfield’s home at 11 Cherry Street, Fairhaven. And, in 2009 Dr. Hinohara brought 100 donors from Japan to dedicate the Whitfield-Manjiro Friendship House (Museum and Cultural Center), which has since been visited by thousands of guests from Japan and all parts of the world. Check website for dates open and admission fees.

SEE: Old Stone Schoolhouse

A touchstone for the Japanese, and Fairhaven’s oldest school, the Old Stone Schoolhouse is where Manjiro Nakahama, learned English. He returned to Japan and acted as an interpreter for Western visitors. Check website for open hours and dates.

SHOP: Euro/Phoenix

What began as a ships supply store for fisherman changed when owners started adding “gifty stuff.” Now, Euro is a virtual general store, with clothing, shoes, home goods, cards, gifts, toys, pet items, and anything else you’d ever want or need.

Where To Eat And Stay in Fairhaven MA

EAT: Locals Recommend

Olivia’s Restaurant Fairhaven (which took the place of Elizabeth’s ) for its signature Chicken Milanese; Mey Breakfast for bring-em-through-the-door fresh donuts (in former Margaret’s space); Little Village Cafe for breakfast.

STAY: Delnano Homestead

Stay in FDR’s grandparent’s home – an upscale B&B called the Delano Homestead Bed and Breakfast. Stately and fine, you’ll be immersed in history as you stroll the same backyard in which young Franklin frolicked.

STAY: Seaport Inn

Right on the waterfront, the motel-like Seaport Inn has been renovated, with rooms updated to clean and modern standards.