By Beth David, Editor
Fairhaven loves its history. And lots and lots of people who live in Fairhaven love to show off how much they know. From historic Fort Phoenix, to famous artists (Lemuel Eldred, William Bradford, Charles Gifford, Robert Gifford, Elizabeth T. Delano) to a simple picture of a restaurant from the 1960s, you can get a Fairhavenite going for hours. Just ask.
If you need some brushing up on a little Fairhaven history, you’re in luck, for the next few weeks anyway. The Academy Building is open to the public on Saturdays from now until the end of November.
The building opened in 1798 as a private school and opened as the New Bedford Academy in 1800. Visitors can visit a preserved classroom, just the way it was in the 1800s.
On the second floor (no accessible), the Fairhaven Historical Society operates a museum with both rotating and permanent exhibits.
Right now, people can see photographs of restaurants and bars that are long closed.
Terumi and Ikuo Shinzato visited the museum on Saturday, 10/3/26, and said they were interested in the history of Fairhaven because they were interested the Manjiro story. Manjiro is the Japanese boy who was shipwrecked on a deserted island in 1841 and rescued by Capt. William Whitfield of Fairhaven who brought the young boy back to Fairhaven. Manjiro was educated in Fairhaven schools and eventually returned to Japan where he was instrumental in opening up the closed country to the west.
Manjiro, said the Shinzatos, is the reason they learned of Fairhaven and eventually moved here.
They visit local museums often, and appreciated the history of the fishing industry in Fairhaven and New Bedford.
Ms. Shinzato worked in an art gallery, so she also appreciates the variety of artwork at the Academy. They both like living near the water.
“It was very interesting,” said Ms. Shinzato. “There is a lot of history in Fairhaven.”
Upstairs in the Fairhaven Historical Society Museum, young Vivian bounced around from one exhibit to the next.
She said the replica of the “Spray,” was her favorite. The Spray is the sloop sailed around the world by Joshua Slocum of Fairhaven.
In addition to the spray and an 1880 formal parlor period room, the museum is showing a rotating exhibit of restaurants, bars, and other businesses, that used to be in Fairhaven. The exhibit has been on display from last year, but Lauren Grant, a member of the Historical Society, said they will be rotating it out next year. So if you have not seen it yet, you need to get there by the end of November.
Photos include the Skipper, Grimshaw’s Clambake House, Barbero’s, Browne’s Pharmacy, and so many more.
Permanent exhibits include photos of Manjiro and Capt. Whitfield, the presentation of the Samurai Sword to Fairhaven, and a page from the logbook of the John Howland from the day the crew found Manjiro and his companions.
The period room has a variety of artifacts, including a cane that is purportedly made from a spear that was used to try to kill a man, who then made it into a cane.
There are plenty of other artifacts, of course. You’ll just have to visit to see them for yourself.
Also visiting last Saturday, was Peter Mitchell of Fairhaven. He said he acquired an old clock that had a note attached to it, saying it was from a school in Fairhaven or Acushnet. He was out and about trying to gather clues to figure out which school it might be. Meanwhile, he was checking out the old photographs, remembering some of the places that are no longer operating.
Although the historic building’s lower level is accessible by wheelchair and has an ADA compliant rest room, the second floor, where the museum is located, is only accessible by a stairway. The historic classroom is on the first floor.
The Academy Building is at 141 Main Street, on the west lawn of Fairhaven High School. The building is open on Saturdays, from 11 a.m.– 2 p.m., through 11/21. Admission is free, donations are welcome.
The Academy Building is owned by the Town of Fairhaven. The Fairhaven Historical Commission, a town government committee, is responsible for the building. The Fairhaven Historical Society, a private non-profit, operates the museum.
The Historical Commission meets regularly and meeting are open to the public. Their next meeting is in Town Hall on 10/13 at 6:30 p.m.
Find the Historical Society at https://www.facebook.com/HistoricalSocietyFairhaven/ or visit https://www.historicalsocietyfairhaven.org. They are actively looking for new members and meet regularly at the Academy Building.
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- The formal parlor, circa 1880, contained the family’s best furniture, artwork, and treasured possessions, as on display here in the Fairhaven Historical Society Museum in the Academy Building in Fairhaven on 10/3/26. Photo by Beth David.
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- Student desks had quills and slates in the 1800s, as on display here in the preserved classroom in the Academy Building in Fairhaven on 10/3/26. Photo by Beth David.
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- The teacher’s desk in the preserved classroom has some of the necessary instruments for an 1800’s classroom on display in the Academy Building in Fairhaven on 10/3/26. Photo by Beth David.
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- L-R: Terumi and Ikuo Shinzato pose for the local free sheet after visiting the Fairhaven Historical Society Museum on 10/3/26. Photo by Beth David.
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- Young Vivian poses next to her favorite exhibit, a replica of the Spray, the boat that Joshua Slocum sailed around the world, on display in the Fairhaven Historical Society Museum in the Academy Building in Fairhaven on 10/3/26. Photo by Beth David.
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- This photo of Grimshaw’s Clambake House near Fort Phoenix, a true destination for about 80 years, is part of the rotating exhibit on display in the Fairhaven Historical Society Museum in the Academy Building in Fairhaven on 10/3/26. Photo by Beth David.
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- Three men are in the picture of the old Browne’s Pharmacy, part of the rotating exhibit on display in the Fairhaven Historical Society Museum in the Academy Building in Fairhaven on 10/3/26. Photo by Beth David.
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- Bottles, cans and products from Fairhaven businesses over the centuries are on display on the first floor of the Academy Building on 10/3/26. Photo by Beth David.
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- The Academy Building is open welcoming visitors to explore the preserved 1880’s classroom and the Fairhaven Historical Society Museum on 10/3/26. Photo by Beth David.
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