“British-born Joseph Rotch was the preindustrial age visionary who transformed New Bedford from a sleepy farm and fishing village to the global center of the whaling industry that endured for more than a century, shaping the city and the region into the 20th century.” From the forward written by Ken Hartnett for “Hometown,” a personal account and history of New Bedford written by its former mayor, John Bullard, and published by Spinner Publications. You shouldn’t be surprised to find the main character is New Bedford.
Bullard’s name is synonymous with the revitalization of New Bedford’s seaport district along with other historical sites that this old, former industrial giant of a city called homeport. He is a native son in the true sense of the word, coming with long lineage to grandparents named Rotch.
Age may have slowed Bullard down a bit, but he carries on connecting movers and shakers with one another to continue the work he began decades ago, bringing vibrant, economically rich assets to New Bedford.
On August 26, the Rochester Plumb Library hosted Bullard, where he spoke extemporaneously for nearly an hour, sharing stories of his years working as mayor of New Bedford and building relationships with people near and far whose organizations might be able to improve New Bedford for all its diverse populations.
The book itself is surprisingly heavy, weighing in at approximately two-plus pounds. It is laid out like a scholastic history book with wide pages covered in text and chapters that slowly build the story of Bullard’s work and the multitude of people with whom he worked.
As a young man headed to college, Bullard said he didn’t have a clear pathway, no grand plan for what he should study or put his hand to.
“I wasted two years of my parents’ tuition money drinking beer,” he shared. “I wondered, ‘how should I engage the world?’”
A prolific reader, Bullard studied the words of Gandhi and Martin Luther King and embarked on what he thought would be a round-the-world trip by sea. But fate had other things waiting for the young man as he came to the conclusion, “I should go home. The light bulb went on, I should fix up my hometown.” Bullard would go on to take his place at studying architecture and city planning for which he received a degree.
Bullard is the consummate public speaker, but his is a laid-back style, slowly building to the main point while entertaining the listener. We could have listened to him all day, as he wove tale after tale of his work and results with W.H.A.L.E. (waterfront historic area league), working with Sarah Delano rehabilitating the Zeiterion Theater (formerly the State Theater), running for mayor and winning in 1983, helping to establish NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) and being a board member of the Buzzards Bay Coalition.
In the early days as a trailblazer for all things New Bedford, Bullard reached his hand out to all willing to put their shoulder to the work he identified as necessary for the immediate and long-range future of the small, struggling city.
Bullard believes that for those to whom much is given, paying it forward should follow. He appreciates the comfortable upbringing and home he was born into. He has spent his adult life helping others either directly or indirectly.
Among the many things Bullard has learned along the way, the health and well-being of the environment is at the top. He has studied and worked on sustainable development, development that could meet the needs of the people now and in the future. Bullard asserted there is no throwing “’away,’ … if you discard trash, you just have to go get it later.”
Bullard says that his time working with political leaders is nothing like what is happening today in Washington. “Kennedy and Orin Hatch worked together. That would never happen today.” He said finding the level ground where disparate leaders could agree was the key but sadly not today.
Civil rights leaders knew Bullard’s name as did fishermen, business leaders and those in political office. Yet, despite years of public service now chronicled for all to read, the seasoned champion of New Bedford has regrets.
“I should have paid more attention while I had the opportunity,” Bullard admitted of his early years at Harvard. And when asked about the current state of New Bedford Public Schools, he responded that the current administration is doing well, but during his time in office he didn’t have his eye on the school’s issues. He wishes he could have a “do over.”
And what if he were mayor today, an audience member queried. Bullard didn’t hesitate answering. He quickly identified what he believes would drive economics in New Bedford: “The arts lead to economic growth.”
By Marilou Newell