The John Manjiro Trail
Fairhaven, Massachusetts
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(Most of these are private residences. Please do not trespass on the owners� property and privacy)
1 THE MILLICENT LIBRARY - Built in 1893, this Renaissance style building houses books and articles about Manjiro, as well as other historical items. It's the public library for Fairhaven. Check their website for more information. Please ask to sign the guest book. Start your tour here.
Proceed west on Center Street and turn right onto Main Street after the stop sign. Continue on Main and cross Route 6. Continue for a short distance, turn left onto Pilgrim Avenue. Proceed one block, turn right onto Cherry Street. Stop near the corner of Cherry and Oxford Streets.
2 WHITFIELD HOUSES - (private residences - no trespassing) Manjiro spent his first night in Fairhaven at Number 11 Cherry Street. This house was originally one story high, but was later raised up and the first floor added on. It is currently undergoing renovations. Captain Whitfield died in the upper floor bedroom on February 14, 1886. The house next door, Number 13, was later purchased by the Captain.
Take the next left onto Oxford Street, heading west until you reach Number 14 Oxford St.
3 EBEN AIKEN HOUSE � (private residences�no trespassing) Number 14 Oxford Street was where Manjiro was lodged while he attended Oxford School in 1843. Next door is Number 10 Oxford St., the ALLEN HOUSE. Here Manjiro was tutored by Miss Jane Allen who resided here with her sister, Charity.
Go back up Oxford Street till you get to Main Street. Turn left onto Main Street. Proceed a short distance to Riverside Cemetery (on your left) and enter through the iron gates.
4 RIVERSIDE CEMETERY - Park near the entrance and walk to the Whitfield graves. Just beyond the entrance, there is a narrow dirt path that branches off to the left. Walk down this path till you see a large stone on the right side that says "Whitfield." Just beyond this is a row of four white oval stones with a smaller stone at the end of the row. Resting place of Whitfield Family � Captain William; his first wife Ruth; his second wife, Albertina; his sons, Marcellus and William Henry; and his daughter Albertina.
At Cemetery gate, turn right onto Main Street. After 2 blocks, turn left onto North Street. Proceed a short distance until you see a small white stone building on the left. This is the Old Stone Schoolhouse (Oxford School)
5 OLD OXFORD SCHOOL - Built in 1828, this was Fairhaven's first public school. Manjiro attended in 1843. It was considered the best school in town at the time because of the stone exterior (impervious to jacknives) and the quality of teaching. The teachers were not just whalemen between voyages and the chalkboard was actually used during the year. Cherry trees planted by the Tosashimizu Lions Club. Usually closed. Open on special occasions and announced times.
Continue on North St., then turn right onto Adams Street. Proceed until you get to Route 6. Cross over the highway and after 3 blocks, turn right onto Spring Street. Proceed to Numbers 42-44 Spring Street � Bartlett Academy.
6 BARTLETT SCHOOL OF NAVIGATION - 42 - 44 Spring Street. (Private residences � no trespassing) Here Manjiro learned navigation. He became familiar with Bowditch's American Practical Navigator, which he later translated into Japanese. Manjiro became a professor at Tokyo University.
Turn left onto Laurel Street, then right onto Washington Street. Turn left onto Walnut Street and you will be back at the Millicent Library, your starting point.
You may also be interested in the following places. Walk from the library back down Walnut Street towards Washington Street. The Former Activity Center (#7) (private property) was once the old Unitarian Church. This is where Manjiro attended church with the Whitfield Family. Number 43-41 Walnut Street (private residences, no trespassing) were the home of Franklin Roosevelt's grandmother (#8). The two houses were once one big house as evidenced by the stone wall. Manjiro's schoolmate, Job Tripp lived across the street at Number 38 Walnut Street (private residence, no trespassing)(#9). Also (#10), Marine Park, affords a good view of the New Bedford Harbor. If you came from New Bedford via this bridge, you crossed over just as Manjiro did on his first day here.
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