New Bedford Lights the World - New Bedford, MA - Massachusetts Historical Markers on Waymarking.com

The sign in front of the old factory reads:

"New Bedford Lights the World

Candles were a prime product of the early whaling
industry. On the corner across the street, the Rodman
Candleworks, built about 1810, is one of only two
surviving candleworks buildings in New Bedford, once
known worldwide for the quality of its spermaceti candles.

The process of making candles from spermaceti - the
solid, waxy substance found in a sperm whale's head-
was a closely guarded secret when Samuel Rodman
learned it. Making a spermaceti candle took from fall to
the following summer and involved repeated pressing,
congealing and heating. But before petroleum was
discovered, a spermaceti candle was the best candle
on the market. It was hard, burned a long time, and
its light was bright and white."

Agency Responsible for Placement: National Park Service Year Placed: unknown County: Bristol City/Town Name: New Bedford Agency Responsible for Placement (if not in list above): Not listed Relevant Web Site: Not listed

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Date Logged Log User Rating   07/10/2010 Metro2 visited it