By Roger Chartier

First New Bedford Post Office
William Tobey Postmaster 1792

Originally this was a painting created in 1807 by William A. Wall.

This scene depicts a 1792 view looking north on Purchase from Union Street.

The house on the left, was the home the home of William Tobey, the first post-master appointed in 1792 Part of his home served as the first Post Office.

The next house on the left was the home of the town bell ringer named Job Allen.

The First Congregational Church is on the left where William and Purchase Street would be.

It is on the same plot area of land area that the Merchants Bank was located later on in the 20th century.

On the right side of the street after the corner of Union and Purchase St. (house) was the small house of Daniel Taber and next was Oliver Crocker's home.

Afterwards see the first school called the "Tom" Kempton schoolhouse (set back a bit). This view is more apparent in the second image (painted in 1820).

In the far distance on the right is the large mansion of John Avery Parker who was the first president of the bank in its earlier location. His home was later reconstructed into a hotel called the Parker House.

Click to enlarge Image below