Hetty Green Day at Historical Park (24 March)

Have you ever heard of Hetty Green? “How about the “Witch of Wall Street?”  New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park is hosting an event to shed light on this unique New Bedford woman, who is often misunderstood and typecast as stingy and cold.  On Sat., March 24, from 10:30 am- 4:00 pm, New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park will celebrate the life of Henrietta (Hetty) Howland Green, as well as other prominent women in New Bedford’s history.  The day will be filled with activities for children and adults, a tea with historical figures, and the debut of the park’s newest brochure called “Women of New Bedford.” The event is free and will take place at the park’s Corson Maritime Learning Center, located at 33 William Street in downtown New Bedford, Massachusetts.

Henrietta (Hetty) Howland Robinson Green was recognized as the richest woman in the world during her lifetime. She was also known as “the Witch of Wall Street”, and in her own right a financial genius in the areas of real estate, railroads and money lending.

Events for the day are as follows:

• 10:30 AM:  Explore a day in the life of  a Quaker child through games and stories
• 11:30 AM: make a bank to take home
• 1:00 PM: talk on Colonel Green (Hetty’s first child) by Barbara Bedell (author of a book on Colonel Green)
• 2:00 PM:  Hetty’s best friend, Annie Leary, tells the real story of this enigmatic personality in a first-person portrayal
• 3:00 PM: Video on Hetty Green (featuring Edie Nichols) by Lance Gunberg

In addition, Abby, one of the 1850s ladies, and Annie Leary (a lifelong friend of Hetty Green) will be hosting a tea in honor of “Women of New Bedford,” a new park brochure honoring the legacy of these individuals who helped New Bedford in a myriad of ways.  Join the ladies for tea, from 10 am-12:00 noon, and from 1 pm- 4 pm, as they chat about the women profiled in the park’s newest publication, “Women of New Bedford.”