NEW BEDFORD — Downtown New Bedford wouldn’t be the same without its stunning cobblestone roads. Walking down them instantly transports you back to simpler times, surrounded by historic buildings and the scent of the ocean in the air.
This past month, the city has been repointing the cobblestone roads from North Water Street to William Street, Pleasant Street, and Johnny Cake Hill. This process of replacing old mortar between the paving stones will strengthen the roads and improve its appearance.
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“The cobblestones are part of the DNA of Downtown New Bedford’s Historic District, part of its historic charm,” said Jonathan Darling, New Bedford’s public information officer. “They’re one of many features that make New Bedford unique and cool.”
Cobblestones are large rounded stones collected from riverbeds that have been smoothed down from years of water flow. They have been used for thousands of years for roads and walkways, but only a few of those cobblestone roads remain in the United States.