See 1920's New Bedford Like Never Before

NEW BEDFORD — A moving picture showing a celebration of New Bedford's electric streetcars in May 1921 has recently been restored and colorized, showing the bustling city in all its glory.

The reel depicts a Union Street Railway trolley ride through the crowded streets of downtown New Bedford and scenes from Fairhaven's Fort Phoenix.

Formerly low quality, black and white, and silent, the video has been sharpened and brought to life with added color and background sounds.

Get our free mobile app

A YouTuber called NASS posted the restored video to their channel on April 25, stating that they boosted the resolution and increased the frame rate as well as brightening, sharpening, stabilizing and colorizing the images.

NASS wrote in the channel description that they restore and upscale old videos using modern tools like neural networks and artificial intelligence.

Video viewers can see smiling faces with mustaches and bowler hats and hear the murmur of traffic, the clop of hooves, and bicycle bells as the trolleys move through the city.

NASS via YouTube

The trolley moves past old New Bedford landmarks like the Olympia Theater, Browne's Pharmacy, and Trull Shoes in the video.

The footage even includes an appearance by then-mayor and local legend Charles Ashley.

NASS via YouTube

People can be seen waving to the camera, bicycling, clambering over the cannons at Fort Phoenix, and posing in bathing costumes — just like they would do today, except the video footage was shot more than 100 years ago.

NASS via YouTube

At one point near the four minute mark, a group of kids can be seen popping a balloon for the cameras — an action reminiscent of today's TikTok challenges.

Union Street Railway Company introduced the electric streetcars to replace those drawn by horses with a celebration almost exactly 102 years ago, on National Electric Day, May 4, 1921.

Watch the full video:

Hilarious Bad Reviews of Fairhaven's Fort Phoenix

We get it, people don't like rocks or seaweed on their beaches. But some of these one- and two-star Google reviews of Fairhaven's famous Fort Phoenix are just downright funny. Check 'em out!

Hilarious Google Reviews of the New Bedford-Fairhaven Bridge

We've all been there. You think you've made it with a couple of minutes to spare, only to get caught at the red light as the bridge closes. Some of us turn around. Others wait. What most of us don't do, however, is take our anger to the internet — but apparently, several people have, and the results are both hilarious and relatable.

With an average rating of two stars on Google, our love-to-hate-it SouthCoast landmark proves that it's at least slow enough for those stuck waiting to grab their phones and pour out their feelings online. From glowing to glowering, here's what people have to say about the New Bedford-Fairhaven bridge.