african american heritage trail Part of a long-term collaborative effort to uncover New Bern’s African American experience, the first installment of New Bern’s African American Heritage Trail is a collection of points of interest located within the greater Craven Terrace/Dryborough neighborhoods of New Bern. Sixteen panels at ten sites explain and interpret significant historic events, …
Two Small Sparks, One Great Fire: What a Difference a Day Makes by Claudia Houston, Historian, New Bern Historical Society The New Bernian, December 2, 1922 Friday, December 1, 1922, started out in anticipatory fashion as over 400 people from New Bern left for Raleigh to attend the Eastern Carolina Football Championship between New Bern …
Rise and Fall: One Man’s Story by Claudia Houston, Historian, New Bern Historical Society The years after the end of the Civil War became a time of education and opportunity for African Americans. It certainly proved to be that for William Lawrence Lassiter, born in Northampton County, NC on 9 November 1867 to parents who …
the great fire of 1922 100 year commemoration In 1922, the face of New Bern was forever changed. Over three thousand people were displaced in a fire that raged through the African American community, decimating over a thousand structures. The fire started at the Rowland Lumber Company on the banks of the Neuse River; within …
At the Forefront of History by Claudia Houston, Historian, New Bern Historical Society Abraham Galloway was a slave, abolitionist, spy, recruiter, and political leader who had tremendous influence in New Bern and coastal North Carolina during the Civil War. When he died unexpectedly, he was only 33 years of age. On September 1, 1870, over …
a peek at the past Learn more about this area’s rich and diverse past by checking out the links below. this month in new bern history historical markers new bern firsts battle of new bern african american heritage trail tours
Refugees Fighting for Freedom By March of 1862, following the war, the African American population in New Bern swelled to almost 15,000, with the majority encamped across the Neuse River at James City. These black refugees worked together to create schools, aid societies, independent churches, and even formed an unofficial local militia. Click HERE to …
Victims of the Great Fire of 1922 The Great Fire In 1922, the face of New Bern was forever changed. Over three thousand people were displaced in a fire that raged through the African American community, decimating hundreds of structures. The fire started at the Rowland Lumber Company on the banks of the Neuse River; …
Education for the Future Following Emancipation, various organizations such as the Freedmen’s Bureau, White charities, and Northern missionary societies were the first to tackle the problem of widespread Black illiteracy; due to North Carolina’s education policies, however, they were impeded in their efforts. This trail stop tells the story of how Black New Bernians responded …
West Street On the western edge of Dryborough, West Street was home to important infrastructure for the New Bern Black community. The Good Shepherd hospital was erected at 603 West Street, which later became the Good Shepherd Home for Aged. Nearby was the first Black library at 608 West Street – the West Street Colored …