by Claudia Houston, Historian, New Bern Historical Society Old City Hall building circa 1983 You’ve walked past it countless times — you know, the big red brick building on the 200 block of Craven Street with “City Hall” emblazoned near the roof. Built in about 1817, the Stephens Brick Block building is considered the earliest […]
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Band of Brothers by Claudia Houston, Historian, New Bern Historical Society While the inhumanity of war is clear, sometimes acts of humanity during war take us by surprise. One such example is that of Confederate Captain Mayo and his captor, Union Major W. B. Lowell. This is their story. A map of the battlefield, based
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by Claudia Houston, Historian, New Bern Historical Society In February 1864, in an ironic turn of events, the Tuscarora Indians participated in a pivotal Civil War battle on the very land near New Bern that they had been forced to leave nearly 150 years prior. Isaac Newton “Newt” Parker, Co. D, 132nd NY Infantry. Courtesy
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by Claudia Houston, Historian, New Bern Historical Society During the 1890’s in New Bern there was a large middle class of African American businesspeople who needed not only goods but services and institutions that would meet their specific needs. One such institution began with great promise, but by January of 1915 had to close its
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Isaac Taylor House, 228 Craven St. The Beauty of Downtown Fences & Gates by Curator Jim Hodges Even as a young boy while walking about the streets of downtown New Bern, I was always impressed by the array of metal fences and gates. Although many years have slipped by, my fascination has never waned.
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by Claudia Houston, Historian, New Bern Historical Society Appleton Oaksmith, one of the most eccentric characters in New Bern history, died this month in 1887. While he did not reside in New Bern, he was known here primarily due to his purchase and reconstruction of the Simpson house at 226 East Front Street. Later known
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It is Wednesday, so “What is in the Attic with Jim”? Today we celebrated the lives of some inspiring New Bern women in a very special Lunch & Learn program “Ordinary Women, Extraordinary Deeds.” If you were there you were introduced to Charlotte Rhone, played by Historical Society Board Member and New Bern native Carol
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It is Wednesday, so What is in the Attic with Jim? New Bern is rich in important African American landmarks. This is a recent photo of St. Cyprian’s Episcopal Church at 604 Johnson, Street in New Bern. It is one of the earliest, if not the earliest, African American Episcopal Churches in the State of
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Another Famous First by Claudia Houston, Historian New Bern is the site of many significant “firsts” – first provincial convention in America held in defiance of British orders, North Carolina’s first capital, first postal service, first free public school, and first black-owned bank. During the month of June in the year 1749, New Bern was
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It is Wednesday, so “What is in the Attic with Jim”? In 2000 we received a photo and letter from 82-year-old Volkert Veeder regarding his roommate at the US Naval Academy, Henry Purifoy Whitehurst Jr. Both are on display at the New Bern Historical Society, 511 Broad Street. Henry attended The Citadel for a year
Saluting a WWII Veteran Read More »