The New Bern Historical Society is hiring for a new position of Events and Programs Director. This is a challenging full time position requiring night and weekend work. We are a very small office — we work hard and have fun celebrating New Bern’s amazing history. All applications must be submitted through Indeed.com. –Full time …
Events & Programs Director Job Announcement 1-31-22 Read More »
A New Bern Legend by Claudia Houston, Historian, New Bern Historical Society Courtesy Bill Hand/New Bern Live On January 23, 1844, the brilliant career of a most distinguished scholar, lawyer, landowner, US Representative, and NC Supreme Court judge ended with his death. Who was this most famous son of New Bern, North Carolina? William J. …
Photo by Bryan Lopez on Unsplash.com A Blast from the Past by Claudia Houston, Historian, New Bern Historical Society On December 27, 1909, the New Bern Daily Journal reported that the day after Christmas, New Bern was treated to a display of Chinese fireworks “that was the grandest display of any kind of fireworks ever seen …
The Circus is Coming to Town! by Claudia Houston, Historian, New Bern Historical Society If you were living in New Bern in 1884, what would you do for entertainment? You might attend concerts and plays at the Masonic Theater, take part in boat excursions or picnics organized by a civic group or church, or if …
A Giant Career (and it all began here) by Claudia Houston, Historian, New Bern Historical Society Art Devlin 1911, from the Bain News Service, courtesy Wikipedia It is always astonishing to learn of the many men and women from outside New Bern who found their way here and left a lasting impression. There have been …
A New Bern History Mystery by Claudia Houston, Historian, New Bern Historical Society New Bern has had many “firsts” over the years – among them, first printing press and postal service in North Carolina and first registered nurse in America. In January 1829 New Bern celebrated the arrival of a another exciting historical premier. However, …
The Elusive Veiled Ladyby Claudia Houston, Historian, New Bern Historical Society On April 14, 1865 President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth. A massive investigation to determine whether Booth acted alone resulted in the conviction of eight co-conspirators. Four were hung, including boarding house owner Mary Surratt. You may remember these details from …
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 …
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 on one prepared …
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 …