This Month

Two Brothers, One War: The Whitman Legacy in Battle and Verse NBHS Historian/Claudia Houston Celebrated poet Walt Whitman is often praised for his poetic portrayal of the American Civil War. His younger brother, George Washington Whitman, endured the war as a soldier, prisoner, and survivor. George’s experiences in the war were different from the literary […]

Lost at Sea – The Croom Family Legal Odyssey NBHS Historian/Claudia Houston William Croom of Lenoir County played a key role in defending New Bern during the Revolutionary War. His post-war investments in Florida land made him a wealthy man. His son, Hardy Bryan Croom, born in 1797, graduated from UNC with a law degree.

A Legacy Built in Faith and Brick: The Story of Pastor George A. Rue and Rue Chapel NBHS Historian/Claudia Houston In the heart of New Bern, North Carolina, stands a church built not just with bricks, but with faith, vision, and resilience — characteristics that reflect those of its remarkable pastor, George A. Rue.  Born

A Local Legend with a Global Past  NBHS Historian/Claudia Houston New Bern has seen its fair share of ambitious dreamers, but few have left a mark quite like James Milton West. Born in Ohio in 1879, West was anything but ordinary. By the time he made New Bern his home in the 1920s, he had

Historic Five Points District   NBHS Historian/Claudia Houston Whether you are new to the City of New Bern or a long-time resident, you have probably heard of the area known as Five Points. However, many ask, where exactly is it and what is its historical significance? Intersection of Five Points New Bern’s Five Points is just

Necessity is the Mother of Invention   NBHS Historian/Claudia Houston January is a good month to reflect on the past, and at the New Bern Historical Society, we like to review old newspaper articles.  An article from the Raleigh News and Observer written in 1938 by local reporter and Historian Gertrude Carraway reminded us why.  Her

New Bern’s Own “Six Triple Eight”   NBHS Historian/Claudia Houston A movie debuting in December 2024 states “Six Triple Eight” tells the inspiring true story of the incredible and brave women of the first and only Women’s Army Corps unit of color stationed overseas during World War II.” A woman born and raised in New Bern

North Carolina’s Famous Sting Operation NBHS Historian/Claudia Houston 1861 State Capitol, Raleigh NC Did you know that the original copy of the Bill of Rights that was sent to North Carolina in 1789 was stolen and missing for over one hundred forty years?  This is the story of its theft and recovery. After the American