This Month

Honor Delayed: The Harlem Hellfighter Buried in New Bern NBHS Historian/Claudia Houston Harlem Hellfighters – National Archives The legendary Harlem Hellfighters—World War I’s All-Black 369th Infantry Regiment—were recently honored with the Congressional Gold Medal in Washington, D.C., and New York. Known for their unmatched courage, the Hellfighters served 191 consecutive days in combat—longer than any […]

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