What Happened in New Bern in June
by Claudia Houston, New Bern Historical Society
New Bern loves to celebrate! Our history is replete with stories of parties, balls, parades, tournaments and festivals. On June 11, 1929 one such elaborate celebration occurred. What was so special about our 219th birthday?
The date was not especially significant, but the social and economic climate of the town was. The Roaring Twenties in New Bern was a time of optimism, idealism, and great economic growth. WWI was over, business was booming and New Bern was being touted as the ideal city to live, work and invest in, even being promoted as “The Land of Enchanting Waters.”
Twenty years prior, a young woman from Tennessee, Minnette Chapman, moved to New Bern as the young bride of Dr. Richard Duffy. She fell in love with New Bern and in 1923 organized and held the first meeting of the New Bern Historical Society in her home. During the 1920’s the Society grew and New Bernians began to develop a renewed interest in their past. In 1929, with Mrs. Duffy now the President of the New Bern Historical Society, plans were made for the June 11th “New Bern Historic Celebration and Pageant of 1929,” celebrating the history of the town.
Approximately 10,000 people attended the spectacularly successful event, including Governor O. Max Gardner and his wife, the Secretary of the Swiss delegation in Washington, DC, members of Congress, former Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels, and descendants of Baron de Graffenreid, the founder of New Bern. On June 11 at 10:30am the Governor was greeted by a cannon salute and driven through the streets in an antique carriage.
A parade then ensued from George and Pollock Streets through the business and riverfront areas of the city. There were elaborate floats of all sizes depicting historical scenes from the past, with $200 in prize money being awarded for the best float. In the line of march came marshals on horseback, the Sudan patrol, the American Legion drum corps, Boy Scouts, city officials, fire department equipment, the crews of the Coast Guard cutters Apache and Pamlico along with many other groups, dignitaries and officials.
In late afternoon fourteen colonial homes, each with an American flag and soldier stationed outside, were open to visitors. At 8pm a historical review was held at Kafer Park. A crowd of 8,000 witnessed this event and the entire cast of 1,000 members participated in the last scene. A grand Colonial Ball then took place at 10 pm, also attended by the Governor.
The funding of the spectacular celebration also has special meaning in New Bern’s storied history. Mrs. Kate B. Reynolds of Winston-Salem underwrote the expenses for the parade and pageant, advancing $5000 for the event with the provision that any funds remaining be returned to her. After the event, $3500 was sent back to Mrs. Reynolds, who then returned the check as a donation “for the restoration of Tryon Palace.” Her very generous donation was the first such contribution to the thirty-year, multi-million-dollar effort, led by Mrs. Duffy, Miss Gertrude Carraway and several other visionaries. What a remarkable event and a pivotal time in New Bern’s history it was!
Did you know that in April of 1791, George Washington, first President of the United States, visited and slept in New Bern?
The Battle of New Bern took place on March 14, 1862. Of the many stories of the brave Union and Confederate soldiers who fought that day, one of the most interesting is that of 21-year-old student Frazar Stearns. Stearns was a member of the Amherst College Class of 1863, where his father, William Stearns, was the college president. William wanted his son to become a minister, but Frazar wanted to be a scientist and was especially interested in chemistry. Frazar’s professor of chemistry, 35-year-old William Smith Clark, became an officer in the 21st Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry and encouraged many of his students to join. William Stearns initially denied approval for his son to enlist, but finally relented on the condition that Frazar join the 21st Massachusetts and remain close to Professor Clark. Lt. Col. Clark was in command of the regiment and 1st Lt. Stearns became his Adjutant.
What New Bern property was listed on the National Register for Historic Places in 1997 and took an Act of Congress to create? If you answered the New Bern National Cemetery at 1711 National Avenue, established on February 1, 1867, you are correct. Why was it established, who is buried there and where were soldiers buried prior to its creation?
On January 1, 1867, a great celebration took place in New Bern. A tournament or “Ring” was held in which twenty-two knights, representing New Bern, Wilson and Kinston competed on a race track set up on the snow-covered banks of the Neuse River. Stands were erected for judges, the orator and the musicians, and wagons were provided on the outside of the track for spectators. At 11 am approximately 3,000 spectators, guests and participants left the Gaston House Hotel accompanied by the New Bern Comet Band and proceeded to the grounds just beyond the city. The Knights were led to the arena by the Chief Marshal, Colonel John D. Whitford, who wore a yellow silk sash with a red rosette on the shoulder. His aides wore red sashes with white rosettes. The Knights, splendidly arrayed with fancy uniforms and bearing such names as Knight of Newbern, Knight of the Rolling Neuse, and Knight of Craven, were led to the speaker of the day, Ex-Governor Zebulon Vance.
One of New Bern’s finest artisans died during this month in 1834. Who was he and how did he leave his mark on our young town?
Robert J. “Strawberry” Conderman was the first person in Craven County to be killed in WWII. He was born August 13, 1918, and upon graduating from New Bern High School, entered the University of North Carolina, receiving a bachelor’s degree in commerce and becoming an aviation cadet at Pensacola. Upon completion of flight training he was stationed in San Diego and then Hawaii, before being transferred to Wake Island. On December 8, 1941, (December 7, US time) the squad learned of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Japanese bombers soon flew over Wake Island in a surprise attack shortly before noon. As the alarm sounded, Conderman ran to his F4F-3 “Wildcat” Fighter plane but was cut down by strafing. Fellow Marines rushed to his aid, but Conderman pointed to other wounded Marines and said “Let me go. Take Care of them.” He died of his wounds just hours later at the age of 23. 2nd Lieutenant Robert Conderman received the Purple Heart and is buried at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (also known as the Punchbowl) in Honolulu, Hawaii. His name is inscribed at the top of the WWII Memorial of Craven County located on the grounds of the old county courthouse, which honors the deaths of local soldiers.