Sunshine’s Story by Claudia Houston, Historian, New Bern Historical Society Hannah Attmore Oliver “Sunshine” The Attmore-Oliver House at 511 Broad Street is special to the New Bern Historical Society. Not only is it our headquarters but it has been the home of many important New Bern families. We feel a responsibility to tell the stories …
Another New Bern First by Claudia Houston, Historian, New Bern Historical Society On May 14, 1845, the Atlantic Fire Company No. 1 was organized in New Bern, becoming the oldest chartered fire company in North Carolina and one of the oldest in the United States. Exploits of the Atlantic Company and their later rival, the …
A Reason to Celebrate by Claudia Houston, Historian, New Bern Historical Society “We today are so immersed in – and blasé about – technology that it is hard to understand how big a deal it was when the first railroad train rolled into a 1850s North Carolina town. I can only guess that we might …
In Celebration of Women’s History Month by Claudia Houston, Historian, New Bern Historical Society US Army’s Heritage & Education Center; MOLLUS Mass Photograph collection This month marks the 160th anniversary of the first Battle of New Bern, fought on March 14, 1862, one of several engagements in Burnside’s North Carolina Expedition. It is also celebrated …
On the Altar of Freedom by Claudia Houston, Historian, New Bern Historical Society A young man born in New Bern became an orphan under unusual circumstances. He went to sea, wrote poetry, read extensively, sailed the world, corresponded with and joined what was to become a famous regiment in the Civil War, documenting his journey …
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 Man With a Vision by Claudia Houston, Historian, New Bern Historical Society New Bern’s history is replete with tales of ordinary men and women who do fascinating and extraordinary things. Our story this month is about a man whose visionary invention could have changed the course of history. Who was this man? Keep reading! …
At the Forefront of History by Claudia Houston, Historian, New Bern Historical Society Abraham Galloway was a slave, abolitionist, spy, recruiter, and political leader who had tremendous influence in New Bern and coastal North Carolina during the Civil War. When he died unexpectedly, he was only 33 years of age. On September 1, 1870, over …