by Claudia Houston, Historian, New Bern Historical Society Appleton Oaksmith, one of the most eccentric characters in New Bern history, died this month in 1887. While he did not reside in New Bern, he was known here primarily due to his purchase and reconstruction of the Simpson house at 226 East Front Street. Later known […]
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by Claudia Houston, Historian, New Bern Historical Society Photo from Wikipedia On September 19, 1889, a young professional, educated couple were married in New Bern. Together they were to have a profound effect in establishing an African American middle class and promoting gender and racial equality in 19th century New Bern. This is their story.
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by Claudia Houston, Historian, New Bern Historical Society North Carolina Highway Marker at Broad and Craven Street, New Bern, NC New Bern is well known for its many significant “firsts” – North Carolina’s first capital, first printing press, first newspaper, first published book, and first postal service, among others. But one “famous first” in August
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by Claudia Houston, Historian, New Bern Historical Society What person from a famous New Bern family was promoted to commodore in the US Navy on 1 July 1870 and had a destroyer in WWII named after him? Our notable person for July is Fabius Maximus Stanly, the son of John Stanly and Elizabeth Franks Stanly,
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Another Famous First by Claudia Houston, Historian New Bern is the site of many significant “firsts” – first provincial convention in America held in defiance of British orders, North Carolina’s first capital, first postal service, first free public school, and first black-owned bank. During the month of June in the year 1749, New Bern was
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by Jim Hodges Curator, New Bern Historical Society “Boston Millionaire to Locate Here,” read the headline in the New Bern Weekly Journal on this day in May 1914, declaring that Dr. Earl S. Sloan was planning to build a winter home in the area. Today this announcement would probably not attract much attention, but in
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U.S. Colored Troops Recruiting Poster, Wikipedia At the Vanguard of History by Bernard George One hundred fifty-seven years ago this month, New Bern, North Carolina was the site of an event that would dramatically impact the conduct of the Civil War and provoke a major societal shift across our young nation. In 1863, the United
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New Bern’s Oldest House? by Jim Hodges, Curator I have always been puzzled as to the oldest surviving residential structure in downtown New Bern. When asked from time to time as to which house has the acclaim, my response has routinely been inconclusive. A few months ago, armed with Peter Sandbeck’s authoritative book The Historic
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by Claudia Houston-New Bern Historical Society During March of 1862 a meeting took place in New Bern which would have historical significance well after the end of the Civil War. What was this meeting about and who were the participants? When the Civil War began in 1861, regiments were formed in villages and towns. As
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What Happened in New Bern in February By Claudia Houston, New Bern Historical Society In February of 1902 an elderly black man died and his obituary was posted in the local newspaper. He was born a slave and was greatly respected by blacks and whites. Who was this man? On February 2, 1902, The Daily
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