It’s Wednesday, so we sit down with our Curator to find out “What’s in the Attic with Jim?”
Flipping through our extensive photo collection, we couldn’t resist sharing the fascinating story and images of New Bern’s favorite General Store – Mitchell Hardware! This group of images is a visual record of the THREE previous locations of Mitchell’s. The first image is from the 1898 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map which shows “T.J. Mitchel Livery” just off Middle Street. Mitchell’s began as a livery stable in 1898 which sold mules, horses, wagons, and harnesses. In the early 1900’s they went out of the livery business and got into hardware.
Next, Mitchell’s was located on South Front Street, along the stretch of stores connected to the famous Gaston Hotel (approximately where Bear City Impact is today!). Last, we have this nonchalant fellow in front of Mitchell’s third location at the windowfront of Old City Hall on Craven Street (what is now Ballantyne Framing and Art). Mitchell Hardware moved directly across the street circa 1988 to it’s current location, the S.B. Parker Building at 215 Craven. To this day, Mitchell Hardware has masterfully preserved its historic charm in the heart of this city!
Mitchell Hardware Bear City Impact Ballantyne Framing & Art #NewBernHistoricalSociety #visitnewbern