Larry's Musings on New Bern

Theresa and I have been visiting the town of New Bern, NC located on the banks of the Neuse and Trent rivers and, as always, I was curious where the name New Bern came from - I’m going to assume the rest of you are too. 

Well, a long time ago in around 1710 it (second oldest city in NC) the area was settled by Swiss, and Palatine German, immigrants who were fleeing religious intolerance in Europe. The new colonists named the settlement after Berne, the capital of Switzerland and hometown of their leader Baron Christoph Von Graffenried.   This is important because the history of the city of Berne, Switzerland begins with its founding by Berchtold V, Duke of Zähringen in 1191.  The duke vowed to name the city after the first animal he met on his first hunt, which turned out to be a bear.  Thus New Bern, NC is “The New Bear” 

 New Bern was developed on the site of a former Tuscarora Indian village and as a result there were less than ideal community relations between the settlers and other Tuscaroraan villages for a long period of time.  New Bern remained the seat of colonial government through the revolutionary war, and served for a time as the State Capitol in the early post revolutionary period.

 Industry and trade developed until the years of the Civil War.  It continued as a viable center for the manufacture and distribution of naval stores through the 1700 and 1800’s.  That’s nautical talk for tar, turpentine, pitch and other items of this nature that were important to the construction and maintenance of wooden ships.

 Northern forces occupied New Bern for a period of time during the War Between the States, and it was a site of free black encampments and hospitals’ for the northern forces. The town had little damage throughout the war thus survived with many historic building in place.

 

Barbour wood boat on Display at the NC History Center

Another business that thrived in New Bern was Barbour Boat Works building wood work boats starting in 1933.  Throughout WWII they built large and small wooden boats including mine sweepers.  I was not familiar with the small boats but they are very sought after and were considered a rival of Christ Craft at one time for design craftsmanship.   Some of them were powered by a marine version of the durable flat head Ford V-8.

 

 

 

“Brad’s Drink” a pure, delicious, wonderfully refreshing and bracing drink in hot weather.   Yes, we are talking about Pepsi-Cola founded in New Bern by Caleb Bradham in 1898.  The Original Pure Food Drink, Guaranteed under the U.S. Government Serial No. 3813. 

I always remember an advertising campaign from my youth:  “Nickel, Nickel, Nickel, Trickle, Trickle, Trickle, twelve full ounces!  BEWARE OF IMITATIONS!”

 Wait there’s more!  

The bear symbol, adopted by New Bern as the official mascot, was revitalized and updated on the 300^th anniversary of the founding of New Bern, NC (1710 to 2110) in the form of artistic bear sculptures being sponsored by various organizations, businesses and individuals through the city.  These were very creative in appearance and naming, I have included a few.

“Mitchell Bear” with Theresa and me in front of the iconic Mitchell Hardware store

 

I hope you can see the olive on his nose!

 

 

“Sprit Bear” at the A B C store.  For those that don’t know the only place to buy liquor in many southern states is the ABC store

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Harvest Bear” at the Farmers Market

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Sailor Bear” by the recruiting station Veterans’ sponsored

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Barrister Bear” outside a law office

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Bear E. Essentials” by the Potash Corp. and many more.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just one more item and my favorite.  It was manufactured by The Seth Thomas Clock Company, a No17 Gravity Escapement Tower Clock (like a grandfather clock).  It is probably a good thing our boat is not big enough to carry it, and besides they repeatedly turned down my offer of removal (I really want one)!  The clock contains two chambers with mechanisms; the upper housed and chimed the 800 lb bronze bell while the lower ran the Four Faced Clock with 9’ arms.  It was North Carolina’s first Four Face Clock and was originally installed in the US Post Office and Customs House (now City Hall) in 1911.  It served the community and welcomed visitors for 90 years by land and water.  It was taken out of service and removed from the tower in 2007 due to 90 years of wear.  Volunteers from The National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors and the New Bern Public Works began the removal and restoration of the clock to its former grandeur. It now occupies a place of honor in the North Carolina History Center near Tryon Palace. It has been restored to working order, although it only chimes a 30 lb partly muted bell (still very mellow inside a building).  The display is very interesting indeed.  The clock works is 39” deep, 72” high, and 68’ wide, and weighs in at 2800 lb.  It originally was purchased for $2,950.  The 800 lb bell and 9” clock hands and face are still used in the Four Face Clock Tower, but are now served by a newer clock mechanism.  If your travels take you to this area it’s worth the stop. 

"Larry's" clock in its new home

And its old home which now uses a newer clock

 

So now you know.