Classroom

The congregation was home to many Black leaders, including two-term US Congressman George Henry White. White was elected to Congress into North Carolina’s Second Congressional District in 1896 and 1898.&nbsp;White became the last Black member in Congress between the end of Reconstruction and1929. White introduced legislation that would have made lynching a federal crime which would have reduced the violence against African Americans had it passed.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Ebenezer Presbyterian Church in New Bern. 

Audio

Constructed in 1924, Ebenezer Presbyterian Church is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The congregation dates back to 1878 when local African American minister B. B. Palmer decided to organize separate meetings for African American members of the predominantly white First Presbyterian Church of New Bern. 

Ebenezer Presbyterian Church

Admin

This walking tour includes several historic churches, downtown buildings and landmarks, museums, and historical markers. The tour concludes with the New Bern Historical Society and Tryon Palace and North Carolina History Center.

<span><p>In December of 1922, a fire started at Rowland Lumber and destroyed 40 acres of land, including St Peter's. Church members rebuilt the sanctuary in phases from 1923 through 1940. As time progressed, modifications were made to the outside of the church and a balcony was added in 1928.<br></p><p>On January 24th, 1965, a five-county NAACP rally was being held inside the church. Three members of the Ku Klux Klan targeted and bombed two cars outside of the church that belonged to NAACP members/ Three men, Raymond Mills, Laurie Fillingame, and Edward Fillingame were arrested for the three bombs. A three-day trial concluded with the men pleading guilty but only received suspended sentences that resulted in nothing more than three years of probation and court costs. The following year, two other churches in the area were attacked by KKK members.&nbsp;</p></span>

Saint Peter’s is known as the Mother Church of Zion Methodism in the South owing to its origins as one of the first AME Zion congregations in the region. St. Peter’s AME Zion Episcopal Church is a brick gothic-style building in New Bern founded by James Walker Hood. The congregation's original building was constructed in 1802, a collaboration between the already-built Saint Andrew’s and Purvis Chapel. The two chapels became affiliated with the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) in 1864 and the congregations combined in 1879 under the name Saint Peter’s. In the same year, the congregation purchased a new site between Johnson and Queen Streets in downtown New Bern for the church. 





St. Peter's AME Zion Church 

<div>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;The Rhone Hotel was a symbol of hope for many African American travelers it being one of the only hotels in Eastern North Carolina that would accommodate Blacks. The Rhone Hotel was owned/managed by the Rhone sisters Amy, Charlotte, Henrietta, and Carrie; the four sisters were also essential in the opening of the West Street Library that allowed African Americans (Morrison).&nbsp;</div><div>	&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;The Rhone hotel was opened in 1923, on Queen Street in New Bern, one of the purposes of the hotel was to attract more Black business/travelers to New Bern; something that was uncommon at the time due to very few places being available to Blacks. The hotel was not simply a building to some, and is described fondly “throughout the nation there are weary travelers who have lived here and prefer to call it simply, The Rhone Home. For indeed, the Rhone Hotel is really not a hotel-- it’s a home run by three elderly sister who open their doors to weary travelers of this segregated State” (Pollitt). &nbsp;</div>

The Rhone Hotel was run by Charlotte  and her sisters, Carrie and Harriet. The Rhone Hotel was one of the first of it's kind, providing sleeping quarters for Black travelers in hopes of increasing the amount of Black travelers in their area. Due to a large portion of hotels being whites only, hotels such as the Rhone Hotel were few and far between; and in great demand. Played a great role in housing Blacks after the Great Fire of New Bern (1922). 

Rhone Hotel

<div>Gabriel Rains graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1827 and served in the United States Army from 1827-1861. In 1861, he resigned his commission and&nbsp;joined the Confederate Army. He is&nbsp;best know&nbsp;for his use of land mines, torpedoes, and other explosive devices.&nbsp;One of his most unique inventions was a small bomb made to look like a lump of coal. This bomb was put into the coal storage bin of a ship and wreaked havoc on vessels in waterways. Gabriel Rains moved to Charleston, South Carolina after the end of the war and worked as a civilian clerk in the US Army Quartermaster Department. <br><br></div><div>George Rains&nbsp;was tasked with securing gun powder for the Confederate Army. Raines operated a factory that produced an estimated 2,750,000 pounds of gunpowder for the&nbsp;Confederacy. After the war, George Rains&nbsp;became a professor of Chemistry and collegiate dean&nbsp;in Augusta, Georgia. George Washington Rains is credited for writing several Powder Works and Chemistry books.&nbsp;</div>

This marker denotes the location of the boyhood homes of Gabriel and George Rains, two influential military leaders and inventors. The two brothers followed similar paths in life and were known by many New Bern residents as the “Bomb Brothers” given their careers in explosives. Gabriel J.  Rains (1803-1881) achieved the rank of Brigadier General in the Confederate army and invented the sub-terra shell or "time bomb." George Washington Rains (1817-1898) was the president of Washington Ironworks and Highland Ironworks. George secured patents for steam engines and boilers and served as a Major in the Confederate Army. 

Rains Brothers Marker

<p>North Carolina played a significant role in America's involvement in World War I, with over 80,000 North Carolina men serving in the armed forces. Around 600 North Carolinians were killed and 3,600 were seriously wounded. North Carolina also served as the home to three military bases and a naval base in the duration of the war, including Camp Bragg.</p><p><br /></p><p>Camp Bragg was constructed outside Fayetteville, and named in honor of Confederate general and North Carolina native, Braxton Bragg. Camp Bragg was initially built as an artillery training camp, but also included infantry training and an airfield. Following the war, Camp Bragg was one of the few training camps that remained in operation partly owing to the efforts of General Albert Bowley. Bowley made a strong case to the War Department that Camp Bragg was unique because it could support experimental weapons. The camp was renamed Fort Bragg and became a permanent military installation and grew to become one of the world’s largest military bases.</p>

Dedicated during World War II, this stone obelisk includes the names of Craven County men who were killed in the first World War. The names of Craven County who were killed in World War II were added to the monument. In 2019, the monument was rededicated with more names added, including seven African American soldiers who had not been previously included. 

New Bern World War I Memorial

This unique clock is believed to be one of three of its kind remaining in the country and the only one in North Carolina. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places by itself and as part of the New Bern Historic District, the Baxter Clock was built in 1920 by the Seth Thomas Clock Company and installed at this location in 1930. It is named after the former Baxter Jewelry store whose owners installed it in front of their business. Unfortunately, in 1977 a truck backed into the clock, damaging it. During the process of removal for repair, the clock was dropped, smashing the glass and machinery inside. It was put in storage and there it sat for 14 years until the Swiss Bear Development Corporation offered to repair it. It was finally reinstalled in 1991.

Baxter Clock

<p>After moving back home from medical school, Caleb Bradham opened a drug store on the corner of Middle and Pollock Streets in downtown New Bern, North Carolina. Bradham's Drug Store was the very store that the well-known soda pop, Pepsi, was first made. In 1893, “Brad’s Drink” was made from a mix of sugar, water, caramel, lemon oil, nutmeg, and other natural additives. From this formula, "Brad's Drink" was a hit with not only the locals of New Bern, North Carolina, but was loved by travelers as well. A couple of years later, Caleb Bradham decided to rename "Brad's Drink" to "Pepsi," because he believed Pepsi was a healthier cola and would aid in digestion. The name Pepsi comes from the word dyspepsia, which means indigestion.</p><p>Due to a rise in popularity, the Pepsi-Cola Company was formed in 1902 with Bradham as the company's first president. As the business was growing, "Pepsi-Cola" became an official trademark in 1903. Soon after the company took off, Bradham decided in addition to selling the soda's syrup, he would start marketing Pepsi in bottles. By 1910, Pepsi had over 200 franchises in 24 different states. Sadly, due to severe rationing of sugar as a result of WWI, Pepsi-Cola Company went bankrupt May 31, 1923. The company and its assets were sold to Craven Holding Corporation for $30,000.&nbsp;</p><p>Pepsi was not the only soda pop invented in the late 1800s; all sorts of different pharmacists were trying to create a drink that would take the world by storm. Just a couple years earlier than Caleb Bradham, Doctor John Pemberton invented Coca-Cola in May of 1886. John Pemberton also invented Coca-Cola in a pharmacy. The name of his soft drink comes from ingredients, as well. Coca-Cola for coca leaf extract and caffeine from the kola nut. The well-known soda pop Dr. Pepper also had humble beginnings. Dr. Pepper is believed to have been invented by a pharmacist named Charles Alderton, in a small pharmacy called Morrison's Old Corner Drug Store in Waco, Texas. Pepsi, Coca-Cola, and Dr. Pepper are only a few brands of soda pop that started out in a small town drug store that are still popular today.<br></p><p>The rivalry between Coca-Cola and Pepsi started during the Great Depression. When the Pepsi-Cola Company went bankrupt and was sold to Craven Holding Corporation, Roy C. Megargel decided to buy the Pepsi trademark and business from Craven Holding Corporation for $35,000. Roy C. Megargel went bankrupt as well, and soon sold the company to Charles Guth, who owned a candy corporation with retail stores, and in these retail stores were soda fountains. Originally, Mr. Guth was partnered with the Coca-Cola Company, but after Coca-Cola refused to give him a discount on syrup, he decided to go with the cheaper option, Pepsi.</p><p>The soda pop Pepsi is still as popular as it was over 100 years ago. It has blossomed from a small town local drink, to a soda pop that is loved by people all over the world. The Birthplace of Pepsi “travels back in time." The store's vintage memorabilia allows a person to be surrounded with the same décor as people were in the 1880s while drinking “Brad’s Drink.”&nbsp;</p>

Around the late 1880s, soda pop was beginning to blossom all around the world. In New Bern, North Carolina, Caleb Bradham founded the soda pop Pepsi in his own pharmacy on Middle Street. This was the first step in Pepsi's long journey to becoming a multi-million dollar company, and it all started in a small town. The building still stands today, and operates exactly as it did in 1893. The shop has vintage memorabilia is on display at the Birthplace of Pepsi.

The Birthplace of Pepsi-Cola

The Atlantic Company is the oldest fire company in NC at the time. &nbsp;It was organized in May of 1856 and officially incorporated&nbsp;in January of 18471. &nbsp;Throughout the city, the Atlantic company held many records and accolades. &nbsp;They were the first to use drop harnesses for horses, won the Real Racing Championship three times, &nbsp;held the world record for quick steam before the Button Company took it.&nbsp;<br><br>The Button Company was a rival organization that was established in January of 1865 and was incorporated in December of the same year1. &nbsp;The company was formed by Union Troops who remained in New Bern after the Civil War. &nbsp;This company currently holds 3 world records in horse wagon competitions from the early 1900s. &nbsp;The fierce competition for records, speed, and efficiency&nbsp;between both companies eventually led to a merger between the two.<br><br>In 1928 both the Atlantic and Button Company merged into The New Bern Fire Department1. &nbsp;They were both housed in a central station on Broads Street; which is now known as the Firemen's Museum. &nbsp;The Department opened multiple stations across New Bern that spanned National to Elizabeth Avenue. &nbsp;The Department contains a total of 52 career personnel and 25 volunteers.<br><br>A major portion of the museum focuses around the Great Fire of 1922. &nbsp;The Great Fire is known as the largest urban fire in North Carolina and began on Saturday, December 1st, 1922. &nbsp;<span>The fire raged for a single day, destroying a large portion of the city. The fire was first reported around 7:30 am and was finally reported as “under control by 5:15 pm."2 &nbsp;The fire was the result of some sawdust getting caught between belts at the local lumber mill.<br><br>The Great Fire wasn't just one big fire, but a culmination of a few smaller fires as well. &nbsp;</span>Another fire that fueled the blaze was a home fire at 30 Kilmarnock Street. The fire there was started by a faulty terra cotta furnace2. &nbsp;<span>The chimney dust has collected so much that on that day it finally caught fire and exploded into a burst of flames.<br></span><span><br>The fire ravaged downtown New Bern, and many of its victims felt the shockwave for years to come. &nbsp;</span><span>Over the course of the fire, 40 blocks of property, and over 1000 buildings were destroyed, making 3,200 suddenly homeless3. However, all but 20 of those families were Non-white families. During this time, many of the homeless were rescued by “heroic humanitarian efforts".<br></span><br>While many lost their homes, only a few were actually ‘rescued’. Many others were sent to live in a tent city set up close to the town, as directed by a prominent Black leader, by the name of Dr. Fisher4. &nbsp;<span>It was also believed that, since the sawmill was one of the few primary sources of income for non-whites, the fire might’ve been started by a sabotage, caused by white supremacist groups<span>5.<br></span><br>Much of the information regarding the Great Fire and its possible causes can be traced back to WWI. &nbsp;The military needed goods for the war, so they</span>simply switched production from civilian goods to military goods in factories. &nbsp;This switch in manufacturing and production speeds led to a drop of 6.5 percent in unemployment of citizens6. &nbsp;The combination of an influx of factories and an overall focus on industry led to many industrial cities, such as the one in downtown New Bern7. &nbsp;<span>These industrial communities were composed of tenements and also mostly occupied by non-whites and other factory workers7. &nbsp;<br></span><br>Besides the Great Fire, another important part of New Bern's History is the fact that many of its men were drafted to be in the war. &nbsp;Troops were drafted and mobilized to different places across the world, and military bases were positioned all around the country to capitalize on opportunities like positioning next to water8. &nbsp;A memorial for these troops from New Bern can be found outside the Courthouse on Broad Street,

This museum first opened to the public in 1955 and features exhibits that showcase the Atlantic and Button Companies-two rival fire companies that later merged into one unified station. The museum also offers exhibits related to historic equipment and firefighting techniques as well as New Bern's Great Fire of 1922. The first fire department in the area was established in 1845, operating as the Atlantic Hook and Ladder Company. After Union soldiers arrived during the Civil War, they founded another one called the New Bern Steam Fire Engine Company No. 1. The company was known as the Atlantics and composed of former Confederates. Meanwhile, former Union soldiers formed a rival company and also bought the town's first steam engine in 1884 called the Button Steam Fire Engine. Members of this company began to be called 'Buttons' and they changed their name to the Button Company. The two departments competed against each other in firefighting ( Eventually, both were moved into the same building and later were joined together to form the New Bern Volunteer Fire Department.  

New Bern Firemen's Museum

<div>Originally constructed in 1790, this historic New Bern house has served as a historical museum since 1953. The home was constructed for the family of Revolutionary War officer Samuel Chapman and was acquired and enlarged around the time the property was acquired by merchant Isaac Taylor in 1834. The home serves as the headquarters of the New Bern Historical Society and several of the rooms include period furniture and other artifacts from the colonial period and Civil War era. The home is open and available for self-guided tours, and the historical society recommends that visitors call in advance.<br><br><p>Dating back to the early years of the American republic, the Attmore-Oliver House is one of the oldest remaining houses in North Carolina. The structure has been home to military&nbsp;officers, merchants, and leading families and has also withstood battles and occupation in the Civil War. The home was expanded in 1834 and passed through many of the leading families of the city including veterans of the American Revolution and Civil War.&nbsp;</p><p>Hannah Attmore Oliver inherited the property&nbsp;at the time of the Civil War. Her husband and her three brothers joined the Confederacy and her husband William Oliver was a Confederate quartermaster. The youngest of the three Attmore brothers, George Attmore, was only 13 at the time of war but fought at Gettysburg, Spotsylvania Court House, Cold Harbor, and Petersburg. He also was present at Appomattox when General Robert E. Lee surrendered. G</p><p>William Attmore and Hannah Attmore-Oliver gave this house to their eldest daughter who was the last person to reside in the house. In 1951, she willed the property to her three nephews and they sold it to the New Bern Historical Society in 1953. The first floor of this historic building includes several exhibits drawn from the organization's collections<span>, including artifacts from the late 18th century and the Civil War.&nbsp;</span></p></div>

Located in the historic Attmore-Oliver House, the New Bern Historical Society is dedicated to preserving the history of the community and its people. The organization offers tours of the home, educational programs and maintains a portion of the New Bern Battlefield Park which is located a few miles southeast of the town (the New Bern battle occurred in the area on March 14, 1862). The first floor of the house is open for tours and features period furnishings, interpretive displays, a room dedicated to Civil War history, and other historic items. The property is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. 

Attmore-Oliver House Museum and the New Bern Historical Society

John Wright Stanley was a merchant and military leader in the American Revolution. His fleet of ships brought vital supplies that allowed soldiers fighting for the rebellion in North Carolina to continue their fight against the British. Stanley was a wealthy businessman, and his merchant ships also raided British vessels to aid the fledgling American army and navy during the Revolutionary&nbsp;War.&nbsp;<div><br></div><div>Among his contributions to the war effort was the provision of supplies carried by Stanley's ships that allowed General George Washington’s men to survive winter at Valley Forge. &nbsp;<br><br></div><div>Stanley was later accused of counterfeit, and until he proved his innocence, he was placed in a debtors prison in Philadelphia. When Stanley died of yellow fever in 1789, he left behind nine children. His son, John Stanley Jr. occupied the home until the 1820s. In the Civil War, the home served as the headquarters of Union General Ambrose Burnside. The home was a&nbsp;convent after the Civil War. The home was used as a public library from 1935 to 1965 and then donated to the Tyron Place Commission&nbsp;who currently operates the house as a museum. &nbsp;</div>

The John Wright Stanley House is a historic house museum located in New Bern, North Carolina. This Georgian mansion was built of hand-hewn longleaf pine was constructed in 1779. The home is named in honor of John Wright Stanley, its original owner and supporter of colonial forces in the American Revolution. The home has been moved twice before being brought to its current location. In 1791, President George Washington stayed at this house while in New Bern during his tour of Southern states. This home is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and was restored in 1972 and dedicated by First Lady Pat Nixon. 

New Bern North Carolina Walking Tour

Ebenezer Presbyterian Church

Introduction

Images

Backstory and Context

Sources

Additional Information