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African American Heritage & Culture Center
- Jan 31, 2021
- 3 min
The Great Fire of 1922
Many ask about this event and how it impacted New Bern's residents and businesses. A quarter of the population was left homeless, hundreds of jobs were lost and a forty block area was totally destroyed. This story by Claudia Houston was originally published during December 2017 in New Bern Magazine and republished during February 2020 in the New Bern Sun Journal. December 1, 1922 started out in anticipatory fashion as over 400 people from New Bern left for Raleigh to attend
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Jonathan Miller
- Jan 31, 2021
- 5 min
The first Masonic Lodge for African Americans in North Carolina - KING SOLOMON LODGE
Jonathan Miller captured the stories of King Solomon Lodge in this article originally published in the New Bern Historical Society 2017 Annual Journal. It was republished in February 2020 in the New Bern Sun Journal. It is well known that New Bern lays claim to many “firsts,” and among these is the establishment of the first Masonic lodge for African-Americans in North Carolina, in 1865. Although its name suggests it was the first King Solomon Lodge, this is not so. Many whi
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Carol Bonner Becton
- Jan 31, 2021
- 4 min
From "The Great Fire" in 1922 came GOOD SHEPARD HOSPITAL
Good Shephard Hospital opened in 1938 and Carol Bonner Becton tells its story. Originally published in the 2019 New Bern Historical Society Annual Journal, this story was republished in February 2020 by the New Bern Sun Journal. When it came to hospital care, up until 1938 persons of color in New Bern effectively had none. Jim Crow racial prejudice was strong. Local hospitals only admitted Negros in cases of extreme emergency. As noted historian Gertrude Carraway observed,
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John Green III
- Jan 31, 2021
- 3 min
COOKING FOR THE BABE
Nearly forgotten, this story is about Dave Sampson, a former slave who became a cook. The Morning New Bernian story of January 27 1932 is retold by John Green III. Originally published in the New Bern Historical Society's 2015 Annual Journal it was republished in February 2020 by the New Bern Sun Journal. He was born a slave yet he lived to become a valued companion of some of the greatest sports figures of the 20th century. His parents were sold away when he was only three
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Claudia Houston
- Jan 31, 2021
- 3 min
Who was Castillia Henry?
This profile of Castillia Henry by Claudia Houston was originally written for New Bern Magazine, November 2019. It was republished in the New Bern Sun Journal in February 2020. As historian for the NB Historical Society, Ms. Houston regularly writes articles which tell New Bern's stories about the people and places. A young African American barber from New Bern died in France in this month, 101 years ago. His name is etched on a monument at the Craven County Courthouse. Who
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Brenda Carter George & Bernard George
- Jan 31, 2021
- 14 min
New Bern's ANDREWS CHAPEL: A Story of Race, Faith & Culture in 18th Century New Bern, No. Carolina
Originally published in the New Bern Historical Society's Annual Journal, this story was re-published in February 2020 by the New Bern Sun Journal. Prepare for a remarkable and thoughtful presentation by Brenda Carter George and Bernard George. Andrew Chapel was the second oldest church in New Bern and for many years the largest in number of congregants. In the first four decades of the 19th century its congregation was racially mixed. Later it devolved into two prominent a
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African American Heritage & Culture Center
- Jan 7, 2021
- 1 min
AAHC Boards of Directors & Advisors Meeting
The African American Heritage & Culture Center Board of Directors announces the launch of its Board of Advisors. Joining the AAHC founders and current Board of Directors, the Board of Advisors is composed of individuals who share their passion and commitment to AAHC’s mission: “to present the historic impact and progression of African American heritage and culture in our region”. Members of the Board of Directors are James Copland IV, Carol Bonner Becton, Tahira Coble Copland
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