History of the Revitalization of Downtown New Bern NC: A Beautiful New Dance Hall/Multipurpose Center in Downtown New Bern

Kudos and three cheers for Joyce Price, Beth Carole Beach and Mary Servalli.

These three special ladies had the vision and grit to tackle the massive renovation of Stanley Hall, 249 Craven Street, on the second floor of the Stanley Building at the corner of Pollock and Craven Street. A ribbon cutting on Friday, July 20 celebrated the completion of what is now a banquet, conference, music and dance venue featuring 3,600 square feet of a multipurpose hall, forty-five feet wide extending the full eighty foot depth of the building.

The Stanley Hall Ballroom is now the home of the Rivertowne Ballroom with Friday open dances, Monday dance classes and Wednesday night Line Dance and Zumba classes. The beautifully restored space with its large dance floor of heart pine, beautiful chandeliers and dramatic staircase makes this the perfect venue for wedding receptions, benefits and or special events for groups up to 200 people. Access to the hall is through a tall recessed door and staircase on Pollock Street or through an entrance and elevator on Craven Street.

The building was originally built in 1874 by Edward R. Stanley, a prominent merchant initially serving as a dance hall. Over the years it has been used for many purposes including a court room, gymnasium for athletic events, YMCA rooms, the town’s post office until the Federal Post Office and Court House Building (now City Hall) was built in the 1890’s.

* Most recently it served as an office center.

Prior to the 2008 economic downturn, a developer had purchased and gutted the upper story for renovation as residential condominiums. When Joyce saw the interior space, never realizing what was over her ground level dance studio, she knew this would be the perfect location for the expansion of the studio. Her enthusiasm spread to Beth Carole and Mary and after many months of renovation, this incredible space has come full circle 138 years later and is once again a dance hall.

For more information go to www.rivertowneballroom.com or call 252-637-2003.

*The Historic Architecture of New Bern and Craven County by

Peter Sandbeck

Susan Moffat Thomas

Executive Director