The Evolution of Union Point Park...New Bern Woman's Club, the house the Depression built

New Bern Woman's Club - Late 1930's

The property along the Neuse River in the city’s early history was the site of seafood and sawmill operations. By the early 1900’s, its decline as a port city led to the gradual  deterioration of the Neuse and Trent waterfront. By the early 1920’s Union Point  was used as a city dump. In 1931 the New Bern Women’s Club initiated a major project to convert the Union Point dump into a park and construct a Club House. Mayor Tolson and the Board of Aldermen approved the project provided it could be done without any cost to the city other than City labor, when it could be spared. With President Roosevelt’s announcement, municipalities could borrow P.W.A. funds with a local match of funds, the Woman’s Club Committee requested some of the relief-employed labor be diverted toward the park project.  "The large force of laborers began by leveling and grading the land. The Club women, knowing the men on the relief payroll had been on short rations for many months, opened a soup kitchen and prepared meals by collecting donations of food and money. They  also opened a distribution center for new and used clothing. Clothed and fed, when the men began to sing as they worked, the women knew their project was assured." 

New Bern Woman's Club - Late 1970's



*Summarized from a 1934 Woman’s Home Companion entitled 

  “The House the Depression Built”. 

When the building was completed, Mayor Tolson’s gift to the project was a lovely lily pool. The building and park became a rallying point that boosted the morale of the city and was the place community activities, parties, picnics and dances took place for many years.  

Newly constructed pavilion in Union Point Park - 1950's

In the 1950’s and 1960’s, Cedric Boyd, Public Works Director, developed the park further with a pavilion the City employees constructed, a picnic area and boat ramps.  As the downtown deteriorated, the hurricanes and frequent flooding led to the deterioration of the park and Woman’s Club building. The concrete floor heaved and cracked and the building was closed for use in the early 1980’s as it was deemed unsafe.

Union Point Park - Late 1970's

In a future blog, I will relate the controversy and future plans for the park that led to the demise of the House the Depression built. 

Susan Moffat Thomas

Executive Director