A Great Lady and Tryon Palace's Biggest Advocate



Carraway Garden at Tryon Palace



In the April 8 News & Observer, I read the article

Gertrude Sprague Carraway

Past Times by Teresa Leonard, a researcher who looks at yesteryear on the blog Past Times, blogs.newsobserver.com/pasttimes. In this column, she  related a 1966 interview with Gertrude Carraway, a famous New Bernian who was born and spent nearly all of her 96 years in New Bern, living in her childhood home on Broad Street.

I enjoyed reading the article immensely as I had the privilege of knowing Ms. Carraway. I was a great fan and admirer and the award I received that I am most proud of is the Gertrude Carraway Award of Merit from the Historic Preservation in 1990.

She was an outstanding person and was one of the driving forces for her work in the preservation and reconstruction of Tryon Palace. She played a key role in initiating a campaign to move NC 70, the Trent River Bridge and the numerous houses that have been built on the Palace site over the years. The Palace, built in 1767-70 to house Royal Governor William Tryon, had burned in the late 1770’s and only one of its wings remained. By 1959, the efforts of Ms. Carraway, the Kellenberger family and many other influential people paid off when the reconstructed Palace was opened and became New Bern’s crown jewel as a tourist attraction.

Other passions included membership in the Magellan Club of World Circumnavigation for going around the world twice; as a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, she became President General of the National DAR in 1953. In that position she inspired President Eisenhower to establish National Constitution Week. She was a prolific writer serving as the editor of the newspaper in New Bern from 1924-1937 and authored six books on North Carolina history, in addition to hundreds of free lance articles.

It was nice to be reminded of the positive impact this dynamic, great lady, who passed away in the 1990’s, made on this city, our state and nation’s history!

Susan Moffat Thomas

Executive Director



Another Jam Packed Week-end in Downtown New Bern

The annual Spring Historic Homes and Garden Tour, April 13 – 14,  offers the rare opportunity to tour through eleven of the finest historic homes in New Bern. Homeowners  graciously open their homes and gardens to the public from 10 – 4 on Friday and Saturday to benefit the New Bern Historical Society and New Bern Preservation Foundation. In addition to touring the interiors of the respective homes, patrons will learn about the architecture, renovations and other tidbits of information that enhance the tour.

In addition to historic homes, many of the downtown churches will be open, some with musical performances. Visitors can stop by the Hospitality Station at the Attmore Oliver House and refreshments at the Blades’ Veranda Café.

A reception for ticket holders will be held Friday, 4 – 7 pm at Carolina Creations on Pollock Street. Tickets for the Homes Tour, advance $15, active military and dependents $13, days of tour $20. Tickets are good for both days. Go to newbernhistorical.org for more information or call 252-638-8558.

Tryon Palace gardens will be open free to the public 9 am to 6 pm both days. Tours of the Palace and historic buildings require a ticket. The annual Heritage Sale will be held on the grounds during the tour along with another annual treat…Tryon Palace Lover’s Week-end (held in conjunction with the Homes Tour) has a special theme, “Craven County Celebrates 300 Years of Gardens”.

NC History Center -  Unity Ball on Saturday begins at 7 pm celebrating 300 years of shared history and includes a silent auction, entertainment by the Secret Agent Band and guest speaker Freddie Parker, NC Central University. Tickets, $50 per person can be purchased at the History Center…proceeds benefit African-American programming at Tryon Palace. Call 252-639-3592 for more information.

For arts sake and just plain fun…Bear Hands Art Factory & Framing presents “Canvass Connections from 7 – 9 pm on Saturday. For a $35 fee, participants will paint a picture of a wine bottle and glass entitled “End of Day”. No experience is needed, just bring a refreshment and beverage. In addition to a great time you can take home your very own creation.

For a good cause…on Saturday, proceeds from a raffle (a statewide project) held in front of the Richardson Law firm on Pollock Street go to the maintenance of Camp Dogwood for the Blind located on Lake Norman at Sherrils Ford.  For $1 a ticket or 12 tickets for $10, the winner has a choice of a Jeep Liberty, Dodge Ram pickup, Dodge Caravan or Chrysler 200.

For music lovers…the Down East Folk Arts Society presents Tumbledown House, Friday at 8 pm at the Trent River Coffee Company on Craven Street.

The Twin River Lions Club is sponsoring a concert…Milton Bullock, known as the Golden Platter that also features Mary Tate at the New Bern Civic, 8 pm. Tickets are $15 advance, $20 at the door . This fundraising event also includes a raffle and broom sales.

Ensemble Vermillion, a Baroque Celebration of the Music of Bach and Leclair is being held at the History Center. Concert begins at 3 pm in the Cullman Performance Hall…tickets $20 adults, $15 Council of Friends and $5 for students.

Last but not least…The Cedar Grove Cemetery Tour at 4 pm, Saturday. The tours are a collaborative effort of the Earl of Craven Chapter of Questers International and the New Bern Historical Society (NBHS). Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at NBHS or the Cemetery gate on Queen Street.

Enjoy your week-end!

Susan Moffat Thomas