Alfred A. Cunningham Bridge - Scheduled On the Hour Openings MUMFEST Weekend

Alfred A. Cunningham Bridge

Although Swiss Bear and the New Bern Police Department work closely to insure the public’s safety and security during festival weekend, one of my biggest concerns was for the safety of festival-goers as they stream across the Alfred A. Cunningham Bridge.

Many people park on the James City side of the Trent River and walk across the bridge by the hundreds as pedestrians along with heavy vehicular traffic. The festival also attracts many recreational boaters requiring the continual opening and closing of the bridge. The intense frequency creates a situation where pedestrians become very frustrated and between openings, get careless and take great risks, sometimes trying to jump across before the bridge is completely closed and gates opened. This is repeated throughout the two days. Although we haven't had any injuries or accidents so far, I am fearful it is just a matter of time.

With this major safety concern,  I contacted NCDOT (the Bridge owner) voicing my concern to Ms. Mary Moore, Assistant Division Traffic Engineer, with a request from Swiss Bear for scheduled bridge openings festival weekend. Following up, after a conversation with Waverly Gregory, Jr., Bridge Program Manager, 5^th Coast Guard District, Portsmouth, VA  requesting on the hour openings of the Alfred A Cunningham Bridge during festival hours, Saturday, October 13 and Sunday, October 14^th, I submitted a written request to NCDOT.

On September 26^th, I received a copy of a letter from Waverly Gregory, Jr. addressed to Ms. Mary Moore, NCDOT, responding to Swiss Bear’s request to restrict the operations of the Bridge. It states,

“to facilitate the free and safe movement of 83,000 attendees during the annual MUMFEST on October 13 and October 14, 2012, between 9 am and 6 pm, the drawbridge need only open on the hour.” 

Since the festival is just two weeks away, the challenge now is to try and get the word out so boaters are aware the Bridge openings will be scheduled on the hour festival weekend. Please help us pass the word to your boating friends and we will notify the press and area yacht clubs.

It may be a bit of an inconvenience to some, however, it would be tragic if there was a major accident on the bridge. We ask for everyone’s cooperation and patience for these two days, be it pedestrians or boaters. 

Tell us what you think.

Susan Moffat Thomas

Executive Director

Shooting For the Charleston Look...Southern Charm

Round-a-bout at Broad and East Front Streets.

(L-R) Steve Hollar & Paul Haddock
wrapping up round-a-bout planting project

Downtown’s planting beds will be transitioned with fall plants and mums over the next few weeks.

Two new (April) Parks and Recreation employees, Eva Osteen and Steve Hollar have been busy coming up with new designs to include a larger variety of plants for the city beds than in past years. Both are up for the challenge and very qualified. Eva worked for Tryon Palace caring for the gardens and plantings for almost 16 years and Steve worked for his father Gary for many years as the lead landscape designer for Gary’s Nursery.

Their newest project was developing the planting bed in the round-a-bout at Broad and East Front Street…so needed, and best of all  the mums will be bright and showy for festival weekend. Over the next few weeks, they are concentrating on transitioning the beds in Bear Plaza, James Reed Lane, City Hall and all the beds in Union Point Park and planting mums around the Gazebo.

I personally couldn’t be more thrilled as the usual question festival weekend from visitors has been “so, where are the mums?” By the sound of it, mums will abound not only at Tryon Palace but also in the downtown festival area.

Future plans include identifying plants in beds with name/plant tags, beautifying the gateways and looking for other planting areas.

When they were interviewed by Thurman Hardison, Parks and Recreation Director, Eva said they both had the same response to his question “what is your vision for the city?”  ”Shooting for the Charleston look…Southern charm… lush and beautiful.”  The perfect answer!!!

We are thrilled with their vision and look forward to enjoying the beauty that comes with it. What do you think?

  

Susan Moffat-Thomas

Executive Director

Tryon Palace Fife & Drum Corps - A Call For New Members

Tryon Palace Fife & Drum Corps

On Tuesday, Florence Wootten, a member of the Tryon Palace Fife & Drum Corps came to our office inquiring if there was any possible way the Corps could  perform at the festival. She said, in 2005, Tryon Palace initiated  this new program to re-create a colonial fife and drum corps as musicians were an important part of the 18^th century military. Captain John F. West, New Bern Police Department, is an instructor and played a major role in organizing this new program now directed by Kim Bennett. The program and membership has grown in skill and reputation and the Corps play
at many events year round, in and out of the area.

Florence plays the fife and thought being able to perform in the festival would be the perfect way for the group to “show their colors” and recruit new members.  We agreed, and fortunately had an opening. They will perform in the Dance-arena area (parking area between the county administration building and the Sudan Temple) on Saturday, October 13^th at 3:30 p.m. We are excited to add them to the list of performers in this venue, a very popular festival attraction featuring local dance groups showcasing a broad range of talent in this community.

Anyone 10 and over can join the group. Musical experience is not a requirement, though helpful.  Festival-goers are invited to come and enjoy their performance. Corps members will be available following their performance to answer questions and encourage people to join. So if you’ve ever played in a band, or wanted to, or just want to have fun and make new friends, now is the time to consider joining the Tryon Palace Fife & Drum  Corps. This unique performing group  is one of Tryon Palaces’  most visible and popular programs.

Susan Moffat-Thomas

Executive Director

Tryon Palace Fife & Drum Corps...on the move.

Carven Arts Festival - September 29-30

The place to be for art lovers this week-end is the Craven Arts Festival in the New Bern Riverfront Convention Center. This is a perfect time to meet artists who specialize in many mediums from handmade jewelry, pottery, sculpture, photography, mixed media, fiber arts to hand crafted furniture, much of it available for sale.

In addition to the artist’s booths, there are demonstrations and workshops. The workshops, for a modest fee, offer a wide range of choices… from Ikebana Flower Arranging and Raku/Smoke Pit-fired Pottery, Fabulous Earrings, Photography, Strong Composition, Bookmaking, Watercolor Layering/Masking to Painting En Plein Air, all by well-known artists.

The Wine Tasting and Bernie Awards Party, a ticketed event Saturday evening ($30/ members, $35/nonmembers) promises to be lots of fun along with the opportunity to be a part of the award festivities and see who receives the Bernie Award for their outstanding contributions  to the arts in Craven County.  Event proceeds benefit the Craven Arts Council & Gallery.

The Festival is free and open to the public from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday.

For more information, to sign up for classes and buy tickets for the Party, go to http://www.cravenarts.org/craven-arts-festival.html or call (252) 638-2577.

Susan Moffat Thomas

Executive Director

Take The Easy Way

If readers don’t want to deal with hunting for a parking place festival week-end, we suggest they take the easy way as there several other options.

Thanks to the generosity of  Little Caesars Pizza and the little bank, we were able to contract with New Bern Tours to offer free continuous pick-up/drop-off service from the New Bern Mall (parking in the lot behind the JC Penny store) to three points in the festival area…Broad @ Hancock Street, Hancock @ South Front Street and South Front @ Craven Street. Additionally, the City Parks & Recreation Department will provide several buses to insure there is adequate transportation for this popular service.

Service hours are Saturday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.

For the very first time, Palm Coast Tours & Outings is providing free shuttle service from Fairfield Harbour, thanks to sponsors Robinson and Stith Insurance and Audiology of New Bern. Departure from Fairfield Harbour is on the hour to one location only - Broad @ Hancock Street. Return trips to Fairfield Harbour are on the half hour.

Water Taxi Service will also be available between Dock # 2 in Union Point Park and the end of the BridgePointe Marina near the small channel. A fee of $5 for adults, $3 for senior citizens and $1 for children under 10 each way, helps defrays the spiraling cost of diesel fuel.

A map of the festival-area and pick-up/drop-off locations can be downloaded from our www.mumfest.com website and the map will be included in the Sun Journal tabloid/official program distributed to 18,000 households in the Wednesday, October 10^th edition. 

Susan Moffat Thomas

Executive Director 

Constitution Week Celebration: Why Not At His Gravesite?



Gravesite and sepulcher of Richard Dobbs Spaight



National observance of Constitution Week began on September 17 at 3:30 p.m. with Ringing of the Bells locally at Tryon Palace by the Richard Dobbs Spaight Chapter, Daughters of the Revolution, other DAR Chapters, schools and groups across the nation. The Ringing of the Bells commemorates the time on Sept. 17, 1787, the delegates to the Constitutional Convention, including New Bernian Richard Dobbs Spaight, met for the last time to sign the document they created.

My thoughts, as I read in the Sun Journal, the Ringing of the Bells ceremony by the Richard Dobbs Spaight Chapter would be held at Tryon Palace, were “why not at his gravesite?”

We are so fortunate to have the honor of having a signer of the constitution buried in our community. Since the purpose of this week of observance is to promote study and education about the constitution, does it not seem we should be commemorating Constitution Week with an observance ceremony at Richard Dobbs Spaight’s gravesite?

This famous New Bernian, Richard Dobbs Spaight, Sr., a Revolutionary War patriot, a delegate to the Federal Constitution Convention of 1787 and the North Carolina Ratification Convention of 1788, and the first native born Governor of the state of North Carolina (serving three terms) is buried in his family’s sepulcher at Clermont adjacent to Madam Moore’s Lane. This property, owned by the MacDonald family for many years, was bequeathed by the late Ms. Hughrena MacDonald to the state of North Carolina as a part of Tryon Palace to insure this historic property/site was preserved for perpetuity.

Constitution Week presents the perfect opportunity to bring public awareness to this very historic site, especially since the actual initiative to have President Dwight D. Eisenhower and Congress officially proclaim September 17 – 23 as Constitution Week was led by Gertrude Caraway of New Bern, a member of the Richard Dobbs Spaight Chapter and President General of the National Society of the DAR.

Perhaps, Constitution Week 2013, the 226^th anniversary of the signing of the constitution, will include an observance at this hallowed gravesite.

Tell us what you think?

Susan Moffat-Thomas

MUMFEST... a Swiss Bear/City Partnership

Keith Jernigan, Craven County Health Dept.,
Jeremy Blalock, NBFD,
Mark Stephens, Public Works Director,
 Police Chief Touissant Summers

Jeremy Blalock, NBFD, Lt. Ronnie Lovick, NBPD,
 Mark Stephens, Public Works Director, Police Chief Summers,
Joe Bailey, Security, Danielle Glynn, Swiss Bear,
Bud VanSlyke, Chairman, Boat Show/Outdoor Life

Bud VanSlyke, Chair, Boat Show/Outdoor Life,
Debra Yarbrough, Craven County Health Dept.,
Dalton Gaskins, City Water Treatment Plant,
Danielle Glynn, Swiss Bear, Joe Bailey, Security

As October 13 – 14 draws closer and closer, our days at the office become longer and more hectic, assigning spaces, marking spaces on the streets, inventorying signs, ordering new ones, preparing 300+ vendor packets filled with set-up information, the continual ringing of phones…an endless list! However, it is worth the wear and tear as it insures a well-organized event that vendors appreciate and the festival-goers love.

What also insures a well-organized and well-run event is our partnership with the City, our elected officials and administration. Many of the departments have a role that is critical to MUMFEST. Electric, under Jon Rynne installs the temporary power panels to provide power to the vendors; the Police, under Chief Summers, oversees safety and security; Thurman Hardison’s Parks & Recreation staff provide manpower for delivering and setting up bleachers, trash pick-up through-out the weekend, getting the parks and planting areas in order; Water Resources, under Jordan Hughes' direction, provides water hook-up connections important to food vendors.  Mark Stephens, Director of Public Works, is responsible for overseeing all the rest…everything from hanging street banners, directing vendors to their spaces, putting up signage, barricades, stages, hauling trash, disposing of the vendor’s gray water each day, sweeping the streets. The list is long and the work load is immense.

Additionally, the Health Department inspects every food vendor before they can set-up and Fire Department staff inspect each food vendor’s set-up to insure they are following fire regulations and have fire extinguishers on site.

My objective in pointing this out is not to exhaust readers, but to provide a glimmer on how important this partnership is and the team work it takes to produce MUMFEST.  The public’s safety and enjoyment is paramount and the success of MUMFEST is directly related to the relationship MUMFEST and Swiss Bear has built over the past 32 years with the City, its various departments and its personnel.

When you see City employees working festival weekend, please take a moment  to stop and say thank you. Your safety and enjoyment is in their good hands.

Tell us what you think.

Susan Moffat Thomas

Executive Director

MUMFEST 2012...the "Grits" are back!

Hot Buttered Grits, a festival favorite, is back! The ever popular improvisational/electric band from Eastern North Carolina has been serving it up hot and fresh, in area clubs, at deck parties, backyards and at MUMFEST. Each member brings and eclectic array of influences to the group for a truly unique blend of music that defies classification and draws crowds.

Hot Buttered Grits will perform on the Main Stage on Sunday, October 14 at 12:45 p.m. for two hours replacing TJ Jones & The Pamlico Sound Machine, due to a scheduling conflict.

The Main Stage is located in front of the Galley Store. Be sure and check the jam packed entertainment schedule on mumfest.com, the official program or for those with smart phones, click on the QR code on MUMFEST posters or signage.

Susan Moffat Thomas

Executive Director

Five Things to Do in My Town...New Bern and Craven County

Kudos to Our State magazine for the series 5 Things to Do In My Town, asking readers to become tour guides and tell everyone what to do when they visit their town and publishing them on their website. http://www.ourstate.com/new-bern/

And kudos to Wendy Card, Susan Cook and Thea Kinkaid for doing just that. Readers can go to it and read a very comprehensive article on what to see and do in New Bern and Craven County. It is an enticement that is very timely in encouraging visitors to come and enjoy all the City has to offer.

When I called the owner of the mega yacht Seafair last year in late October to inquire if they would come to MUMFEST 2012 (Seafair was at the 2011 Seafood Festival) the objective was having a new art venue at MUMFEST that would draw visitors from across the state and showcase our city as a cultural art center.

The festival, originally created as a revitalization strategy to bring people downtown, has continued to do so on a large scale by expanding with the community’s support into a major signature, award winning event with an economic impact of over $5 million.

The big push now is working with the Tourism Development Authority to increase “heads on beds”, i.e. attracting visitors to the festival to stay for a minimum of two, three or four days, filling our hotels, eating in our restaurants, shopping and visiting our museums and attractions.

SeaFair, with three decks and 28 galleries of fine art, jewelry and sculpture, has the potential of helping us reach that goal. Downtown’s reputation as an art and cultural center is burgeoning. Our partnership with the Craven Arts Council & Gallery to kick off the festival festivities with Arts Ahoy, a fundraising art venue aboard SeaFair, moored at the New Bern Grand Marina, will benefit both organizations and reinforce the importance of the arts in this community. The support of many businesses and organizations for this venue and goal is further strengthened by the support of Governor Beverly Perdue and Larry Wheeler, Executive Director of the NC Art Museum who are serving as hosts for the Arts Ahoy First View of the two tier opening.

Several thousand invitations were mailed statewide with an insert inviting people to attend this event and extend their stay throughout the weekend. For the first time on Friday, retailers and artists will host unique art exhibits, lecture series, concerts and more to enhance visitors to take advantage of this outstanding weekend.

Our State’s publication of 5 Things to Do in New Bern couldn’t be timelier, as it is probably a good bet the majority of those who receive our invitation to the October 11 Arts Ahoy event are also Our State subscribers.The website http://www.visitnewbern.com/ offers further encouragement with a Charm package offering discounts for accommodations, shops and attractions.

The article submitted by three of New Bern's biggest cheerleaders, Wendy, Susan and Thea will surely play a major role in helping us reach our goal of enticing visitors to discover a city rich in the arts, culture, history, outdoor recreation and community spirit, festival weekend and beyond.

It takes a village!

Tell us what you think.

Susan Moffat Thomas

MUMFEST...Vendor Spaces Are Filling Up!

As the festival grows closer, the volume of applications increase day by day. The spaces are filling up and we are pleased with the quality and variety of vendors submitting applications.

To peak your interest, arts and crafts include everything from whirligigs and kinetic art to handmade quilts, clothing and accessories, jewelry (of, course), paintings, yard art, photography and pottery.  Numerous vendors in the commercial category offer items and products running the gamut from imported hand-made items and crafts, to pre-packaged spices, candy, specialty food stuff, edible arrangements, spas, small furniture items, kitchen gadgets, even haircuts and feather extensions. Festival-goers can also learn about the many services offered by area nonprofits, government agencies and churches.

Food vendors (the quota reached several months ago) will again be located throughout the festival midway area and Union Point Park representing a wide array of savory foods…Thai, Chinese, American, Mediterranean, pizza, seafood, desserts, funnel cakes, ice cream, beverages and much more.

For those who are considering participating as a vendor, you may want to submit your application in the near future to insure you have a space. For those who love to shop the festival, you can look forward to a great week-end and shopping experience that offers a unique mix of specialty items, arts, crafts, goods and services….something for everyone!

See you there.

Mumfest 2011

                           

Susan Moffat Thomas
Executive Director

MUM’S the Word – the colors of MUMFEST 2012 are on the streets

Billy Bloomfield, City of New Bern...picking up the banners
to hang on the banner arms of the downtown streetlights

The downtown streets are a blaze with the color of MUMFEST. Thanks to our many sponsors, the Noon Rotary Club and the City of New Bern, over 200 MUMFEST banners have been hung adding to the up-coming event that will attract thousands of visitors to our downtown October 13 – 14. 

The Noon Rotary Club has partnered with Swiss Bear for many years, acquiring banner sponsorships from area businesses to raise funds for their many service projects. It is a win win for the Club, for the exposure and support of many area businesses, for Swiss Bear and the festival.  

As the saying goes, it takes a village, and that is very true for the success of the festival. The support of the City, downtown and area businesses, nonprofits and the community in general, has allowed the festival to grow and showcase our City’s many assets.

Have you found your banner?

Susan Moffat-Thomas
Executive Director

New Bern Farmer's Market...a revitalization strategy to bring people downtown



Farmers Market - Under construction 1983



Newly constructed Farmers Market 1983



In the 1960’s and 70’s New Bern’s public market place, called the Curb Market, was located on George Street. Over the years, the customer base seemed to be aging, sales stagnating and its image had deteriorated over the years. When the revitalization effort began in the late 1970’s, community leaders believed a new location in the downtown area, preferable on the vacant urban renewal land, could serve as a catalyst to encourage redevelopment of the waterfront and provide economic opportunities for farmers and local entrepreneurs to bring people back downtown.

At the November 21, 1979 Swiss Bear Board meeting, preliminary plans to build a new Farmers Market in the downtown area were presented by Gary Bleau, Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce Agri-Business Committee. The board supported the project and began working with the Chamber of Commerce and  Craven County Cooperative Extension Service to secure grant funds to construct a market on the urban renewal land owned by the City. Although vendors from the Curb Market presented a petition in February 1980 to the Board of Aldermen protesting construction of a new farmers market, the Farmers Market Planning Committee with a member from the Chamber, Swiss Bear and Extension Service moved forward. Design work by Chamber Exec Bill Edwards  was finalized and the start-up  Board of Directors for the non-profit organization that would run it  was selected. David Roland, City Planner was consultant to the Board. It was determined the new  market would be constructed on land in the City’s portion of the urban renewal land (renamed Bicentennial Park) and leased to the Market board for 30 years at $1 per year. 

In April 1982, the Farmers Market Board received a special $125,000 appropriation from the state legislature for construction of a Farmers Market. The new Market began operating on May 14, 1983 in an open-air environment until the building could be constructed. Construction of the building was delayed due to a problem with the Southern Railway who owned an eight-foot strip of land running down the middle of the Farmers Market property. After a period of time, the City obtained an agreement with the railroad and the new open-air building was constructed with room for 30 producers in the building and space for producers outside.

In the mid-1980’s, during the tenure of Tom Barton, Chairman, Billy Dunham, Vice Chairman and myself as Treasurer, we saw the need to enclose the building to expand its use of one day April through October, to be open year-round. We submitted a grant application to the NC Department of Agriculture and received $52,500 in the spring of 1987 which made it possible to enclose the building, install a heating system, enlarge the parking area and landscape the grounds. The Market board hired a market manager and made an aggressive attempt to open the market Wednesday’s and Saturday’s and recruit groups to rent the building for on-going activities, concerts private rentals, and community events which was coordinated by Swiss Bear.  

Landscape improvements

Enclosed building with new wrought iron fence

In the spring of 1989, the New Bern Noon Rotary Club and the New Bern Breakfast Rotary Club donated $10,500 toward the purchase and installation of the wrought iron and brick fence around the perimeter of the property that enhanced the control and use of the Market for concert/event rentals, especially those charging  an entry fee. The Clubs used the Market for the Labor Day Week-end Michelob Cup Regatta  for a concert and awards party.  

Market vendors are required to join the market for an annual fee and must meet their “grow it, bake it, sew it, make it” rules to rent a space. The twenty member board of directors, chaired by Joe Hunt, are responsible for operating the market year round every Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and conducting a year round calendar of events. Vendor and rental fees are used for marketing and the on-going maintenance of the property and building.

Over the years, the property’s value, space constraints for expansion, parking and minimal hours led to numerous discussions in the previous administration between the City and Market board to include relocation to a larger more visible location in the greater downtown area on a major corridor to service more people, be open five days a week, and serve as an incubator for start-up small businesses (seafood, and other food stuffs). More recently discussions focused on utilization of the space for public parking and week-day use by the Department of Recreation and Parks. Since the 30 year lease will soon be up for renewal, the City and Market board will meet to renegotiate the terms.

Bustling Farmers Market today

 

Farmers Market - Harvest Bear

The Market, like many other strategies played an important role in the redevelopment of the waterfront. Well-loved for both its local fresh produce and other offerings, it is and will always be a social hub for the community, regardless of its location.

Susan Moffat Thomas

Executive Director

Signature Show Debut - September 14 – the best of the best! 

The Watercolor Society of North Carolina presents  a Signature Show at the Bank of the Arts that will debut during the New Bern ARTWALK , Friday, September 14, 5 – 8 p.m. The work on exhibit is the best of the best, representing artist’s work that has been  judged and recognized for its high quality of work at a minimum of three WSNC shows.  Of the 300+ members, only a third have made the cut so this is truly an exhibit of excellent work ranging from abstract contemporary to realistic street scenes by many names well-known  by Craven Arts Council & Gallery members….Jeff Jakub, Janet Dixon, Karen Van Kamper, Cora Mae Pipkin, Dixie Leibert and many, many more. 

An added bonus…you may be the lucky winner of an original by a presenting artist. The purchase of a $30 ticket allows the ticket holder attendance at a October 6 reception…tickets will be drawn and the lucky ones receive an 8” x 10” original work of art. This fundraiser benefits the Watercolor Society.  The show continues through October 30.

ARTWALK promises a grand evening...begin with the Bank of the Arts exhibit and continue  the enjoyment visiting the many other downtown galleries, shops and top off the evening with a delicious meal in one of the many excellent restaurants. 

 Susan Moffat Thomas

 

 

 

MUMFEST Street Entertainment...Meet and Greet Willy the Hillbilly!

Willy the Hillbilly

In addition to Chaz the Magician, Gary Shelton, Steve Wille, the Silver Drummer Girl, Alex Clark and other street entertainers, Willy the Hillbilly will join us at MUMFEST. He’ll be on site for the two days, compliments of the Pepsi Minges Bottling Group along with a Pepsi Sampling bus and several inflatable’s.

In the 1960’s, the Mountain Dew bottles were green with red and white labels including a picture of a hillbilly character shooting at a revenuer as the trespasser runs out of an outhouse. Mountain Dew was advertised as “zero proof moonshine” and the saying “It’ll tickle yore innards!”. It the early 1970’s a different marketing agency replaced the label for a more modern look. Thirty seven years later, Willy is back on a new drink called Throwback, this time with the cork of the Mountain Dew jug shooting through his hat, making a hole.

Festival-goers will now have the fun of meeting Willy the Hillbilly in person, shaking his hand  and posing with him for photo ops!

For those old enough to remember the 1960’s and would enjoy jogging their memory with a 1966 Willy the Hillbilly commercial, go to  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XnxXwc9HZc8

Susan Moffat Thomas
Executive Director

Richard Dobbs Spaight...a followup to the September 6 blog

Grave plate inside sepulcher

As a person who loves history and reading biographies of famous people who made a difference that improved the lives of the general public, I am always amazed at the important role New Bern and New Bernians played when North Carolina was a colony, in the founding of this nation and its important on-going role in our country’s history.  I suppose I’m particularly impressed having grown up in Michigan, which became a part of the U.S. in 1787 as a Northwest Territory, finally admitted as a state in 1837 and settled in large part by immigrants who came to the United States during the Great Migration between 1850 and 1900.

In moving to New Bern, I was very impressed to learn the gravesite of a signer of the constitution who played a major role in our country’s founding as a Revolutionary War patriot, a delegate to the Federal Constitution Convention of 1787 and to the North Carolina Ratification Convention of 1788, and the first native born Governor of the state of North Carolina (serving for three terms) was located just outside the city limits on Madam Moore’s Lane. My thoughts then and now  are…how cool is that? How many cities can claim such a honor? 

Being appointed to serve on the County’s Bicentennial of the Constitution Committee in 1987 provided the opportunity for me to pull people together (Commissioners, Swiss Bear Board members and other community minded people) to make improvements to the gravesite and be accessible to the public, an accomplishment I took great pride in.

After I wrote the blog (published on September 6th, the day Richard Dobbs Spaight died in 1802 at the age of 44 from wounds inflicted in a duel) I drove to the site to take a few pictures and was dismayed to see weeds in the drive way, inside the sepulcher and a heavy layer of mold on the grave plate….the site  looked forlorn, sad and abandoned.

It seems to me, a County and City that prides itself on its history, reconstructed Tryon Palace with its emphasis on this period of time as the first colonial and state capital, worked for years to develop tourism as an industry, an industry key to the revitalization of our downtown focusing on our historic attractions and the preservation of our historic assets including historic cemeteries, that this site would be at the top of the list of historic attractions. But for some reason, an enigma to me, this  historic cemetery in which a signer of the constitution is buried, is long forgotten.

In closing and in tribute to this founding father, I would like to share with our readers the epitaph on General Spaight’s tomb…that is no longer legible. How sad is that?

      Here are deposited the remains of

GEN. RICHARD DOBBS SPAIGHT

      who departed this life on the 6^th of September, 1802

Aged 44 years

He is gone, lamented by the good and revered by the brave.

He is gone, loaded with the honors of his country and the benedictions of his friends.

    So sleeps the brave who sink to rest

    By all their country’s wishes blest.

    When Spring, with dewy fingers cold,

    Returns to deck his hollowed mold;

    So there shall find a sweeter sod,

    Than Fancy feet have ever trod.

    By fairy hands his knell is rung

    By forms unseen his dirge is sung,

    There Honor comes, a pilgrim gray,

    To bless the turf that wraps his clay.

    And Freedom shall awhile repair,

    And dwell a weeping hermit there.

Tell us what you think!

Susan Moffat Thomas
Executive Director

Run for the MUM's...a festival favorite!

The 5K Run and 1 Mile Fun Walk sponsored by New Bern Parks & Recreation Department, is a featured festival favorite. This venue continues to grow in the number of registrations every year offering awards in various age groups.  Beginning and ending in Union Point Park in the early morning on Sunday, the flat course goes throughout New Bern’s scenic historic district.

The 5K begins at 7:30 a.m., the Fun Walk at 7:35 a.m. Awards are presented to the overall 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd place male/female runners in each age group.

Early registration is $20, $25 the day of the race. Pre-registered runners and walkers receive a T-Shirt.

For more information, email Trevor Freitas at freitast@newbern-nc.org 

Susan Moffat Thomas

Executive Director

Richard Dobbs Spaight Gravesite Improvements

Gravesite and sepulcher of Richard Dobbs Spaight

The article in the Sun Journal on the duel that ended Richard Dobbs Spaight’s life on September 6, 1802, brought to mind the Spaight Gravesite Improvement Project I initiated as a part of the Richard Dobbs Spaight Committee established by the Craven County Commissioners in 1987 to plan activities and events in celebration of the Bicentennial of the Constitution in 1989. Locally, the Committee was initiated by Gertrude Carraway to honor and promote recognition of New Bern’s famous patriot and signer of the constitution.

Myself and a number of others were appointed to serve on the Committee, chaired by Tom Ward. Each member was asked to initiate and organize a project or event as a sub-committee for the celebration that would be held throughout 1989 culminating on November 21, the 200^th Anniversary of our state’s ratification.

The project I chose was to make improvements to the Richard Dobbs Spaight gravesite, located on private property on Madam Moore’s Lane, erect a historic marker and make this historic site accessible to the public. Like every project we undertake, it took the time, talent and contributions of many to come to fruition.

Harold Talton, Swiss Bear’s Chairman and I met with Ms. Hughrena MacDonald owner of the property (historically called  Clermont*) and discussed our interest in improving the deteriorating grave site and sepulcher, erecting a historic marker and finding a way to make it accessible to the public. Ms. MacDonald was very supportive, on the condition we could find a way to make the site accessible to the public which would not compromise her privacy.

Charlie Potter, a Swiss Bear Board member and Chairman of the County Commissioners, with the Board of Commissioner’s support, agreed the County would develop the site and maintain it into perpetuity. Dick Smith, Smith Design Group, provided a landscape plan with an entry point into the grave site from the road. Improvements included installing a culvert in the drainage ditch adjacent to Madam Moore’s Lane, construction of a road into the site and putting a bench near the grave site. Neuse Memorial donated the cost of the repair work needed within the sepulcher which included repair to the ledger and marble chips on the interior space to eliminate weed problems. The grant I received from the Kellenberger Historical Foundation paid for the state marker to erect near the site to clearly identify this very significant cemetery  and pay tribute to a New Bernian who was a Revolutionary War patriot, a delegate to the Federal Constitution Convention of 1787 and the North Carolina Ratification Convention of 1788. Richard Dobbs Spaight also had the distinction of being the first native-born Governor of the state of North Carolina, serving for three terms.

At the Dedication Ceremony, August 23, 1989 the ceremony opened and closed with a USNC Color Guard, speeches by dignitaries, the New Bern Police Department honored Richard Dobbs Spaight with a 21 gun salute and the marker was unveiled. 

It was an outstanding occasion and a project I take great pride in. New Bern’s historic role in the founding and development of our country including having a signer of the constitution’s gravesite in Craven County is quite impressive. The opportunity to initiate and coordinate the restoration of this historic gravesite and making it available to the public was another example of people working together for the greater good of the community.

*On this property known as Clermont, a colonial brick mansion was constructed for Col. William Wilson in 1735 whose daughter married Richard Spaight.  The mansion was demolished during the Civil War. The MacDonald family owned the property for many years that bequeathed to Tryon Palace and the state by Hughrena MacDonald when she passed away several years ago.

Susan Moffat Thomas

Executive Director