Reflections on Mitchell Hardware

Mitchell Hardware as seen today.

Snapshot: October 1987 — a typical Saturday morning at the Corner Grill (now the Chelsea), the restaurant filled with people enjoying a leisure breakfast while catching up on the week’s news.

At one particular table the conversation of three locals, Paul Johnson, Stewart Smith and Harold Talton turned to the fate of Mitchell’s Hardware located in the Old City Hall Building on Craven Street.

The original location of Mitchell Hardware at
220 Craven St. is occupied today by
Ballantynes Framing & Art.

Paul Johnson, Buzz Mitchell’s health is so poor I hear they are going to sell Mitchell’s Hardware. Stewart’s response, Harold, let’s buy it!

On the following Wednesday, October 7, Harold Talton had “closed the deal” and he and his wife Pat were the sole owners of an old-timey hardware store that had been in the Mitchell family for over 90 years.

In a conversation with Harold (Swiss Bear Chairman) I raised the obvious question. Why did a successful businessman, community leader, a regional vice president for First Citizens Bank, recently recognized for 40 years of service, buy, relocate and expand an old-timey store?

Here’s Harold’s reply beginning with a brief history lesson. Mitchell Hardware started out as a livery stable in 1898, which sold in addition to mules and horses, wagons and harnesses. In the early 1900’s they went out of the livery business and got into hardware. To put it more colorfully, they opened the gate, ran the horses and mules off and brought in the hardware.

Within a year’s time, change was in the wind. My original intention was to stay at the location on 220 Craven Street but the space, only 17 feet wide, just wasn’t big enough. The Parker Building just across the street was on the market and I saw the potential.

Harold continued, even before I heard the hardware store was for sale on that Saturday morning over coffee, I knew Greg Smith, a Boy Scout executive for 10 years, was looking to change his life style. Before I made the offer on the building, I talked with Greg. Within a two-week period, Greg was married, had a new job and was in a new town to run and manage the hardware store.

When I turn in my key and Master Card at First Citizens Bank, I hope to spend some time there.

What they attempted to do was recreate a turn-of-the-century hardware store. The fact that Mitchell’s was old-timey is the main reason Harold bought it. He enjoyed going to auctions and estate sales to look for and buy items that would have been sold at the turn-of-the-century. They are used as decorations in the store, but most items are for sale.

When they purchased the S.B. Parker Building, the tin-pressed ceilings were still in-tact. Although many people recommended lowering the ceilings to retain all the fluorescent fixtures that had been hung over the years, he removed and replaced them with lights from that era and three old ceiling paddle fans that were made the same year the building was constructed.

He put in wooden floors and built additional shelving to match the original shelving that was still in the building. The counter is the original counter from the old Mitchell Hardware.

Over the years he continued to add “old” items and merchandise to “add to the customer’s experience”.

The hardware carries a full range of nails, paints, tools, etc., and specialty food items - jams, smoked hams in season, even honey from his own bees.

As a result of a casual conversation one Saturday morning, Mitchell Hardware incorporated as “Hams, Jams, Hardware and Stuff, Inc.” is and continues to be a place where people browse, visit, and explore for no better reason than they just like being there for the pure pleasure of being there.

*Harold Talton was chairman of Swiss Bear for a total of eight years. He passed away in 2008 and Greg bought the business from the Talton family several years later. It was a wise decision on Harold’s part to bring Greg into the business. Greg is an ambassador for downtown and Mitchell Hardware is a destination for visitors and area citizens alike.

November a good month for local man to give thanks

Bear Bucks Raffle 

November has been a good month for Maury Barg to give thanks. It was during a Thanksgiving holiday trip to Eastern North Carolina a dozen years ago that Barg and his wife Rita visited New Bern and then made it their home the next year.

Now, the River Bend homeowner has another November moment to remember — winning the $10,000 drawing in the Bear Bucks Raffle fundraiser for Swiss Bear Downtown Development Corp.

Barg will do the gentlemanly thing and split the prize with his wife.

Not generally a gambling man, Barg said he bought some tickets after getting an email request from his friend Tom McGraw, a Swiss Bear board member.

After the recent drawing at the Holiday Gift Show, Barg got a telephone call from the Raffle Committee Chairwoman Judy Avery, telling him his ticket had been drawn from several thousand that were sold.

“That was very nice, but I thought she was joking,” Barg said. “I bought the tickets because of Tom and he said the money would be used for good things.”

The raffle was to aid Swiss Bear, which has been the ramrod behind the revitalization of downtown since the 1980s.

Barg said he and his wife first came to New Bern on a day trip while visiting their daughter, who had accepted a new job as an attorney in Greenville.

The Bargs had lunch downtown, took in the sights and rode the trolley.

When they returned to their Connecticut home of 40 years, they thought about making a move to New Bern.

They lived in a house on a big lake, so waterfront was important, he said.

They visited several coastal towns, including Bath and Washington, but decided New Bern was the right fit.

“We wanted the river, not a canal,” he said.

The Bear Bucks Raffle kicked off in August with a goal to raise funding and awareness for Swiss Bear. The campaign is expected to raise more than $14,000.

A campaign committee included Avery, along with Linda Mattocks, Susan Braaten, Mike Neill, Michelle Lynn, Christy Rollins, Chad Sittig and Gilbert Stroud.

The Swiss Bear board was divided into five teams, with nine board members each. Team leaders were Bob Mattocks, Bill Fentress, Cindy Turco, Dell Ipock and Ernie Richardson. 

Turco’s team had the most overall sales, while Mattock’s group had the most individual sales, with more than $1,000. McGraw, who sold Barg the winning ticket, came in a close second. 

Flag company owner Bill Rust provided a flag for highest sales to Mattocks.

The Unforgettable first Coastal Christmas Celebration

In the Spirit of the Season, reflecting on memories from 1984.

Santa is shown arriving in 1984 at the intersection of
Pollock and Middle streets downtown.

My recent conversation with Linda Morris was filled with hearty laughter as she reminisced about the pitfalls and foibles of the first Coastal Carolina Celebration Tree Lighting Ceremony in 1984, and its unforgettable ending.

Susan, it was awful, just awful! I was never so embarrassed in my entire life. I wanted to crawl in a hole and die!

Linda served on the Swiss Bear Board in the mid-1980’s and among other contributions, initiated and served as chairman of the Coastal Christmas Celebration during her tenure as a director.

Linda recalled, As a New Bern native, I had many vivid happy memories of a downtown that celebrated the holidays; the Molly Heath tree in the Christ Episcopal Church yard was always decorated with Christmas lights. Christmas music filled the air. Santa had a little house on Middle Street and there was always , a Christmas parade- all of those kinds of things—but the decline of the downtown in the ‘70’s put an end to all of that. The whole idea was to create an event that would bring people back downtown, one that would get families involved.

A Swiss Bear Christmas Committee was organized in September 1984 and members met with East Carolina Yacht Club members to discuss a flotilla parade of decorated boats on the waterfront. Since it was so late in the year and construction of the new Sheraton Hotel and marina was underway in the urban renewal area on the Trent River waterfront, the decision was made to pursue organizing a flotilla in 1985.

In the meantime, when permission was received from the Christ Episcopal Church to decorate the Molly Hearth tree, the committee decided to have a Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony on the evening of December 5, the first Saturday of the month to kick-off the holiday season. Three electrical supply companies contributed the strings of colored lights and the city agreed to put them on the tree.

Harold Talton (Swiss Bear Chairman) agreed to be Santa and would be in a small roller sleigh that, then executive director Marvin Davis brought from Elizabeth City. The program was to begin at 5:30 p.m. (scheduled to last an hour) in front of the old post office (New at Middle Street) with performances by the New Bern High School band and the drill team, the Centenary Church Children’s Bell Choir, and a Christmas Cheer.   

Centenary Church Children's Bell Choir also performed
at the Christmas celebration.

Pro-Musica would lead everyone in parade form down Middle to the intersection of Pollock Street, singing “Here Comes Santa Claus “while two drill team members would pull Santa on the sleigh. When Santa arrived at the intersection, he would make some cheery comments, ask  Reverend Ed Sharp, Rector of Christ Church to give a Christmas blessing and then with a flick of his finger, turn on the lights on the Molly Heath Tree.  

So what went wrong, why was it an awful experience?

Linda continued, on the same day of the celebration, we learned the city had just finished hanging wreaths on the light poles, and had not turned on any of the lights in the decorations.

We came up with the idea we would tie the lighting of the Christmas wreath decorations with the Tree Lighting Ceremony. All of the lights would be tied to a timer so Santa could turn everything on with a flick of his finger. We all know about the best laid plans.

Around noon on December 5, the temperature started to drop and began to rain. Light sleet began to fall and had intensified to the point, by 5 p.m. we knew we were in trouble. Everyone was freezing, children were crying, musicians could barely perform. We managed to cut that portion short and everyone paraded to the Pollock/Middle Street intersection.

As Christmas Cheer was performed at the 1984
Coastal Carolina Celebration Tree Lighting Ceremony.

After a quick blessing and a few ho, ho, ho’s, everyone watched in great anticipation for the moment the lights would all come on. Media cameramen stood poised as Santa flicked the switch. Nothing happened. He flicked it again and again nothing happened. He walked over to me, Linda what went wrong? I don’t know, try again. He flicked it again-still no lights.

Finally we realized the lights weren’t going to come on –the timer had been set for 6:30 p.m. according to the scheduled program. By cutting it short, we were 15 to20 minutes ahead of schedule.

While someone tried to get into City Hall to move the timer ahead, we stood there humiliated, watching everyone leave in total disappointment. When the lights finally did come on, no more than five people were there to see it. It was awful. It’s funny now, but it certainly wasn’t then.

The December 20 Swiss Bear board minutes have a brief entry…Christmas Committee - Agenda item #8... Linda Morris reported, our committee learned from our mistakes this year and will meet in January to plan for next year.

Susan Moffat Thomas, Executive Director

Swiss Bear Downtown Development Corp.

Downtown pedestrian connections

Creating a strong sense of community... 

Church Alley after
construction was completed

Church Alley during
construction

To create a downtown that will attract a diverse concentrated mix of uses and foster economic interaction among these uses, it is essential to encourage people through the downtown core on foot by establishing an attractive system of pedestrian connections. Pedestrian connections create a strong sense of community and walkability, an important goal in New Bern’s downtown revitalization effort.

According to the summary of existing conditions in the 1977 Downtown Revitalization Plan, pedestrian access from the mid-block parking lots to the shops that fronted Middle, Pollock and Craven streets was inadequate, in some cases dangerous and generally unattractive. To achieve walkability, the 1977 Plan proposed an open space system for the entire redevelopment effort starting at the bulkhead of the urban renewal property along the Trent River and continuing along the Neuse River to connect with the historic residential and commercial district. The plan envisioned connecting mid-block parking lots to shopping streets, creating additional walking path systems (Riverwalk) through the city that would extend out to the water’s edge (Riverwalk) system.

The first mid-block pedestrian park, created in 1981 with Municipal Service District (MSD) funds (additional taxes paid by downtown property owners for public improvements) was Bear Plaza, which connected to the newly constructed interior parking lot referred to as Federal Alley. The 1990 Urban Design Plan, initiated and coordinated by Swiss Bear in partnership with the city, reiterated the importance of pedestrian connections and recommended existing through-block pedestrian connections be improved, enhanced and new ones developed when the opportunity arose.

As a result, Church Alley (between Remax and Tom’s Coins), the walkway between First Baptist Church and O. Marks, and the walkway along the Century 21 building from South Front into the interior Federal Alley parking area and the alley between Morgan’s Tavern and the adjacent building were improved to include paving, some with lighting and landscaping. However, a pedestrian connection was still needed on Pollock Street.

In early 1994, when Swiss Bear heard the owner of the old pool hall was considering selling it, with approval from the Municipal Service District Advisory Committee and the city, Swiss Bear board member Stewart Smith approached the owner and worked out an agreement for the city to purchase the building with MSD funds. Acquiring this property was a goal for the creation of a through-block pedestrian linkage onto Pollock Street as recommended in the 1990 Urban Design Plan. This small one-story building was in poor repair, without architectural distinction and its removal would allow a dramatic direct view of the steeple of the Episcopal Church, mirroring the view of the First Baptist through Church Alley.

Swiss Bear hired Allison Platt & Associates to design a plan for the space with plantings, old brick from the streets of New Bern, street lights, benches and a three-tier fountain. Following demolition of the old building by the City, the project was put on hold as the remaining MSD funds were committed for the first phase of major streetscape improvements to the 100/200 blocks of Middle Street.

Swiss Bear met the challenge to move the project forward and worked to raise the needed funds and find an appropriate name for the mid-block pedestrian park. The late Rev. Edward Sharp of Christ Episcopal Church had been a strong supporter of the revitalization effort and Swiss Bear so I asked for his assistance to recommend a name for the park. Through his research efforts, the New Bern Board of Aldermen approved our request to name the park James Reed Lane in memory and honor of this 18th century pioneer in public education. After 230 years, the Rev. James Reed, first rector of Christ Church, received belated public recognition for his role in establishing in New Bern, North Carolina’s first incorporated school in 1764.

The city agreed to provide the labor for development of the space and our campaign to raise $60,000 for construction materials, streetlights, benches and planting materials was successful. Additional funding for the beautiful three-tier cast iron fountain was contributed by Dr. and Mrs. Harry MacDonald in honor of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. H.J. MacDonald. John C. Thomas constructed the abstract wood wall hanging and donated the brownstone plaque in the sidewalk that recognizes the MacDonald’s contribution. Contributors to the project are listed on a bronze plaque on the brick wall facing the park.

On Feb. 25, 1996, 2 p.m., the dedication was a joyous well attended occasion. In addition to remarks from Reverend Sharp, the Swiss Bear director and chairman, special guest Patrick Dorsey, North Carolina secretary of Cultural Resources, was the keynote speaker.

Thanks to a public/private partnership that began in the late 1970s, the development of this mid-block pedestrian park added another amenity that enhanced the “walkability and sense of place” of our historic downtown. Downtown now offers a mix of restaurants, retail, galleries, attractions, offices, parks and housing that promote interaction. Since the downtown economy thrives on accessibility, networking, creativity and a sense of community, the numerous pedestrian connections play a vital role as interaction is key to downtown’s success.

Susan Moffat-Thomas

Executive Director of Swiss Bear Downtown Development Corporation.

Sunrise Business Update - December 5

Swiss Bear Downtown Development Corporation and the New Bern Area Chamber of Commerce are happy to announce the fifth Sunrise Business Update will be held Thursday, December 5. Featured speaker, Marc Finlayson, Finlayson Consulting will provide an up-date on Highway 17 and how the Highway 17 project, particularly Jones and Craven Counties, are affected by the new formula for allocating highway money, HB817-Strategic Transportation Investments, which changed the states’ previous equity formula ranking projects by statewide significance.

Marc has managed the Highway 17 Association for many years providing public relations/media relations, marketing and advertising services.  Prior to launching his company in 2002, Finlayson served as Weyerhaeuser’s North Carolina  Communications Manager.  Through his work with the Highway 17 Association, he was asked to co-chair NC Go!, the statewide transportation advocacy coalition, speaking for improvements to all transportation systems in the state, including highways, public transit and ports. Marc earned  a Bachelor of Arts degree in News/Editorial Journalism from the School of Journalism and Mass Communications at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

The meeting will be held 8 – 9 a.m. at Baker’s Kitchen, 227   Middle Street in the second floor meeting room with a full buffet breakfast.  The cost, $10 per person, will be collected at the beginning of the meeting.

Due to limited seating, reservations are required by contacting the Chamber.  You can reply by email to smilliron@newbernchamber.com or by calling 637-3111.  Reservations for the December 5 meeting are required by the end of the Tuesday, December 3^rd work day.

The bi-monthly program (held the last Thursday of the month) is being held December 5, due to the Thanksgiving holiday is the last of the 2013 Sunrise Business Up-date series.  

Swiss Bear and the Chamber of Commerce provide this opportunity for the business community to meet and hear presentations from business professionals on topics that are important and timely to New Bern, Craven County and Eastern North Carolina.

For more information on the Chamber go to www.newbernchamber.com or  Swiss Bear www.downtownnewbern.com.

The Baxter Street clock - a new lease on life

On May 5, 1977, disaster struck when a furniture truck
backed into the clock and bent the clock pillar.The remaining
paneled based stood as a constant reminder of the tragic
accident for the next fourteen years.

An essential element of downtown’s sense of place, in addition to its historical structures, is its street furniture. Street lights, signage and benches provide a sense of intimacy throughout the downtown.

A striking and cherished street amenity dominating the 300 block of Pollock Street is the large 1920 oversized cast iron four faced clock. Known as the Baxter Four-faced Street Clock, this important landmark is a highly prized community possession listed on the National Register and is one of a very few that still remain in this county. 

The Baxter Street Clock reached the $28,000 goal in a matter
of months and was dedicated on April 20, 1991

Today a rarity, street clocks were a common streetscape element in many American cities from the 1860s well after the turn of the 20th century. Small business owners, like New Bern’s J. O. Baxter family who bought and installed this 1920 Seth Thomas street clock on July 24 in front of the Baxter Jewelry Store, painted the name of their business on the clock faces as a convenience to customers and distinctive way to advertise their store.

The street clocks in the eastern part of the United States began to be manufactured in the 1860 –’70s, primarily by the Seth Thomas Company and the E. Howard Clock & Watch Company, two successful American pioneer clock companies.

Larger than human scale, initially the clocks were operated by a mechanism based on a weight calculated according to the number of feet needed for its fall. When wound, the clock would run for eight days. By the early 1900s, they were mechanized and operated from a master clock inside owner’s store.

Located on sidewalks, near the curb, many were prey to sidewalk ordinances or more frequently, automobile and truck accidents. Such was the fate of the Baxter Street Clock. On May 5, 1977, disaster struck when a furniture truck backed into the clock and bent the clock pillar. In an attempt to straighten it, the Baxter family hired a salvage company with a crane to lift the clock off the pillar and straighten it before placing the clock back on the pillar.

Good in theory, however as the crane picked the clock up, it was accidentally dropped shattering into a multitude of pieces as it hit the sidewalk.

The shock was felt throughout the state.

Excerpts from a letter written on May 10, 1977, by Dabney Coddington, then curator of Education at Tryon Palace to Janet Seapher, a historian in the state’s Historic Preservation Section, Archives and History, provides a personal account and reaction:

Dear Janet:

I hate reporting things like this. The enclosed Sun Journal article covers it fully. The Baxter Street Clock was first knocked loose from its pedestal by a truck very early in the morning, it appears. In righting the clock the next day, you can see what happened.

A comedy of accident and error, but one that has upset a number of people.

Della and Benny Baxter are, as you may guess, quite stunned by the whole happening. The cast iron casing of the clock remains intact, and the upper parts of the workings were what spilled into the street. They have been collected and kept. A letter from you and A. & H. expressing sympathy and offering any advice on repair, would be most fitting. They were very proud of this landmark and I hope they will restore it, even with new modern workings inside. That block of Pollock Street really looks naked, believe me.

Wish I had better news.

When attempts to repair/replace the clock by the Baxter family were unsuccessful, the remaining paneled base stood as a constant reminder of the tragic accident for the next fourteen years.

In 1990, recognizing the clock was an important part of downtown’s history, Swiss Bear decided to investigate the feasibility of having the clock restored. After a bit of research, I contacted the Verdin firm in Ohio, a company founded in 1842 committed to producing the highest quality cast bronze clocks, bells and towers. They had the original patterns of the clock case and agreed to do the restoration project for $28,000.

The Baxter family agreed to give Swiss Bear ownership of the clock base and saved broken parts stored in the basement of the jewelry store on the condition we were able to raise the funds to restore it to its original condition.

Before proceeding with a fundraising campaign and contracting with the Verdin Company, Swiss Bear acquired a commitment from the city to accept ownership of the clock and its on-going maintenance if Swiss Bear raised all the funds and coordinated the project.

The public responded with great enthusiasm and support and the Baxter Clock Restoration Campaign reached the $28,000 goal in a matter of months. Coordination of the project with the Verdin Company took place over the year. The quartz mechanism, installed to enhance the timepiece’s accuracy and reduce maintenance, is battery operated so the original weights seen in the small window in the clock base are no longer a part of the winding mechanism.

On April 20, 1991, the day of the dedication, Swiss Bear transferred clock ownership formally to the City at a ceremony with special guest Patricia Dorsey, NC Secretary of Cultural Resources. When the time came to unveil the precious timepiece, as she tugged on the ropes tied to the tarpaulin covering, the 19-plus foot structure began to waver as the tarpaulin became impaled on the spire at the top of the clock.  

A Public Works employee in a nearby truck with a cherry picker saved the day and lifted the tarp off the clock to a cheering crowd.

Like so many of Swiss Bear’s projects, interested citizens rose to the challenge and their contributions provided a new lease on life for this historic landmark.

1990 Urban Design Plan - a catalyst for investment

Concept drawing shown of Union Point Park improvements

Concept drawing of streetscape improvements
in downtown New Bern

In January 1989, the Kellenberger Historical Foundation notified Swiss Bear their application for a $25,000 grant to assist with funding of an Urban Design Plan was approved with the condition the City would provide matching funds which the City agreed to do at an April Board of Aldermen meeting.

To insure broad representation of the community, nonprofit organizations and area businesses and each Ward, they appointed 23 people to serve on the Urban Design Plan Steering Committee and Susan L. Moffat was appointed chairwoman.

Throughout the next six months the Steering Committee researched and sent letters to twenty five firms requesting their participation (RFP). Of the seventeen replies, five firms were interviewed with a final requirement of a summary and fee. The Committee’s final selection was Land Design Research, Inc. (LDR) of Columbia, Md.

On Nov. 14, the Steering Committee presented their recommendation to the Board of Aldermen for approval. The recommendation led to a confrontation between board members. Robert Raynor, Don McDowell and Max Freeze voted against the committee’s recommendation, citing they felt their Wards weren’t represented adequately in the process, even though the representatives they appointed from their respective wards served on the committee. With a final four to three vote, the city approved hiring LDR for $50,000. Development of the Plan began in January 1990.

In March 1990, Swiss Bear discussed expanding the plan to take in the Broad Street corridor from East Front to First Street which included the Five Points commercial area. Encouraging investment in that corridor was important and the increased traffic flow downtown and across the two bridges, with continual opening and closings, was creating major traffic problems. If funding for a new bridge over the Neuse River required permanent removal of the Cunningham Bridge, the Broad Street corridor would be the primary access into downtown.

The additional cost ($11,000) to expand the Plan came from funds from the Union Point Project contributed by three local banks and Weyerhaeuser and $4,000 of Community Development Block Grant money.

To address the overriding concern that downtown should retain its distinctive “sense of place,”the LDR team spent a great deal of time extracting the elements that made downtown New Bern unique: many historic homes, a largely intact commercial area, its intimate scale, the close relationship to the water and Tryon Palace and worked to reinforce this traditional pattern throughout the plan.

The project/process received great community support and input beginning with a public meeting on Feb. 14 at the Sheraton Hotel, attended by several hundred people. Throughout the year, the process, one of openness, public forums and many meetings enriched development of the plan and refinement of the final product.

On Dec. 11, 1990, the city officially approved the New Bern Urban Design Master Plan as the official policy to be used in decisions on public/private development in the downtown and Five Points area. The packed courtroom,  cheered when the final comprehensive 56 page Urban Design Plan was presented and approved by the Board of Aldermen, the culmination of the efforts of many businessmen and women, members of various organizations and interested citizens.

Highlights of the Plan:

Plan recommendations were intended to guide development and redevelopment decisions by the public and private sector over the long term, providing a unified sense of direction for the future. The implementation and strategies recommended were meant to suggest appropriate and effective steps to ensure implementation of the plan, the final form might vary somewhat from the Plan’s recommendation, but should not be considered if it compromised the Plan itself or prevented it from being endorsed in principle.

The $61,000 spent on developing the 1990 Urban Design Plan leveraged millions of dollars of investment in new construction and rehabilitation projects. In the early 1990’s, projects in excess of $12 Million were underway, including two new waterfront hotels, a new court house annex, business expansions and the First Baptist Family Life Center. The Urban Design Plan was the catalyst for the momentum and completion of priority projects throughout the decade.

UDP Steering Committee members:
Michael Avery, Planning/Community Development; Julius Parham, Ward 1; Kermit Moffit, Ward 2; Pete Monte, Ward 2;  Nancy Bottorf, Ward 3 and Appearance Commission; Ray Downing, Ward 4; Frank Evans, Ward 5; Roland Hill, Ward 6 and Planning and Zoning Board. John Thomas, New Bern Preservation Foundation; Harold Talton, Swiss Bear; Gray Wheeler, New Bern Area Chamber of Commerce; Alex Donaldson, Craven Arts Council & Gallery; Josh Willey, New Bern Historical Society; Margie Holton, New Bern Civic Theater; Kay Williams, Tryon Palace; Bill Faulkenbury, Historic District Commission; Tom Faulkenberry, Downtown Business & Professional Association; Lonnie Pridgen, Mayor’s Appointment/Developer, John Wilson, Hotel; Ray Rogers, Banking; Stewart Smith, Real Estate.

Boaters take note....

At Swiss Bear’s request in the interest of public safety and to facilitate the free and safe movement of pedestrians during MUMFEST weekend, effective 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. October 12 and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. October 13, the Commander of the Fifth Coast Guard District issued a temporary deviation and the draw span will only be allowed to open every two hours on the hour.

Please help us pass the word to your boating friends, the press and area yacht clubs.

Although it may be a bit of an inconvenience, it would be tragic if there was a major accident on the bridge. We appreciate and thank everyone for their cooperation and patience over the two days, be it pedestrians or boaters.

Susan Moffat Thomas

Meeting the challenges of change, keeping the vision in focus

Downtown New Bern
mid-to-late 1980s

By the late 1980’s most of the downtown development occurring up to that point was initiated by the private sector and funded through private development efforts and the Municipal Service District (additional property tax to downtown property owners).

From 1980 to 1986, approximately $17.5 million was invested in rehabilitation and new construction. Numerous events and promotions were attracting people back downtown. The arts and cultural organizations were developing an agenda of theater productions, art exhibits and concerts.

Tourism was now the county’s fourth largest industry. Two new waterfront hotels and marinas graced the waterfront and the newly established Craven County Tourism Development Authority promoted Craven County with funds generated from a hotel/motel occupancy tax creating a growing need for conference meeting space.

The changes brought new challenges and by 1988 they were beginning to surface. The many projects underway were being done on a piece meal basis and the professional resource team funded by the Pride In Place: Small Town Image Building Program pointed that out during their three day stay in mid-February.

While the Pride-in-Place team’s immediate task was to investigate the potential-use of the Kress store/Elks building to accommodate the need for meeting space, they said that task needed to be viewed in the context of other developments in the immediate vicinity and downtown as a whole. The public and private sector needed a master plan/urban design plan to guide development and redevelopment decisions and provide a unified sense of direction. Continual progress was dependent on public sector participation through a coordinated program of public improvements and development incentives.

The concept of an urban design plan was not fully understood and there was no consensus among the Aldermen to fund development of such a plan. They chose to rely on the recently commissioned Waterfront Conservation & Development Plan (WCDP) to develop long range plans for New Bern’s waterfront and a Coastal Area Management Act (CAMA) grant concentrating on preserving water quality, increasing public access to the water and addressing storm water run-off in Union Point, Lawson Creek Park, Glenburnie Park and redevelopment property near the Towers.

At Swiss Bear’s April Board meeting, Tyler Harris, county manager reported NCDOT initiated a study on a U.S. 17 New Bern by-pass and/or replacement/relocation of the Neuse River and Trent River bridges. The increased traffic flow through downtown and across the Neuse and Trent River bridges was creating major traffic problems that would continue to increase. Options being studied were a New Bern bypass carrying traffic far outside of New Bern, construction of a high-rise bridge extending from Bridgeton to the vicinity of Hatteras Yachts or construction of a high-rise bridge from Sandy Point to James City and closing the two existing drawbridges.

A twelve member committee met with DOT officials expressing the third option for a new bridge system would best serve the needs of the community. A new bridge system would take seven to twelve years to move forward and if the project received funding from the Federal Bridge Replacement Act, it would require removal of the two existing bridges.

Facing this potential challenge, Swiss Bear Board members concurred it was vitally important to complete redevelopment of Union Point and other downtown improvements before any bridge and road improvements would take place.

In August 1988, the presentation of the WCDP study on the waterfront from Lawson Creek to New Street recommended improvements to Lawson Creek Park, acquisition of two parcels of land near the housing authority for a public space and developing a waterfront walkway from New Street to Hancock Street as a long term goal. Redevelopment of Union Point Park required more study.

The issue of incompatible waterfront development surfaced in September when Southern Home Management and New Bern Associates requested amending a zoning ordinance allowing Central Business District (CBD) residential structures to exceed 35 feet height restrictions. They were interested in developing residential housing in Bicentennial Park. Zoning regulations were inconsistent with no height restrictions on non-residential buildings in the CBD and a 35 foot height restriction on residential buildings. The Historic District Commission administered stringent guidelines for historic structures but not on new structures, setbacks, parking or public improvements.

At the same time, Morton Construction and Southern Home Management proposed construction of 52 condominiums (260 feet wide and 60 to 65 feet in height) or a five story hotel on the vacant three acre tract adjacent to Union Point Park on East Front Street.

This became a highly contentious controversial issue. Many objected to “blocking their view of the waterfront” even though it was privately owned property and there was a need for downtown investment and residential housing.

The Planning Board felt they needed to compromise to keep New Bern’s skyline intact and still allow development to move forward. The New Bern Preservation Foundation and New Bern Historical Society’s position was to leave the ordinance as it was until a land use study and urban waterfront design plan were completed with a moratorium on any waterfront construction until studies could be completed.

Swiss Bear board members voiced concern there were no height restrictions on non-residential buildings, that residential and non-residential development was needed and understood action taken on height restrictions would only be a quick fix.

At an October Public Hearing in City Hall, the Planning Board recommended amending the ordinance. Residential and non-residential construction could not exceed the height of the tallest building within 100 feet. Numerous people spoke for and against the amendment. Swiss Bear chairman, Harold Talton stated Swiss Bear’s support for the amendment was unanimous.

At the Dec. 6, 1988 Board of Aldermen meeting, the amendment became official. When Mayor Ella Bengel concluded the meeting saying it is the belief of Swiss Bear and other organizations an Urban Design Plan was urgently needed to eliminate problems like those associated with this amendment, Swiss Bear immediately committed to assist the city in raising funds to commission an Urban Design Plan to provide a vision/blueprint to guide planned growth during the next five–to-ten years.

The Magic of MUMFEST!

  

MUMFEST weekend, October 12 -13, attracts festival goers from across the southeast to experience this award winning festival located in the restored historic downtown of New Bern, NC. Mumfesters can spend a little or a lot with over 300 commercial and non profit exhibitors to choose from including pottery, crafts, and art. Some might say the temptation is too much when they discover dozens of booths filled with a wide variety of savory foods guaranteed to tempt anyone’s appetite.  

MUMFEST fits all budgets with two days of free entertainment including live bands with music ranging from beach to barbershop, dance troupes, magicians, roving street performers, face painters, and clowns. In addition to all the free entertainment there’s a riverfront amusement park with lots of exciting rides, including a waterfront Ferris Wheel ($).

Talk about exciting rides, what is more exciting than NASCAR? TitleSponsor, Joe Alcoke Auto and Truck Center, is bringing NASCAR to MUMFEST with an exhibit from the Richard Childress Racing Team featuring three famous stock cars, #3, #29, #31 and two racing simulators. That’s right, legendary No. 3 will be at MUMFEST. The two racing simulators will allow Mumfesters to test their driving skill – all for free!

Free family entertainment also features the X-POGO Stunt Team performing the most talented extreme pogo exhibitions in the world! The team is coming straight from POGOPALOOZA in New York City where they just won several world championship titles. These world class athletes fly up to 9 feet in the air, doing flips and other stunts on their high-powered pogo sticks.

Everyone’s MUMFEST favorites are back this year, including Alex Clark, the super funny comedian who performs jaw dropping stunts, the Purina Incredible Dog Team with canine athletes making amazing aerial disc catches, the Silver Drummer Girl, a huge Model Train Show, NBPD’s K-9s will be back along with Weller Kennels Labrador retriever demonstrations.

The out of water 13^th Annual Boat Show is a must see for boaters and wannabe boaters. There’s still plenty of good weather to enjoy a new boat and there is nothing like being out on the water letting your boat drift along with the tide listening to relaxing music.   

More music an be found on Saturday in the Christ Church Ministry at 305 Middle Street with the Fairfield Harbour chorus, ENCORE Craven Community Chorus and Down East Dulcimers / New Bern Suzuki Strings.

The NC Songwriters Co-op will entertain Mumfesters with their original music on Sunday afternoon. If you hope to become a songwriter, the NC Songwriters Co-op members are happy to share helpful tips and offer positive critiques if you bring them examples of your song writing,

All this singing makes everyone thirsty! Wine and beer connoisseurs will enjoy sampling a wide variety of craft wines and beers at the Galley Store’s “Juice on the Neuse Festival” with music and hors d’oeuvres at Persimmons Waterfront Restaurant included in the admission fee. NC grown wines may be sampled and purchased in the elegant Little River Wine Tasting Room on Craven Street ($). The Doubletree by Hilton is hosting its first Beer Garden Festival.

BIG KIDSTUFF and Lil’ Kidstuff is back this year with Poly and Ester, the famous Gabardine Sisters, Steve Myott, a master storyteller and mask maker, Steve Wille and Gary Shelton’s Magic shows and the amazing Zoltan, the levitating man!  Kidstuff is in a new location this year so check the map in the Sun Journal’s MUMFEST tabloid.

Every MUMFEST has lots of chrysanthemums and Tryon Palace serves them up in their magnificent gardens, which are open free Friday throughSunday. The palace also has its bi-annual Heritage Plant Sale on Fridayand Saturday. Gardeners will be on hand to answer your planting questions. Inside tours require a ticket but outside tours of the palace’s many gardens are free.

On your walk back from Tryon Palace stroll over to see the New Bern Firemen’s Museum to learn New Bern’s fascinating firefighting history.. Be sure to stop by the popular Farmers Market for all kinds of crafts and jellies and jams.

On Sunday morning join in the 5K Run sponsored by the Coastal Women’s Shelter. Registration begins at 7 a.m. at Union Point Park.

Make plans now to come to MUMFEST by water taxi, trolley or park downtown – however you get here – come join the fun because there really is something for everyone!

To learn all about MUMFEST go to www.mumfest.com. 

Something for everyone at Mumfest 2013

Sun Journal: September 19, 2013

New Bern’s largest outdoor festival — Mumfest — is less than a month away, with crowds of 90,000 expected to flood the city streets and waterfront Oct. 12 and 13.

More than 300 commercial and nonprofit exhibitors will be on hand with pottery, crafts and art, along with dozens of food booths.

The festival fits everyone’s budget, since it is two days of free entertainment, including live bands with music ranging from beach to barbershop, dance troupes, magicians, roving street performers, face painters and clowns.

In addition to all the free entertainment, there’s a riverfront amusement park with lots of ticketed rides.

Here is a glimpse at some of the other top attractions:

The Richard Childress Racing Team knows all about exciting rides, and title sponsor Joe Alcoke Auto and TruckCenter brings NASCAR to Mumfest with three famous stock cars — including the No. 3 of the late Dale Earnhardt.

Two simulators will allow fans to feel the racing experience.

Free family entertainment also features the X-POGO Stunt Team performing the most extreme pogo exhibitions in the world. The team has won several world championship titles in competition held in New York City.

Many favorites return, including comedian/stunt man Alex Clark; the Purina Incredible Dog Team; the Silver Drummer Girl; a huge model train show; New Bern Police’s K-9s and the Weller Kennels Labrador retriever demonstrations.

The 12th annual Mumfest Boat Show features coastal and offshore vessels on display in Union Point Park.

The N.C. Songwriters Co-op performs Oct. 13, sharing songwriting tips and critiquing visitors’ songwriting ability. The Co-op will also entertain original songs.

The traditional Lil’Kidstuff stage has programming both days, with magic shows, storytellers and other entertainment.

The Christ Church Ministry Center has several programs on Oct. 12 — the Fairfield Harbour Chorus, ENCORE, the Craven Community College chorus and also the Down East Dulcimers and New Bern Suzuki Strings.

Wine and beer connoisseurs will enjoy a variety of wine and beer samples at the Galley Store’s “Juice on the Neuse Wine Fest.” N.C. grown wines can be sampled and purchased at the Little River Wine Tasting Room on Craven Street.

Every Mumfest needs lots of chrysanthemums and Tryon Palace serves them up in their magnificent gardens, which are open free Oct. 11 to 13. The palace also has its bi-annual Heritage Plant Sale on Oct. 11 and 12. Gardeners will be on hand to answer your planting questions. Inside tours require a ticket, but outside tours of the palace’s many gardens are free.

The New Bern Firemen’s Museum is a popular venue to learn about New Bern’s fascinating firefighting history.

New Bern Parks and Recreation is offering a 5K run Oct. 13, with registration at 7 a.m. The 5K is at 7:30 a.m. Those events start and finish at Union Point Park. It features a flat course that winds its way through downtown New Bern. The cost is $25 for pre-registration and $30 for day of registration. Registration forms can be filled out on Active.com.

Contact Trevor Freitas at 639-2907 or freitast@newbern-nc.org

There is also a 1-mile Fun Walk scheduled after the 5K begins.

Visitors can come to the festival by water taxi, trolley or park downtown.

On the web: mumfest.com

Program helps build a small town's image

In October 1987, New Bern was one of 15 communities selected from 61 potential communities in the Main Street programs of Tennessee, North Carolina and South Carolina, to participate in the Pride In Place: Small Town Image Building Program.

Pride In Place was a collaborative program sponsored by the North Carolina Arts Council, South Carolina Arts Commission and Tennessee’s Arts Commission. Main Street co-sponsors were the North Carolina Main Street Center, South Carolina Downtown Development Association and the Tennessee Main Street Project.

The program matched and provided a resource team of architects, urban planners, art directors and preservationist to spend three days in a town to review the issues and opportunities presented by the community, determine its feasibility and to design a conceptual framework in which it might occur.

In the application, the Swiss Bear director noted the issues and opportunities were to determine if it would be feasible to renovate the vacant 23,000 square foot Kress Building into a cultural arts/conference meeting center type facility and the five-story Elks Temple (75 percent vacancy) into a modern public office/mixed use facility. Downtown was faced with a lack of adequate meeting space for larger groups wishing to hold conventions in New Bern and there was need for a cultural arts center to serve area residents.

Both buildings and a vacant parcel of land on Hancock Street were available for development. The Kress Building, in the 300 block of Middle Street, recently donated to the city by C.C. Robinson of Elizabeth City, appeared to have the potential for meeting New Bern’s need for a cultural arts and conference center.

A small group meets to discuss the
Kress building

Declining memberships and poor maintenance led to the Elks Lodge membership’s interest in selling the Elks Temple, at the corner of Pollock and Middle Street. The city’s need for additional office space and the potential/feasibility of rehabbing the building, a pivotal commercial downtown landmark, for this purpose needed to be explored and the vacant lot (on Hancock Street) had adequate parking. The Kress Building was within three blocks of two hotels and four inns and four blocks from two other hotels. With the increase of tourism, lack of meeting space for small conventions and cultural activities was beginning to hamper downtown’s expanding tourism market.

Swiss Bear organized the team’s three day stay in February 1988 that included meetings with state representatives, county commissioners, the Mayor and Aldermen, downtown merchants, members of the Craven Arts Council, Tourism Development Authority, New Bern Historical Society, New Bern Preservation Foundation New Bern Civic Theatre, Tryon Palace and the New Bern Area Chamber of Commerce. The team, which worked inside the Kress Building during its visit, heard many positive comments from the public and an evening open house meeting drew more than 200 people. The dialogue and synergy between the community and the team resulted in a proposal/report that went beyond the original request.

The team members, Nancy Howell, executive director, Lancaster County Council for the Arts, S.C.; Ray Huff, architect, Charleston, S.C.; John Jaques, professor of architecture, Clemson University, Clemson, S.C.; John Morgan, economic development, Columbia, S.C.; Stroud Watson, urban designer and professor of architecture, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, were immediately impressed by the over-all beauty and scale of the town and its surroundings. After listening to presentations by the city, county and various organizations, the team clearly understood the sense of purpose in the downtown effort and the importance of maintaining its sense of place.

While the team’s immediate task was to investigate the potential re-use of the Kress and Elks Buildings, this action needed to be viewed within the context of the downtown as a whole.

They were very impressed with the city’s “ideal plan” prepared in 1710. The nine blocks of the original settlement and the Tryon Palace grounds, set apart within the neighborhood immediately to the south of the downtown, bordered on the converging rivers forming the town’s northern and eastern edges. As the town grew and the nine blocks filled in with buildings, certain potentials and problems emerged they identified as:

Legibility: It was important to provide visual clues so visitors could find their way within the downtown. It was difficult to gain a sense of direction/orientation with many landmarks and few vistas to specific points.

Circulation: Broad Street should have a visual emphasis as the major north/south connector; Pollock Street emphasized as the link between Tryon Palace and the Neuse River; and, Middle Street as the major shopping street with its link to the Trent River.

Open space: New buildings constructed to the sidewalk’s edge with parking and open space in mid-block areas. Landscape those areas and preserve the beautiful greenery surrounding Christ Church.

River edges: Steps should be taken to carefully plan for the futures of the river edges. Public access, visual corridors, community functions etc. needed to be choreographed with commercial development in order to ensure this most valuable physical asset is enjoyed by all.

The team recommended New Bern should locate a convention/conference center along the river-edge as part of a coordinated plan. Union Point Park needed to be redeveloped along with other forms of public and private community-oriented activities along the scenic waterways.

Consistent lighting standards, special pavers, festive banners and well-designed street furniture were needed to provide further clarity in the downtown.

Their main task led to the conclusion the city would soon need a full service conference center. The short-term conferencing needs could be alleviated by renovating the Kress building for meeting room, break out spaces and exhibitions areas, however, a conference/convention center should be developed as part of a coordinated river edge development program. They determined the Elks Temple was adaptable for office or residential uses at the upper levels and retail at the lower level.

Their final recommendation: commission an Urban Design Plan to develop a long-range plan for the future development of downtown New Bern. The progress of the city now depends on redefining current issues and addressing them.