Neuse River Bridge: A once-in-a-lifetime project

The Neuse River Bridge
Photo by Bill Hand/Sun Journal Staff

Since the mid-1970s, vision, achievable goals, partnerships, commitment, and hard work by the public and private sector were key to the downtown’s renaissance — and the state-of-the art Neuse River Bridge.

Opened to traffic in November 1999, the U.S. 17/N.C. 55 intricate system of roadway, ramps and bridges crossing the Trent and Neuse rivers was North Carolina’s largest single highway contract at that time. It is a project that was/is critical to the growth and economic development of Eastern North Carolina.

Historically, in Eastern North Carolina, ferry transportation was relied on as the cost of building bridges was financially burdensome. By the late 1800s, the inconvenience of ferries led to the county borrowing $35,000 to construct a Neuse River Bridge from New Bern to Bridgeton that opened in 1898.

In the 1940s, the ever increasing number of cars and trucks intensified N.C. 55/U.S. 17 traffic on the Neuse Boulevard/Broad Street corridor through downtown, led to the widening of Board Street and construction of a new Neuse River Bridge at the foot of Broad Street to Bridgeton in the early 1950s.

By the 1980s, it was a common sight to see cars lined up bumper to bumper on Broad and East Front streets as the swing span bridges over the two rivers opened to let boats through. Even though a boat could clear the span with the bridge rotating back in place in 10 minutes, it took 30-40 minutes for the traffic jam to clear. If the drawbridge opened at 5 in the afternoon, traffic backed up for miles. Major traffic problems were expected to intensify in the coming decade.

Its impact on the downtown revitalization effort led to Swiss Bear Downtown Development Corp.’s active involvement in pursuing the bridge’s replacement.

At the April 1988 Swiss Bear Board meeting, County Manager Tyler Harris reported both the Trent and Neuse River bridges were eligible for replacement and at a recent NCDOT presentation three options were being considered. The first, a New Bern Bypass, carrying traffic far outside New Bern; the second, construction of a high rise bridge to extend from Bridgeton to the vicinity of Hatteras Yachts. The last was the possible construction of a high-rise bridge from Sandy Point to James City and closure of the two existing drawbridges.

Harris said, prior to that meeting, representatives from the county, City Manager Bill Hartman and a 12-member committee met with NCDOT representatives to ensure any plans for improvements to existing and new roadways would be geared to improving local traffic as opposed to through traffic. The committee felt the last option for a new bridge system would best serve the needs of the community.

In discussion, downtown merchant, Lou Steinberg agreed improvements to our existing bridge and road system were necessary; however, the downtown merchants would miss earnings from traffic now forced through the downtown if the bypass option was selected. Jimmy Chagaris felt downtown would become more tourist-oriented in the future and sales would come from this new group of people. John Phillips said traffic congestion was already hurting downtown businesses and he favored plans that would improve traffic flow through New Bern.

Tyler Harris noted if the bridge replacement project received funding from the Federal Bridge Replacement Act, the two existing bridges would be removed. Bill Hartman said the bridge and road improvements were a necessary risk and offered the opportunity for developing park areas where the old bridges were, giving citizens and visitors additional access to the water.

During the same year, 2001 Craven County – Previewing the Future, a two-year strategic planning effort initiated by the Chamber of Commerce in 1987, determined a vital key to the future development of the county was the locations and timely construction of a new Neuse River Bridge and U.S. Highway Bypass. Those working on the 2001 Committee saw an opportunity for local citizens to have a significant impact on decisions concerning the two projects as important NCDOT hearings were scheduled and critical time would pass before such an opportunity arose again.

In 1989, at the Swiss Bear October Board meeting, Representative Gerald Anderson noted federal discretionary funds could be used for the bridge project and with the right people working on this bridge project, it could begin in three years with monies coming from the state and federal government.

Responding to the opportunity, the Craven County Transportation Committee, chaired by Troy Smith, was expanded to include Pamlico and Jones counties. Committee representatives included the Craven County Commissioner’s Chairmen and Vice Chairmen, Harold Talton, Roy Brison, Sr., Nolan Jones, Albert Toon; Mayors Tom Bayliss and George Griffin; County Managers, Harold Blizzard, Larry Meadows, Randy Beaman; City Manager, Bill Hartman and Havelock Clerk, Kathleen Townsend. Representatives Scott Thomas and William Wainwright, Sen. Beverly Perdue, NCDOT Division II Board, Bob Mattock; Joe Thomas, Lonnie Pridgen, Michael Avery, Dallas Blackiston, Don Baumgardner, Jim Davis, Billy Haire, Lauren Hillman. Division Engineer, Rick Shirley (replaced later by Neil Lassiter) and Susan Moffat Thomas, all representing and providing liaison with the governments of the smaller towns, chambers of commerce, civic groups and state legislators. A united front by all three counties was crucial to the effort.

Nancy Stallings, a former NCDOT Assistant Secretary, was hired as the Transportation Coordinator and operated out of the Swiss Bear office. Her challenge was to work with the Committee and NCDOT to build a bridge in an appropriate location and most challenging of all, bring everyone in the three counties together as it was politically important to have a strong unified show of support for a new bridge.

An immediate need was getting the Neuse River Replacement project listed in the N.C. Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP). Congress’ passage of the Surface Transportation Act changed the method of funding bridges. Prior to that, Committee plans were to obtain funds for the new bridge from federal discretionary funds and now funding would be provided through the state with a funding amount placed at $70 million.

The primary concern was NCDOT spent its highway funding on projects contained in the TIP, a plan that was updated every year with highway improvement projects planned for the next seven years. Projects not listed in the plan would not be considered. The Transportation Committee also recognized the project could ultimately cost a $100 million so federal financial assistance was needed as the plan was to lobby for a project that would exceed the standard bridge replacement concept of bridge replacement and reasonable approaches only. The desired project would be a part of a bypass of New Bern and would exceed the funding allowed by Federal Bridge Replacement criteria.

In February 1992, a resolution requesting that NCDOT include the Neuse River Bridge Replacement Project was signed by all members of the Craven, Pamlico, and Jones Transportation Committee. Thomas Harrelson, Secretary, NCDOT, State Reps. Gerald Anderson and William Wainwright, Sen. Beverly Perdue, Congressmen Martin Lancaster and Walter B. Jones, Senator’s Terry Sanford and Jesse Helms were inundated with letters and a resolution from all counties, cities and organizations involved.

As a follow up, Nancy Stallings traveled to Washington and met with Congressman Walter B. Jones and Senator Terry Sanford seeking ways federal dollars could be secured for this project.

To be continued in two weeks.

Susan Moffat Thomas is executive director of Swiss Bear Downtown Development Corp.

Ship-hauling machine completes series of city's 300th projects.

Final dedication ceremony featured many involved in winch's discover, restoration.

Michael and Andrea Harrison of Boston look at the interpretive board at the
 display of a 1960s-era ship-hauling machine at Lawson Creek Park Sunday.

The final project of the New Bern 300th celebration was officially dedicated and turned over to the city by Swiss Bear Downtown Development Corp. on Sunday.

A ceremony featuring many of the principal players in the discovery and restoration of a 1960s-era ship-hauling machine were on hand along with a crowd of about 100 people at the now-restored piece at Lawson Creek Park.

The massive winch, with one gear wheel weighing seven or eight tons, was purchased by Barbour Boat Works for work getting large steel hull vessels in and out of the water at its planned Neuse River Facility, on property now owned by Maola Milk.

The project did not come to pass, and the giant machine lay dormant amid weeds and other vegetation for decades until it was discovered in 2007 by 300th volunteers Tom McGraw, the late Dick Lore, Harry Goodman and Wade Tilley.

Susan Moffat-Thomas, Swiss Bear’s executive director, said she enthusiastically embraced the project.

“When I saw it, I knew it had to be acquired for public display,” she said Sunday. She credited Maola Milk with donating the huge winch, the city of New Bern for storing it for several years, then-New Bern resident Mary Ann Harrison with the major funding for the project, and the Williams Service Company for the restoration of the artifact.

“I have absolutely been passionate about this,” said Moffat-Thomas, who earlier pointed out that the city has no major public displays to reflect its rich boat-building and shipping history. “I knew I could never leave Swiss Bear until this project was completed.”

Moffat-Thomas is retiring at the end of the year.

“It is an absolutely magnificent piece of maritime machinery and a reminder of the outstanding historic role our city had as a port and major boat-building center,” she added. “Like all of our projects, it has taken the public and private sector to make them happen. That is what has made this community so very, very special.”

This installation joins a restored Blue Angels F-11 at the park, along with some other 300th projects such as the restoration of the New Bern City Hall clock, now at the North Carolina History Center; an expanded River Walk downtown, with several small parks added; a historic cemetery restoration; and a 29-foot Spider Lily sculpture at the New Bern Riverfront Convention Center.

Speakers for the event included McGraw, chairman of the project; New Bern Mayor Dana Outlaw; Harrison; New Bern Parks and Recreation Director Thurman Hardison; New Bern City Manager Mark Stephens; Eileen Tennor of MORTAR& Ink, Graphic Design for the Built World, and urban planner Cy Paumier.

Craven Brass Quintet provided music before and after the event, which featured a number of historic Barbour Boat Works boats.

Harrison provided nearly all the funding for the project, in honor of her late husband, Timothy.

He was a World War II veteran and according to his son, Michael, who came from Boston with his wife, Andrea, Timothy Harrison loved boats and was an active member of the Neuse River Foundation, along with his wife.

“As you have heard, a project like this doesn’t happen as the result of one person,” said Mary Ann Harrison. “(It takes) a lot of people, a lot of effort, a lot of dedication.”

She urged everyone to “contribute in some way in the community, to leave your community, your home better than what you found it. Volunteer. Donate a little bit, donate a lot if you can. Just be an active part of your community.”

Sun Journal, September 29, 2014

Wayfinding Sign System: enhancing the visitor's stay

The New Bern Board of Aldermen’s recent acceptance of the bid from Signs Etc. of Charlotte for fabrication of a wayfinding sign system brings to conclusion a project originally initiated in 1993.

In the Post World War II era, with the increase of auto and truck mobility, the widening of Broad Street and removal of parking on East Front to accommodate traffic on the state roads, the proliferation of signs with no uniformity leading to and through the downtown made it confusing and difficult for visitors to navigate and reach their downtown destination.

From the beginning, the downtown effort focused on restructuring downtown’s economic base by establishing a new market of recreation and tourism. By the late 1980’s, downtown New Bern was becoming a “destination” and tourism was now the County’s fourth largest industry.

In 1993, Design Guidelines for the streetscape improvements recommended in the1990 Urban Design Plan were designed by Allison Platt & Associates.  In conjunction with this project, at Swiss Bear’s request, the *Municipal Service District Advisory Committee (MSD) approved funding to hire Mortar&ink, a graphic design firm in Columbia, MD to develop a wayfinding sign system to include gateway entry monument signs, vehicular directional signs, trail blazer signs (one or two destinations with an arrow), pedestrian directional signs, identity signs for streets and places and street banners.

Funding to implement the system was key and every potential opportunity was explored including approaching NCDOT. On July 29, 1993, through the efforts of Bob Mattocks, NCDOT Division II Board of Transportation member, he, myself and Eileen Tennor of Mortar&ink, met with officials with the N.C. Department of Transportation, the Department of Cultural Resources, Division of Travel and Tourism and the Division of Parks and Recreation.

In our presentation we asked the state to consider adapting the concept of New Bern’s wayfinding sign system for state-wide application to promote the state tourism program by using New Bern as a model project.  Uniform state wayfinding sign systems, picking up where highway signs end on the interstate and state roads, would guide visitors from the periphery to featured tourist attractions/destinations throughout the state and communities. 

To our delight, they were interested and created a task force with representatives from each department to explore the state’s participation and/or development of this concept. In the end the project was deemed unfeasible, requiring changes to existing regulations that was cost prohibitive.

However, when the streetscape improvements were completed on Middle Street in mid-1990, the design for street banners (as part of the sign system) was embraced and the MSD Advisory Committee approved funding for production costs. The red and gold banners and pendants and bear logo, hanging from the banner arms on the new street lights have added festivity and color to the downtown streetscape for many years.

The completion of the new Neuse River Bridge in 1997 and removal of the old John Lawson Bridge in 2000 dramatically altered the dynamics of circulation and arrival downtown creating new gateways and traffic patterns. In addition, the new New Bern Riverfront Convention Center, construction of the new NC History Center and an increase in tourist and convention trade, were creating issues for visitors and citizens alike.

In 2007, thanks to, then, State Rep. Alice Underhill, the City’s 300 Celebration Committee was awarded a $50,000 grant from N.C. Department of Cultural Resources to be used for anniversary celebration projects. Since a major goal in preparation for the 300th Celebration was developing projects that would have lasting outcomes, the Committee used the grant to engage Allison Platt & Associates to prepare a master plan for the completion of the Riverwalk and hire Mortar&ink to develop a comprehensive visitor wayfinding sign system incorporating the bear motif on the city flag honoring New Bern’s relationship with Bern, Switzerland.

Steering Committee members, Susan Moffat-Thomas, project chair, Danny Meadows, Mike Avery, Annette Stone, Kay Williams, Tom McGraw, Linda Staunch, Sandy Chamberlain, Nelson McDaniel and Bill Naumann worked with Mortar&ink over the course of two years.  The scope of the plan was immense. In addition to approving the graphic designs for the system of signs, all visitor destinations (government, parks and trails, museums and historic sites, parking, attractions and public facilities) had to be identified.

Both the selection of sites for the signs and the nomenclature used to name them required careful consideration as visitors are directed from interstate roads from specific exits into the city along designated visitor corridors. In the end, a total of 132 signs were approved and an implementation plan completed. By 2009, the comprehensive package was ready for the city to bid out for fabrication and installation; however, the economy’s downturn put funding for the project on hold. Costs for fabrication and installation were estimated at $210,000. Installation by the city would reduce the cost to approximately $140,000.

In 2012, Bob Mattocks and I met with NCDOT Division II Board member, Hugh Overholt and Division II Engineer, Neil Lassiter requesting financial assistance to help fund this City project. With DOT’s commitment of $100,000, Swiss Bear submitted a grant request to the Craven County Tourism Development Authority and received a commitment of $35,000. 

In 2013, when the City initiated the Branding project, implementation of the sign system project was put on hold. With the City’s adoption of the new brand, the graphic designs (with the bear motif) were replaced with the new logo, although the implementation plan, defining locations for signage etc. remained in place.

Visitor wayfinding signage, a project envisioned 20 years ago will soon be installed. Through the signage, the Five Points area will become an adjunct to the downtown retail core. The cultural texture of the City will be enriched, visitor destinations will multiply, and expanding options will increase visitorship and pedestrian connections. 

*Defined 12 block area downtown in which property owners are assessed an additional $.13 per hundred ad valorum tax to fund downtown public improvements.  

Susan Moffat Thomas

Executive Director

Choice Neighborhood

The April 4, 2014 letter to the editor “All hands in the pot”, suggests Swiss Bear should back away from the Choice Neighborhood Planning Initiative recently received from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). To be successful, the $400,000 grant, designated for developing an action plan for the revitalization of the Greater Five Points area requires all hands/partners to be at the table, including Swiss Bear. Partnerships, achievable goals and objectives and long range plans…the formula that worked for the revitalization of downtown, is the same formula needed to affect positive change in the Greater Five Point area.

The challenges in the Greater Five Point area are great and require strong community partnerships. Building a thriving Greater Five Points area takes vision, opportunities, the community working together, and dogged perseverance. The Choice Neighborhood Initiative offers New Bern that opportunity, but only if we all work together to make it happen. What is inspiring is the fact New Bern is the smallest city of the nine chosen to participate in the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Choice Neighborhood Initiative, an indication that HUD is confident, we as a community have what it takes to be successful.

In the summer of 2013, Julian March, Executive Director of the New Bern Housing Authority asked Swiss Bear to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) as a Principal Team Member which was included in the application for the HUD Choice Neighborhood Planning Grant.  Other MOU Principal Team Members are: Craven County government, Neuse River Community Development Corporation, Craven Community College and the Greater Duffyfield Residents Council.

The MOU identifies the roles and responsibilities of each entity as it relates the ultimate HUD Choice Neighborhoods implementation grant for the Greater Five Points area. This grant and the corresponding transformation plan identify the target area of Craven Terrace and Trent Court Public Housing properties and their surrounding neighborhood.

We all agreed, it is in our mutual interest and benefit for the goals to be accomplished and that we will work cooperatively in developing and executing a comprehensive transformation plan.

HUD recognizes significant planning and resources are necessary to complete the required transformation plan for this project. 

The initial phase of work focuses on a community planning process to develop a shared vision and a Transformation Plan that must be submitted to HUD in October 2015.

The second phase is the actual implementation of the Transformation Plan and if our planning effort meets the criteria and New Bern is selected as a recipient, $20-30 million of federal money will be made available for this initiative and take place in a series of phases over a multi year process.

In the 1970’s, our city was at a critical juncture. The deterioration of downtown and its waterfront threatened New Bern’s economic growth and development. Then, like today, community leaders and government officials recognized steps had to be taken to revitalize the Greater Five Points area.

Throughout the past 30 years, the city worked to improve the Five Point area by investing in construction of the new fire house, police station and acquisition of the First Citizens Bank for public utilities service. M ore recently, in partnership with NCDOT, major streetscape improvements to the Broad Street corridor. They  established the Five Points Revitalization Committee under the Planning Department with representatives from Swiss Bear, Craven Community College, Chamber of Commerce, the Uptown Business & Professional Association.

Swiss Bear, in partnership with the city, sponsored numerous initiatives to promote the revitalization of the Five Points area including the 1990 and 2000 Urban Design Plans, a Million Dollar Loan Pool and supported the establishment of the Uptown Business and Professional Associations’ small learning and business center.  Grant applications to establish a small incubator business center and business recruitment efforts were unsuccessful.

The well intended projects/efforts only brought modest change. The underutilized sites on Broad compromised the corridors’ image. The vacant Days Hotel, evidence of disinvestment, stigmatized the neighborhood. Additionally, Craven Terrace and Trent Court, obsolete public housing, though well-maintained, concentrate poverty which effects investment, residential and commercial.

With the current administration’s commitment to implementing the City’s Gateway Renaissance Plan, the Choice Neighborhood Initiative coupled with multiple community partnerships is the opportunity of a lifetime for New Bern. Our city’s proven track record with downtown’s revitalization effort, an effort based on community partnerships, has made New Bern a national example. Downtown is, once again, an economic engine driving growth and development in New Bern and Craven County.

The Choice Neighborhoods Initiative is an exciting economic development tool that we as a community need to take advantage of. This is the time for active participation, a time to put down differences, listen  to each other, actively address the real issues and develop a plan that will make it possible.

Susan Moffat Thomas. Executive Director

Swiss Bear Downtown Development Corp.

New Bern Academy, new parking lot parts of city history

The New Bern Academy was the first
school chartered in North Carolina

The New Bern Academy, located at the corner
of Johnson and Hancock streets is the oldest
public school building in North Carolina

The completed parking lot is at the corner of New and
Hancock streets adjacent to the Firemen's Museum.

The New Bern Academy, located at the corner of Johnson and Hancock streets, is the oldest public school building in North Carolina and one of the oldest in the United States. The construction of the city parking lot at the corner of New and Hancock streets, facilitated by Swiss Bear, played a major role in the opening of the New Bern Academy Museum to the public in December 1991 as a part of the Tryon Palace complex.

In 1764 the North Carolina legislature authorized the town of New Bern to build the New Bern Academy as a “school and residence for the school master.” The original building, destroyed by fire in 1795 led to the construction of the 1810 brick building. The success of the school led to the construction of a second building, New Bern Graded School or “Bell Building in 1884.

By 1899 the New Bern Academy became a part of the city school system and both buildings served as schools until 1971 when the New Bern school board decommissioned the buildings and they were no longer used as schools. Because of its rich past and impressive structure, the New Bern Academy Historical Commission was created by the legislature in 1975. The Commission was charged with preserving the school’s history and the original building.

Vacant and in need of restoration, dedicated volunteers raised grant funds and contributions and the building was renovated in the 1980’s. Recognizing it as another opportunity to relate the history of New Bern and Craven County, the Tryon Palace Commission knew adequate visitor parking was vital to its success.

In February 1987, recognizing the proposed use of the building would add to the mix of attractions and enhance tourism and the downtown revitalization effort, Swiss Bear chairman Harold Talton developed a strategy, embraced by the City and County, to acquire the New Bern Garment Company property at the corner of New and Hancock Street, owned by John Carver, that was for sale. The property could serve as a large City public parking lot for visitors to the New Bern Academy, the Firemen’s Museum and downtown shoppers and employees.

The Swiss Bear board authorized Harold to look into the feasibility of and to offer to purchase property near Simmons Street and Trent Boulevard, if zoning on that parcel of land permitted the operation of a garment factory. This property would be traded for the property at New and Hancock Street.

It was a complicated process. Zoning of that property was required prior to the purchase and an option on one parcel was necessary to secure the site. With the support of the County Commissioners and Board of Aldermen, in April 1987, Swiss Bear signed an option on the old Armstrong Wholesale Grocery building to purchase and trade the property to John Carver to relocate and house the New Bern Garment Company.

Swiss Bear wrote and acquired $75,000 in grant commitments from the Kellenberger Historical Foundation and Craven County Tourism Development Authority which covered 50 percent of the total cost of the project.

By May 1987, options on both properties were signed and on June 23, the Board of Aldermen approved Swiss Bear’s request to rezone the Armstrong parcel for use as a garment factory.

In early February 1988, closings on the two properties took place. In addition to the $75,000 in grant monies, Swiss Bear borrowed $75,000 to complete the transaction. The City agreed to pay monthly interest fees on the loan until it was able to purchase the property. In January 1990, Swiss Bear transferred the deed to the City and Swiss Bear was reimbursed for the $75,000 loan. The City then applied and received grant funds from the Kellenberger Historical Foundation to demolish the garment factory building and develop the parking lot.

In December 1990, the New Bern Academy Museum opened as a part of the Tryon Palace complex.

The Kellenberger Historical Foundation was created in 1978 by philanthropist May Gordon Latham Kellenberger, who served as chairman of the Tryon Palace Commission for twenty-seven years and contributed her time and assistance to a number of public endeavors. The purpose of the Foundation was to aid in the preservation of significant structures in New Bern and Craven County, including the Tryon Palace complex.

The Foundation was/is a valuable asset to this community and Tryon Palace. It played a major role in providing funding for major projects that made the revitalization of the downtown historic district possible.

A piece of history on display

Historical shipbuilding winch placed at Lawson Creek Park.

Bryan Caton, left, assists Marty Williams in setting up a draw
winch for display at Lawson Creek Park Wednesday morning.
The display is expected to finished by Monday.

A bit of New Bern’s shipbuilding history will soon be on display at Lawson Creek Park.

A draw winch assembly of the type that the Barbour boat company used to haul boats into dry dock for repair is being placed on a concrete pedestal by the side of the first boat launch in the city park.

Williams Service Company — the same company that mounted the Blue Angels jet near the park entrance in 2012 — began installation of the display Thursday morning. Marty Williams, who is supervising the construction, said he expects the work to be completed by Monday.

Swiss Bear Downtown Development Corporation Director Susan Moffat-Thomas, who has overseen the overall project, said that a ceremony will be held in a few months, once a storyboard telling the winch’s story is completed.

The winch, which is about 8 feet in circumference and weighs in at three or four tons, had originally been purchased by the Barbour boat works, second hand, from another company, according to Robert Chiles of Robert M. Chiles Engineers and Consultants. Chiles, who in the 1960s, was also employed by Barbour.

The winch was part of a system used to pull boats into dry dock for repairs. He estimated that this winch could have pulled boats as large as 300 tons. The winch was built by the Crandall dry dock company, which built dry docks around the world, especially during World War II. While “Crandall started building these things all the way back in the year ‘one,” Chiles said, he estimated this particular winch was probably built around the 1930s.

While Barbour already had winches at its main location (where the N.C. History Center now stands), this winch was purchased with the plan to use it along the Neuse River at a second yard that is currently Maola Milk property.

The planned dry dock could not be built, however, because the channel was too close to shore, so the wheel remained lying on the property until it became overgrown with weeds and forgotten.

Moffat-Thomas said she first became aware of the gear when she was chairing New Bern’s 300 Committee in 2010.

“Tom McGraw, Harry Goodman and Dick Lore had found the artifact while they were out walking and wondered if I thought it would fit in with the theme,” she said. “I went out and looked at the machine and was very excited about it.”

Moffat-Thomas approached the Maola Company, which donated the winch to Swiss Bear.

“The city disassembled it and stored it behind some buildings at Glenburnie Park,” she said, while funds were sought to restore and display it.

For some time, the winch set idle, as the economy “tanked,” she said. But, “I never gave up on wanting that artifact restored because it is the only remnant or historic artifact that relates back to New Bern’s boat building industry.”

Barbour, founded by Herbert W. Barbour in 1933, built a wide variety of ships, including minesweepers and rescue ships during World War II and other military ships during the Vietnam era. It also constructed fishing vessels, barges, ferry boats and harbor tugs before it closed its doors in 2001.

Swiss Bear finally received $21,000 from Mary Ann Harrison. The money was used to sandblast and prepare the machine, as well as to cover the cost of a storyboard.

Moffat-Thomas obtained permission from the New Bern Board of Aldermen to have the winch set up in Lawson Creek Park and said ownership will be taken over by the city once it is complete.

“This has been on Swiss Bear’s radar for a long time,” she said. “I’m thrilled to death that this is coming to completion.”

Sun Journal article - January 11, 2014

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.