You Know New Bern. But Do You Know These 6 Stories?

From rival fire departments to a political duel, these six pieces of New Bern history reveal stories hiding in plain sight.

New Bern has a way of making history part of everyday life. You can walk past a familiar building, drive down a street, or visit a local landmark without realizing the story behind it.

We put together six stories that show just how much history is tucked into the place we call home. Some are tied to recognizable landmarks. Others are easy to miss unless you know what you’re looking for.

Whether you’ve lived here your whole life or you’re still getting to know Eastern North Carolina, these stories offer a few new ways to look at New Bern.

1. New Bern’s Rival Fire Departments Had a Long-Running Feud

When you think about firefighters, you probably think about teamwork. But for generations, New Bern’s volunteer fire companies were known for their fierce rivalry with one another.

The story began during the Civil War. The Atlantic Hook and Ladder Company, established in 1845, became inactive when many of its members left to serve in the Confederate Army. In 1865, Union soldiers established a competing company known as the New Bern Steam Fire Engine Company No. 1, later nicknamed the Button Company.

When the original firefighters returned, the two companies found themselves competing for more than bragging rights.

They raced to fires, competed in firefighting contests, and worked to outperform one another with their equipment and response times. Residents sometimes gathered at fires to see which company would arrive first.

Then came the Great Fire of December 1, 1922.

Both companies responded to the devastating fire, but Atlantic Chief James Bryan decided to send the Button Company back to its station, following the practice of keeping one company available in case another fire broke out.

Imagine that tension during a disaster of that scale.

The rivalry continued for years afterward. In 1928, the city brought the two companies together in a central fire station on Broad Street. Even then, they maintained separate traditions and meetings.

Today, the rivalry is part of New Bern’s fire service history, preserved at the New Bern Firemen’s Museum.

It’s a reminder that even the people working toward the same goal can have a little competitive spirit.

2. New Bern Has a Historic Theatre Dating Back to 1805

At 516 Hancock Street stands St. John’s Masonic Lodge and Theatre, a building with a remarkable place in New Bern’s history.

The theatre first opened in 1805. It became a gathering place for plays, concerts, benefit performances, and other community events. The building also served very different purposes during the Civil War, when it was used as a Confederate arsenal and later as a hospital for Union soldiers.

In 1917, the theatre became a movie house. After its movie-going days ended in 1974, it eventually returned to live performances.

Today, RiverTowne Players calls the historic theatre home.

The building is also connected to St. John’s Lodge No. 3, which was chartered in 1772 and remains an active Masonic lodge.

It’s easy to walk past a building like this without thinking about how many generations of people have gathered inside. But this one has seen more than two centuries of New Bern life.

3. A Political Rivalry Ended in a Duel Behind the Masonic Hall

On September 5, 1802, two prominent North Carolina politicians met in New Bern to settle a dispute with pistols.

John Stanly and Richard Dobbs Spaight had been political rivals for years. Their disagreements spilled into public arguments, newspaper exchanges, and printed handbills.

Eventually, the insults escalated into a duel behind the Masonic Hall.

The men fired several rounds. On the fourth exchange, Stanly shot Spaight in the side. Spaight, a former governor of North Carolina, died the following day.

The confrontation became one of the most notorious political duels in North Carolina history. The public reaction was strong enough that the state legislature passed new restrictions against dueling.

Today, a historical marker on Johnson Street identifies the location associated with the duel.

It’s a striking piece of local history—and a reminder that some of the streets we travel every day were once the setting for events that shaped the state.

4. Bayard Wootten’s New Bern Home Has a Story of Its Own

Bayard Wootten was a pioneering photographer whose work documented people, places, and everyday life across North Carolina and the South.

Born in New Bern in 1875, Wootten lived for much of her life in the family home on East Front Street. She began her photography career around 1904 and went on to become known for her creative approach to the medium.

She also advocated for women’s equality at a time when women faced significant barriers in professional life.

Today, a North Carolina historical marker on East Front Street recognizes Wootten and the home where she was born and began her career.

Her story is a reminder that local history isn’t only about politicians, battles, and famous buildings. It’s also about the people who lived here, pursued their work, and left a lasting mark on their fields.

Next time you’re walking along East Front Street, look for the marker. You might find yourself seeing the neighborhood a little differently.

5. North Carolina’s First Printing Press Was Established in New Bern

Long before news traveled online, printing presses helped communities share information, publish laws, and spread ideas.

In 1749, printer James Davis established North Carolina’s first official printing press in New Bern. His first official publication for the colony was the Journal of the House of Burgesses of the Province of North Carolina.

Davis later published the North-Carolina Gazette, the colony’s first newspaper, beginning in 1751.

That was a major development for a young colony. Printed material made it possible to distribute official information and news much more widely than before.

A historical marker on Broad Street near Middle Street commemorates the location associated with North Carolina’s first printing press.

It’s a small marker for a milestone that helped change how people across the colony received information.

6. Josephine Bradham’s Grave Is Another Piece of Local History Worth Finding

Cemeteries can tell us a lot about a community. They preserve names, family connections, and stories that might otherwise be forgotten.

New Bern’s Cedar Grove Cemetery is one of the city’s oldest burial grounds, with connections to generations of local families and prominent historical figures.

Among the stories connected to New Bern is Josephine Bradham, whose grave was featured in our original local-history carousel.

It’s the kind of discovery that makes exploring a historic town interesting: a name on a headstone can lead you down a path into the lives and connections of people who helped shape the community.

If you visit Cedar Grove, take time to look beyond the most familiar names. The cemetery holds many stories, and some are waiting to be rediscovered.

There’s More to New Bern Than Meets the Eye

These six stories are only a small part of New Bern’s history. From rivalries that lasted generations to landmarks that have served the community for more than 200 years, our town has plenty of stories worth sharing.

That’s one of the things we love about Eastern North Carolina. The longer you live here, the more you discover about the places you pass every day.

Whether you’re a longtime local, a newcomer, or someone thinking about making this area home, getting to know a community means looking beyond the houses and streets. It means learning about the people and events that helped make it what it is today.

This is home for us. And there are plenty more stories worth telling.

Have a favorite piece of New Bern history, or know a local story we should explore next? We’d love to hear about it.

— TIU Real Estate | This Is Us