One day, while browsing the bookshelves of a second-hand bookstore, I found this pamphlet from the dedication of the New Bern Firemen’s Museum. It appears to have been written just about that time (1957) and while small, has some interesting history about the museum.
There are several components to the pamphlet:
- An article discussing when the railroads came to New Bern
- brief info about the history of New Bern
- a tidbit about the almost name it got of “Bernberg”
- a history of the fire department written by Jack Honrine
- pictures of some of the old fire engines
- a history of New Bern’s worst fire (to that date).
- a history of the Battle of New Bern
- a description of the dedication services
This fire described in the pamphlet started in the home of Henry Bryan, an African-American resident who lived on Kilmarnock street and would destroy 1,000 homes & businesses in the city. There was one death from the fire, an 105 year old African-American woman who lived on Cedar street.
I didn’t scan the pamphlet in color, but here is the front image in color
You can access the pamphlet from the Misc Records page where you will be also able to download it if desired.