New Bern Ghostwalk 2018

New Bern's Ghostwalk is still on schedule despite the hurricane.  I'm rather surprised by it considering the amount of damage that was done to the area.  But I was assured that wasn't going to stop them.  

Here is a boat leaning up against the Marriot:

Source:

https://newbernhistorical.org/ghostwalk/

https://abc11.com/florence-pushes-boat-2-miles-to-courtyard-by-marriott-in-new-bern/4301334/

New Bern Ghost Walk 2017

I enjoy this event.  It takes two nights to get through the whole thing. I find it refreshing when a town embraces and celebrates its history, unlike Charlotte.


Source: New Bern Historical Society

Filthy Cities, Thank God for Modernity

A couple of months ago, I came across a 1771 map depicting the city of New Bern in a book entitled, Poorest of the Thirteen: North Carolina and the Southern Department in the American Revolution.  What I found fascinating is the area where the Marriott Courtyard on Front Street currently resides is where a distillery operated downstream from a tannery.  I couldn’t help but think of how unsanitary that was.  To me that is unbelieveable.

Later on, I watched a documentary called Filthy Cities which demonstrated just how disgusting 14th century London, 18th century Paris and 19th century New York City really were.  The narrator describes the stench from human and animal waste that collected on the streets and how the residence tried to cope with it.  Some of it was humorous; other parts were quite disgusting.  And as you can guess one of the major culprits were tanneries.

The next time I hear a libtard bitch about Western civilization, modernity and its corrosive effect on the climate, I’ll pull a Clockwork Orange on his ass and force him to watch Filthy Cities, then maybe he’ll thank his lucky stars he lives in the age of the automobile instead of slogging through three feet of horse shit.

Source:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1962642/

New Bern Ghost Walk 2016

New Bern Ghost Walk 2016

Source:
New Bern Historical Society

The Ghost Ship of New Bern

By T.L. Coston

Calm – eerily calm was the Neuse on that September night

Barely a wave rippled the first, full moon’s light

Alone, I stood watching and waiting for what?  I didn’t know

Listening - anticipating on New Bern's shore

Minutes seemed like hours, and yet I tarried; 
Anchored was I, waiting and waiting

Till the nights dew wetted my feet and cold began to bite

Finally, a whispered scent stilled my shivers, and bumps turned into fright

A distant flicker grew with each wave slapping – slapping New Bern’s shore. 

Closer it came, this flaming shadow, odorous of burnt wood and flesh.

Silently, the pulsating orb approached, casting a hellish hue

 It was then, the full moon revealed the ghost ship of yore

On deck, shadows of Palatine emigrants writhed in flames

Yet, neither ship nor soul was consumed

Nor a crackle of fire or piteous plea were heard as they sailed by

Wave upon wave slapping – slapping New Bern’s shore.

New Bern's Ghostwalk 2013

This past weekend I traveled to New Bern, North Carolina in order to attend their Ghostwalk.  If you want to visit a town that celebrates its history, this is the place for you.  I ask, how better to honor your past than on Halloween?  This year’s theme is “The Haunted Housewives of New Bern.”

This event is a community project, presented by their historical society, and sponsored by various businesses and citizens.  Even places of worship participated in the walk.  Singing monks served spaghetti at Centenary Methodist Church.  It kind of reminded me of an adult version of trick or treat.  The streets were packed with young and old alike to hear tales from the “dead” and gawk at time tested homes.   It took me two nights to finish the walk.     

New Bern was established in 1710 and is the second oldest town in the Old North State.  That means they have over 300 years of “talent” they can draw from.  I wonder what next year’s theme is going to be.

Source:

http://newbernhistorical.org/ghostwalk/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Bern,_North_Carolina

Celebrating Independence Day at New Bern, NC

I drove to New Bern, NC to celebrate the Fourth of July.  They had a drum and fife corps along with the reading of the Declaration of Independence on the steps of Tryon Palace.   

 

The man reading is portraying John Penn.  He was a signer of the Declaration.  The woman is his wife.  And the gentleman standing nearby is supposed to be the last loyalist governor of North Carolina:  Josiah Martin.

 

I seriously doubt Governor Martin would have been present for the reading.  If anything, he would’ve had John Penn arrested.    

  

Below is a loyalist heckling John Penn.   

 

 

They even had period music.

 

 

 

If you're a history buff, you'll enjoy New Bern.

 

Source:  http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/signers/penn.htm

http://www.newbern-nc.org/



Voting Shenanigans in New Bern, North Carolina

It looks like we are getting the usual funny business at polling places.  A New Bern, North Carolina man pushed a straight Republican ticket and instead got Democratic.  This according to the Sun Journal:                                                                                                                                                                                       

A Craven County voter says he had a near miss at the polls on Thursday when an electronic voting machine completed his straight-party ticket for the opposite of what he intended. 

Sam Laughinghouse of New Bern said he pushed the button to vote Republican in all races, but the voting machine screen displayed a ballot with all Democrats checked. He cleared the screen and tried again with the same result, he said. Then he asked for and received help from election staff.


“They pushed it twice and the same thing happened,” Laughinghouse said. “That was four times in a row. The fifth time they pushed it and the Republicans came up and I voted.”

Not only are we getting some funny shenanigans here in North Carolina, voters in Nevada are finding out that someone has chosen Harry Reid for them before they even begin to push the lever.  Isn't that thoughtful?

You've got to love those jackasses and their little pranks.  They know how to make every election cycle a barrel of laughs.

Source: http://www.fox5vegas.com/news/25511115/detail.html
http://www.newbernsj.com/articles/machine-91656-screen-voter.html