Craven County, NC - Railroad Comes to Town, 1858

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         Completion of the Atlantic & North Carolina R.R. 
         from Goldsboro to Newbern, N.C., April 29, 1858

A meeting of the citizens was held and a committee appointed to make
arrangements for a celebration. This committee was divided into several
committees; Col. John D. Whitford was made chairman to arrange for a
ball, Mr. Charles C. Clark was on the committee to invite a speaker,
William H. Oliver was made chairman of the committee on entertainment.

The almost herculean task of providing for the entertainment of the
vast crowd of people who were expected to be here was assigned to me.
I at once went to work. The first thing was to order from New York
a sufficient quantity of white granite plates and dishes, glassware,
knives and forks and spoons sufficient to set off the immense tables
which were to be erected. Next to make arrangements for provisions. 

I soon secured about two thousand pounds of fresh meats and about one
thousand bushels of oysters, which constituted the substantials. The
celebration was to be on Thursday; the fresh meats were to be delivered
on Tuesday. On the day they were delivered the weather turned extremely
warm, and we were afraid the meats and oysters would be spoiled. With
fear and anxiety we went to bed on Tuesday night, as the weather still
continued very warm. Imagine the relief the next morning to find a sudden 
change in the weather, and quite a heavy snow had fallen, and everything 
was safe. 

Almost every household was soon ready to commence the cooking and all
went at it willingly. Mr. Sebastian Bangert had baked a vast number of
loaves of bread, which with a number of barrels of crackers was used.

A number were engaged in making and baking a vast number of peach and 
apple pies. Knowing that our western friends could not raise as fine 
sweet potatoes as the east, I bought a boat load of fine yam potatoes
and they were put in Mr. Bangert's bake oven on Wednesday night and
baked to perfection; they were spread on the tables and greatly enjoyed
by many who had never before eaten the yam potatoes.

Seven long tables had been erected, they were covered with nice white
cloth and on them were placed the crockery and glass ware. Probably 
there never before or since in North Carolina were more imposing tables
set for a public entertainment.

On Thursday morning all was hustle, everyone busy, and a host of persons
were bringing in the provisions which had been cooked by almost every
household in Newbern. 

The town was soon full of people, it being estimated at eight thousand
as visitors. Rev. Dr. Francis L. Hawks and Henry W. Miller, Esq., addressed
the assembly in the Academy Green. A procession was then formed marched to
the Round House at the railroad depot and everyone invited to partake of
the dinner. Rev. Dr. Francis L. Hawks, a native born citizen of then 
Newbern, presided.

From the number of expressions which were so frequently heard everyone
was satisfied. Not only the edibles, but a quantity of genuine champaign
and scuppernong wine was furnished.

There were six or seven military companies present. Train cars from almost
every section of the state came in loaded to their full capacity with
visitors. These trains remained until after the close; they were stretched
in Hancock street extending from Trent river to the rainroad depot.

I was frequently asked what was to be done with the great quantity of 
cutlery and glass ware. I had already planned to have it disposed of at
auction. Mr. John C. Coart, who was an auctioneer, sold it at public sale,
and it realized a sufficient amount to pay the cost of it.

It was certainly an entertaining and enjoyable occasion. 

I use the name Newbern as that was right up to 1897, at which time by an
act of the Legislature, it was changed to New Bern.

                                             William H. Oliver

Source:
Judge Owen Haywood Guion Collection
NC Archives
PC 78
Newspaper clipping

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This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by
Guy Potts - gpotts1@nc.rr.com
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