New Bern City Hall (New Bern 300) Traditional Cache
New Bern City Hall (New Bern 300)
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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In 2010, the city of New Bern, the colonial capital of North Carolina, celebrated the 300th anniversary of its founding in 1710. This geocache is one of a series that highlight the 300-year history of New Bern. We promise a fun time for all who chose to seek out these caches, learn some of the history of our fair city, and discover why it is an interesting and pleasant city to visit or even to call home. BRING A CAMERA -- GREAT PHOTO OP, AS YOU WILL SEE. (Check the Gallery!)
At the posted coordinates, you are standing next to "the city's finest and most elaborate Victorian public building, ... the principal landmark of the city's architecturally conservative commercial district" [see The Historic Architecture of New Bern and Craven County, North Carolina, by Peter B. Sandbeck, published by the Tryon Palace Commission, New Bern, NC, 1988, pp. 185-187]. This building was built in 1895-97 by the U.S. Treasury Department to serve as the U.S. Post Office, Court House and Custom House. It lacked the beautiful clock tower and its Seth Thomas clock, which were added in 1911 at the behest of the local citizenry. The original New Bern City Hall, still visibly labelled as such, is half a block south at 220-226 Craven Street. The building at that location, known as the "Stevens' Brick Block," was built about 1817 and remodeled about 1905. Upon completion of the new federal building on Middle Street in 1935, the City Hall was moved to its present location, which the city has used as its municipal building ever since. In 2022-23, an annex with elevator was added to the original building to improve accessibility. CAUTION: Observe parking restrictions. It is best to visit this cache outside of working hours (9-5 M-F).
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
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