Jonuory
ВО.
1 937
THE STATE
Peg*? Three
Tryon Palace, at New Bern, as it originally appeared. At the present lime the wing at the right is the only part of the
structure which remains standing.
Tryon Palace
Tit VOX PALACE, at New Hern.
North Carolina, was considered
in it- «lav to be the most mag¬
nificent building in the Western Ilcnii-
sphere. Only one wing of the "true
tore is now standing and the people
of New Bern are determined to intcreat
the cilizcmbip of North Carolina in
the complete restoration of this wing.
Not only that, but they wish to re-tore
the entire palace in miniature and pre
sent it to the state.
The history of North Carolina's only
royal palace commands the interest of
Americans generally because it was the
seat of government and legislation in
the Carolina colony. It is said : “Here
was kindled the spark which inflamed
the citizen* against taxation, thereby
leading to the War of the Regulator-
and ultimately to the War of the Rev-
olution."
To those of us boro in North Caro
lino, there is an added interest, n.« our
first governor under the constitution
was inaugurated within its walls. The
structure it estimated to have cost in
•xcesi of *$0.000.
Appointment of Tryon
Lord William Tryon, member of a
distinguished English family, was ap
pointed lieutenant governor of North
Carolina in 1764 br King George III.
of England. In 1765 he was commit-
RICH in its historical
associations, the palaee
at one time whs regarded
as the most magnificent
structure in the Western
Hemisphere.
sioned as the fourth of the royal gov¬
ernors. Tryon, after much consider¬
ation. determined to move the capital
from Brunswick, near the Cape Fear
River, to New Beni, which he claimed
was more centrally located. There was
no government house in New- Bern, so
plans were immediately begun — sup¬
posedly at the suggestion of the king
— to build such a structure. It is cer¬
tain that the people of the province
were not in favor of such a palatial resi¬
dence, and when they began to learn
of the taxes they would have to pas-
in order to finance construction of the
palace, there was open muttering of
protest.
The contract was let in 1767. Bricks
and material were imported from Eng¬
land. By bard work and constant in
trigue, the governor succeeded in get
ting each succeeding assembly to mak<-
appropriations.
The magnificent structure was built
entirely of brick and marble and was
situated in the middle of a six-acre
square on the north bank of the Trent
River, to which underground passages
led- There was a large central build¬
ing. flanked on either aide by two
•mailer one*. These were connected
by curved ami covered colonnades of
five columns each, forming the two
wings with the palace proper.
Three Divisions
The main, or central building, was
used as the executive’* private man¬
sion. an assembly hall, public offices
and a council chinnier. Later as the
state eapitol. The small building on
•he right was the secretary's office and
laundry, while the one on the left
served a* a kitchen and servants’ quar¬
ters. The roof, surrounded by para¬
llel walls, with a balustrade, was used
as a promenade, roof garden and
aquarium. From the rear,
я
terrace
sloped to the river. In front of the
palaco was a handsome court, with
mounted cannon which were supposed
to have been brought from England by
Governor Arthur IJobbs as a gift from
the king to the colonies in 1751.
The palaee was the central point of
royal display. Lord and Lady Tryon.
while entertaining their guests, re¬
ceived them seated in “elbow chairs.”
I Continu'd on peye tfctnly)
