Tryon'* Polocc 01 viiuolixed by on orfill. The rcconitfuclcd building ii one ol Ihe otfroeliom ol New Bern'» cclcbrolion.
New Bern Plans Birthday Party
250lli anniversary program includes
drama, pageantry, lours, spectator
events.
By OLD TItLDGE
Do you and your family like
drama, music, historic sites, pagean¬
try and spectacular sporting events —
all served up in a leisurely Eastern
North Carolina setting?
Then New Bern and Craven County
should be on your schedule any time
during the period of June 11-25. The
occasion: the 250th anniversary of the
founding of North Carolina’s second
oldest city.
The New Bernians, with Swiss-like
thoroughness, have been hard at work
for many months in planning a sched¬
ule of events which will use drama,
music, historic parades, and special
events to reflect the fascinating flow
of history through this beautiful city
located at the confluence of the Trent
and Ncuse rivers.
To tell the hardships endured by
the Swiss and Palatine colonists who
founded New Bern, the 250th Anni¬
versary Committee commissioned Ker-
mit Hunter, author of Horn in the
West. Unto These Hills and other
works, to write a special historic
drama for the celebration. This new
drama. The Third Frontier, will be
presented each evening beginning
June 1 1 and continuing through
June 25 in New Bern’s newly air-
conditioned high school auditorium.
The ticket scale will be SI. 50. S2.00
and S2.50. There will be special mati¬
nees each Saturday. June 11 and 18.
for children at reduced rates. Admis¬
sion to all other events during the cele¬
bration will be free.
The drama describes the struggle of
the founders to begin a new life in
the wilderness, and relates their politi¬
cal struggles, including the building
and burning of Tryon Palace. This
magnificent structure has been com¬
pletely restored, of course, and is now
a major historical attraction and show-
place for thousands of visitors.
The opening day of the celebration.
Saturday, June II, will begin with a
parade of professionally-constructed
historic floats depicting the life and
times of early New Bern and Craven
County. Governor Hodges will head
the list of distinguished guests for this
"North Carolina Day." Dr. Eduard
Freimuller, president of the City of
Bern. Switzerland, and his wife will
also attend the opening of the cele¬
bration.
On Sunday morning. June 12. spe¬
cial services will be held in local
churches. That afternoon, the broad
Trent River will be converted into a
high-speed race track for hydroplane¬
racing boats capable of skimming over
the water at speeds up to 100-miles
per hour. The races are sanctioned by
the American Powerboat Association,
and spectators will find front-row scats
at the Trent Pines Club.
June 15 will be observed as "Craven
County Youth and Education Day"
and all Craven high schools have been
invited to participate in competitive
sports events at the New Bern High
School stadium. Folk dancers in cos¬
tume will open the stadium event.
Congressman Graham A. Barden,
who is retiring from Congress after
many years’ service, and Mrs. Barden
will be honored guests on June 18,
"United States Day." There will be a
huge military parade which will in¬
clude all branches of the armed forces.
There will also be a fly-over by jet
fighters.
On June 19 there will again be
special church services. In the after¬
noon, there will be a water and ski
show on the Trent River featuring out¬
standing skiers. Eliminations for a
( Continued on page 35)
THE STATE. May 28. 1960
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