Layers of time traced to brick improvements

Seeing the brick road under layers of asphalt on one of New Bern’s oldest and most traveled thoroughfares prompted one local preservationist to look harder at the city’s history in the early 1900’s and record his findings in his second self-published book.

Terry Startsman’s book – A Broad Brick Street, Uncovering New Bern’s Past – was written and the photographs and historical documents assembled after his fascination was sparked by the discovery of bricks found under Broad Street in the summer of 2008.

The bricks appeared as asphalt was rolled back during city work on Broad Street improvements as part of its 2000 urban design plan.

They helped turn back the wheels of time in Startsman’s mind to other turn-of-the-century streets and highways that once helped distinguish New Bern and North Carolina for having among the best roads in the country.

Startsman shared his findings on Sunday with members of Preservation Legal Action Trust and others at Tryon Palace Visitors Center auditorium.

The need for road improvements to early plank roads became apparent to New Bern leaders in the early 1900’s, he said, but mixing and rolling sand and clay did not prove a suitable solution.

He said that in 1902, then-Gov. Charles B. Aycock said roads in Eastern North Carolina were the only thing in the state he was ashamed of.

It appeared to be a sentiment shared locally during the time just after local carriage maker Gilbert S. Waters unsuccessfully attempted to produce a motor carriage here and local leaders began road improvements with crushed oyster shells, Startsman said.

By 1909, New Bern residents passed a bond referendum for new road money by a vote of 316 to 25 and members of the New Bern Board of Aldermen awarded a $52,850 contract to McDonald and McClay of Chicago to pave Broad Street with brick. Subsequently, many of New Bern’s downtown streets were bricked from Hancock to East Front Street.

The bricks used weigh between eight and nine pounds each and have raised portions on one side to allow space for sand or mortar to be poured between. Many of those used on Broad Street and dug up in the project have been saved for use in other city projects.

Several of those attending mentioned other brick roads in the county, including near River Bend, Askins, and one partly restored that connected New Bern and Vanceboro in 1910.

Startsman said his work was inspired by a story about the bricks being unearthed written by Nikie Mayo and published in the Sun Journal.

His book was published at lulu.com and he bought only a couple of dozen copies for the Preservation Trust group, he said. It may be available during the city’s 300th celebration.

Sue Book can be reached at 252-635-5666 or sbook@freedomenc.com.