Welcome to Riverside

Historic Riverside was New Bern’s first suburb. In the early 1890’s, “neighborhoods” were a brand new concept in these parts! New Bern was booming and congested during this time due to its rapid growth as a leading lumber and shipping center. William Dunn began marking off plots of land he owned along the Neuse River and selling them to New Bern’s professionals and prospering middle class, who were looking for cooler breezes and space to breathe.

In 1987, Riverside was recognized in the National Register of Historic Places and became a locally designated historic district. Of the 213 dwellings contained in the historic district, 178 are contributing structures – an unusually high percentage for a historic district.

A Short History of Riverside

Before there was Riverside, the area was mostly farmland and pastures. One of the most notable features in the area were the remnants of the Union army’s Fort Stevenson and Fort Dutton, both located just north of the current Maola Dairy plant. If you are digging in your yard, you may find mini balls and buttons from the federal troops that camped and drilled in the area.

In the early 1890’s, William Dunn began marking off and selling plots along the Neuse River. The first plot he sold was located on National Avenue, one of the first paved roads in the area. William R Guion bought for $600 in Jun of 1894. Several other homes quickly sprang up along National Avenue. A second stage of development began in 1912 between Avenue B and North Avenue. In 1913, Mr. Dunn built his own house in the neighborhood, the impressive prairie-style house at 1404 National Avenue.

A number of industries were located along the river including a tobacco factory, boat works, a canning factory, New Bern Ice Company, and lumber mills, the biggest being J.L. Roper (later Rowland) Lumber Company. A large railroad depot was also located south of Riverside. These businesses employed many of the people who lived in Riverside.

The disastrous New Bern fire of 1922 left Riverside unscathed except for burning many of the Roper Lumber company buildings. The surviving brick buildings are now part of the Maola Dairy complex. By the mid-1920’s Riverside was well established, having its own school, churches, and stores. Mamie Sadler’s General Store and Grocery was known as “the big store” in the area, serving customers from miles around. The two story building still stands at the corner of Avenue A and N. Craven Street.

By the mid-1930’s, Riverside was completely developed with a large variety of modest but handsome homes ranging in architectural styles from Classic Revival, Late Queen Anne, Craftsman, and Colonial Revival. The Great Depression took its toll on Riverside when many of it industries were forced to close. The 40’s and 50’s were a bit brighter. During and after World War II, many of the houses were rented to members of the military and their families.

The 1960’s were the low point of Riverside. Modern housing developments became popular and historic preservation in New Bern had not yet gained a footing. The 1980’s saw the beginning of Riverside’s transformation. Some dedicated homeowners began the drive to revive the area and preserve the number of fine homes. In 1987, Riverside was designated as a local historic district in the National Register of Historic Places.

The revival of Riverside is in full swing today. Houses used for years as rental properties are being purchased, converted back to single family homes, and brought back to life by dedicated homeowners interested in preserving a piece of history. Redevelopment of the former industrial area along the river is about to start. It will transform the whole area and make Riverside one of the most desirable historic neighborhoods in North Carolina.

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