Great Fire of 1922 Tour
On December 1, 1922, two fires that began proximate in time, spread across more than forty blocks of New Bern, creating a path of destruction that left thousands homeless and changed the life of the city for the century to come. One fire began at a lumber yard, the other in a chimney, and, fanned by high winds, the tragic events developed. With many of the city’s firefighters in Raleigh for a state championship football game, despite the efforts of many, the resulting hardships were felt by all, but, most especially, the people who lived directly in the fire’s path.