The NEW BERN
PUBLISHED WEEKLY
IN THE HEART OP
EASTERN NORTH
CAROLINA
5«5-6o
VOLUME 15
NEW BERN, N. C. 28560, FRIDAY, APRIL 21, 1972
NUMBER o
ay was when that
grand old Southern gentleman,
W. G. Boyd, passed away at hte
home here.
Because he resided across the
street fk*om us, we saw him
often and marveled at his spry
gait, his keen mind, and his zest
for staying abreast of the times.
During his 95 years on earth he
was an eye vdtness to a great
many thi^ that we know only
from history books, or. from
legends handed down by
r^tives long since gone.
As a newspaperman, we were
acutely aware of Boyd’s ability
to recognize and remembes*
what is known in our trade as
“human interest” stories. He
had a keen sense of humor, and
surveyed the bittersweet
panorama of human existence
with gentleness, tolerance and
compassion.
Unlike some who are elderly,
he didn’t waste his remaining
years on denouncing the young
upstarts of a new era who had
replaced his kind. The good old
days were dear to him, but he
never lost sight of the fact that,
old or new, every day can be a
good day if you help to make it
so.
Long before we moved to our
present location, the home that
Boyd lived in had strong ap
pear 1 for us. There were
prettier dwellings in New Bern,
but this picturesque house, with
its inviting flower garden,
seemed to say to all who passed
by that here was a spot where
lives had been well Uved, and
serenity of spirit was no
stranger.
Boyd was blessed with such
serenity. Our most vivid
recollections of him aren’t hard
to sin^e out. We always got
alife from the Jaunty way he
walked hmne on the Sabbath,,
after attending the morning
service at Christ Episcopal
church. With head held high,
and a smile on hjs face, you
could tell that here was a man
who loved his Lord and found
the wwld delightful, despite its
trials and tribulations.
He possessed the rare quality
of dignity without aloofness.
William G. Boyd was easy to
know and easy to respect. A
child could approach him
without apprehension, and
adtdts were quickly attracted
by his unmistakable friend
liness.
Because we too love nature,
we were impressed by his
fondness for flowers. He took
great ideasore in showing vou
about his old fashioned garden,
where blooms were permitted
to grow with the unrestricted
lib^ that God intended when
he placed them on the face of
the earth.
Frankly, we’ve never cared
overly for cats, but the Boyd
cats—perhaps through
association with this fine
gentleman-seemed to be more
congenial and more attractive
than most f^es. Their easy
going manner fitted the
household perfectly.
Even at 95, Boyd didn’t want
others to do things for him. He
preferred to prepare his own
breakfast, for example. Ob
viously, in view of his lMigevity,
(Continued on page 8;
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JJftti ?BTni-Cratipn (IlomUg Public
AS rr USED TO BE—Unless you're a New Bemiaii
60 or older, you probably don't recall Mr. Charlie
McSorley's place, at the comer of Middle and
South Front. A do it yourself guy, he made his own
ice cream, and taffy candy, fashioned in large
shallow pans, that he chopp^ into appropriate siro
with a small hatchet, before your very eyes. Here
we see him drawing a cherry soda from his ancient
fountain. On the ri^t end of the marble counter, in
that glass jar, are a number of his ham sandwiches.
Customers constantly rebuked him for placing such
thin sdices in the buns, expecting thiclmess for the
six cents invested. No business downtown was
siqiposed to be open on Sunday morning, but the
cops didn't bother Mr. Charlie. He drew his front
shades for the Sabbath, but r^ular customers
entered a side door on South Front, and bought
thdr Sunday papers and two for a nickel cigars.
Some even sneaked out with a paper carton of ice
cream, dangling from a looped cotton string.
Qtdetmr and more dignified than the average Irish
man, he was a member of the clan that founded
McSorley's famed tavern in New York City. StUl in
operation, it made world news a year or so ago
vlien forced to admit female patrons. Mr. Charlie
had no restrictions here, he welcomed young and
old to his ice cream parlor.—Photo from Alb^ D.
Brooks CoUection.
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