Newspapers / The New Bern Mirror … / Dec. 18, 1964, edition 1 / Page 1
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You’ve often heard it said that New Bern’s winters in days of old were nnuch more severe than they are now. Don’t be lieve it, facts and figures prove otherwise. A booklet on the town Issued 75 years ago says, “The aver age minimum winter tempera ture for the past thirty years is about 20 degrees. The average diurnal mean temperature for the winter is 46 degrees, which is about the same as that of Southern France.” And the booklet adds, “The entire winter frequently passes without snow, and sleets are practically unknown, the ther mometer seldom registering below the freezing point. The coldest day of the winter was December 30th, when the rec ord at sunrise showed 21 de grees, rising during the day to 33 degrees. “This was the only time dur ing December that the temper ature fell below the freezing point, the cold spell lasting three days. During the entire winter there were twenty-four days that the thermometer registered less than 32 degrees, one-half the number being in January,” However, on at least one oc casion according to old timers, it got cold enough here for Neuse river to freeze solid. As a boy we used to listen widd eyed to the story of a local gent who drove across the stream in his auto, from New Bern to Bridge- ton. At this late date we’re in no position to ascertain wheth er or not he was cold sober. Memory plays tricks on all of us. Each of us during our lifetime experience several big snows, and looking back re member such blizzards as the rule rather than the exception. Apparently, from New Bern’s earliest days to the present, honest to goodness snows have been few and far between. Outsiders who move to this city from places where snow is commonplace are quite content to see few ifany flakes tumbling out of the sky during fall and winter months. Perhaps it’s the kid in us, but we still think even grumpy adults should welcome at least one good snow a year. Childhood just doesn’t seem complete wltliout a chance now and then to build a snow man,. It’s easy to see where the late William F. fBill) Pierce, beloved director of New Bern’s Recreation Department, got his wonderful disposition from. His parents, well along in years, live a few doors from us in Bill and Jo’s home, and they are de lightful neighbors. They moved here from Jack sonville, after their son and daughter-in-law passed away, to continue the home for Billy and Betty Jo. Last Sunday eve ning we (this editor and his wife. Hazel) dropped over to see the couple. We discovered that Mrs, Pierce was observingabirthday and Mr, pierce would observe one the very next day. It didn’t occur to us to in quire as to the number of cand les each was entitled to. They’re both much too young in spirit to waste time adding up years. Smiling is as natural for them as swimming is for a fish, and their laughter has the merry tinkle of a bell resounding on a frosty night. If you’ve never gotten around to visiting folks In their (Continued On Page 6) New Bern Public Library The NEW BERN VOLUME 7 NEW BERN, N. C„ FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1964 NUMBER 38 •AND SOME CANDY—Pepe, a champion toy poodle owned by Florence Hanff and Fran Fulford of New Bern, listens attentively while his two month old son Paddy, perched in sleigh with back to camera, spiels off what he wants St. Nick to bring him. Paddy’s dark fur is temporary. When he starts growing up, he’ll have a silver coat just like his father. PefM has brought considerable publicity to New Bern by win ning top awards in shows at Raleigh, Salisbury, Nor folk, Columbia, Charleston, Wilmington and High Point. Paddy hopes to be just as successful when he enters competition, but that’s in the future. As of now, he is much more concerned with going to bed early on Christmas Eve like all good little youngsters should.—^Photo by Wooten Moulton.
The New Bern Mirror (New Bern, N.C.)
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Dec. 18, 1964, edition 1
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