litiu Cfrit-CCranrii Cimitta Publit SUirarg'
The NEW BERN
II
PUBLISHID WIIKLY
IN THI MART OP
lASTIRN NORTH
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VOLUME 13
NEW BERN, N. C., FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1970
NUMBER 32
Most of the folks who get their
names and accomplishments in
Who’s Who are college
graduates, but Herbert W.
Barbour’s closest approach to
an institute of higher learning
was a correspondence school.
To tell the truth, New Bern’s
nationally recognized boat
builder got very little formal
education, even on the
grammar grade ievel. Born at
Swansboro, he came along
when three months of
instruction was all anyone could
count on during a school year.
Barbour was grateful for the
smattering of knowledge he
picked up during his iimited
training in a public school.
However, he was smart enough
to realize that what he had was
only a start, and a very poor
start at that.
Many a scoffer considers it
clever to sneer at a mail order
course, and it cannot be denied
that some of these offers are
swindles and nothing more. Yet,
the careful shopper is able to
find a legitimate correspon
dence school, if he’ll
do a bit of investigating, and
Herb Barbour did just that.
Through the medium of Uncle
Sam’s post office, he learned
mathematics. Blessed with a
natural knack for fashioning
boats large and small, he usi^
his knowledge of figures to turn
out work that showed the mark
of a perfectionist.
Born on the water, he knew
what a vessel ought to have to
make it seaworthy and
practical. In his early days he
ran a freight boat regularly
from Swansboro to New Bern,
and as long as he lived there
was a hearty saltiness about
him that is characteristic of
men who go down to the sea in
ships.
His was a story that, with
similar stories about
individuals who have achieved
success from an humble
beginning, points to the
greatness of spirit often
referred to as the American
dream,
The Arm he founded, Barbour
Boat Works, became an
important industry in New Bern
at a time when industry was
almost non existent here. The
advent of World War II
brought contracts in keeping
with his reputation.
Prosperity meant an end to
living in rented houses, and the
car he drove in the latter years
of his life was a far cry from the
beat-up touring car that was
once his mode of transportation.
But the man himself never
changed. He remained a
faithful worshiper at the
Tabernacle Baptist church, and
no one was surprised when he
bought an organ for the edifice.
Always he had given according
to his means.
Barbour accepted the Bible at
face value, lock, stock and
barrel. His pastor, the Rev. J.
L. Hodges, was his beloved
friend, and the venerable
parson preached the gospel,
aided by a booming voice, as
Herb liked it preached.
The loquacious boat builder
was there the night that Hodges
died in his pulpit. In fact
(Continued on.page 8)
BESIDE THE STILL WATER - You don't have to
journey far In North Carolina’s Coast Country to find
beauty. Drive the short distance to Trenton In nelgh-
borlng Jones County, and .pause for quiet meditation
at the old mill pond there. These two views, on an
early autumn day, were recorded on film by Robert
H. (Bob) Jones, who lives In New Bern and appreci
ates lovely surroundings. Man has destroyed serenity
for himself In these troubled times, but Dame Nature,
with the wisdom of her years, seems determined,
come what may, to save from mutilation what she
can of the world that God gave us.