Climbers Club of New Bern

Be a part of the Legacy. Buy a brick today!

We are raising money to help maintain the rich African American history contained in the Charlotte S. Rhone Cultural Center. As early as 1865, scores of free blacks poured into New Bern, North Carolina, when word of the Emancipation Proclamation, handwritten by President Lincoln, spread throughout the state. This building opened in 1947 as the West Street Colored Library and was turned over to the Climbers Club in 1973 as a meeting place for community outreach purposes to include retaining and sharing this phenomenal history dating back to the 1800’s. The Cultural Center is recognized by the U. S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service in the National Register of Historic Places.

In 1936, Miss Charlotte S. Rhone, joined a diverse group of six concerned citizens forming a movement to provide a library to serve the colored population. In 1947, it opened and operated until libraries were desegregated in 1973; at that time, the building was renamed the “Charlotte S. Rhone Cultural Center”. The Climbers Club’s motto is “Lifting As We Climb” as it purposed to “foster a closer bond of unity among the citizens of our beloved city, state, and nation.” The organization continues the vision of unity through its members participating in enriching internal departments, annually awarding scholarships, the donation of goods to assisted living facilities and to domestic violence facilities amongst other initiatives. The organization’s funding for community services, maintenance and operation of the Cultural Center and outreach programs is by membership contributions, fundraisers such as this, and donations. By purchasing a brick, you will cement your place in this rich legacy. Visit our Facebook page “Climbers Club of New Bern” to stay connected with the Club’s happenings and receive updates on the brick campaign.

We humbly THANK YOU in advance for purchasing a brick in support of our capital campaign! Your brick will forever be a part of “the legacy.” The cost is $100 per 4” x 8” brick.