By: Susan Moffat-Thomas, retired Executive Director Swiss Bear Downtown Development
When one walks through Bear Plaza in downtown New Bern, it would be reasonable to assume it was named for the three large bear sculptures that have a dominant presence in this charming mid-block Middle Street space. However, when Bear Plaza was constructed in 1982, as a pedestrian connection into the interior core area of that block, it was “bear-less,” with no long-term plans to add bear sculptures at a later date. Fortunately, 12 years later, thanks to a fortuitous happening, Bear Plaza lived up to its name when it became a home for three bears.
In the 1970’s, as a way to stem the on-going deterioration and decay of the downtown, community leaders and local government officials, created the Downtown Revitalization Committee, who in turn, commissioned development of the 1977 Downtown Revitalization Plan. One of the Plans recommendations was to develop inner block parking areas with pedestrian connections to/from the retail streets, to achieve “walkability” throughout the retail area.
In 1981, the city purchased a mid-block Middle Street lot, the site of the Coplon Smith Department Store that burned down in the mid-1970’s, as one of the Revitalization Committee’s two construction projects: development of the mid-block space (Bear Plaza) followed by construction of the Federal Alley Parking Lot.
Funding for the two projects, completed in 1982 and 1983, was made possible with the formation of the Municipal Service Tax District (MSD), a district bounded by South Front, Pollock, Craven and Middle Streets. It was a new funding mechanism in which downtown commercial property owners in the MSD agreed to being accessed additional taxes to fund these two public improvements.*
In the spring of 1993, the owner of a small power equipment company in Pamlico County stopped by my office to suggest Swiss Bear consider purchasing three large bear sculptures for $10,000. They were on his property, were carved with a chainsaw, and since he was closing his business, thought the bear sculptures would be a welcome addition in Bear Plaza. Having never seen any “chainsaw art,” I assumed they would be very crude and not suitable for our downtown, so I wasn’t interested in pursuing it further.
When his persistent calls over the next six months wore me down, I drove to the site of his business with every intention of saying, they just wouldn’t be appropriate for downtown. Wrong! There stood a twelve-foot black bear and two eight-foot-tall sculptures, a single bear with a fish in its mouth and one with two cubs chasing a raccoon up a tree. No question, they would be a great addition to Bear Plaza, and could be purchased now for a bargain price of $4,500.
In November 1993, with an option to purchase, the owner agreed to my request to relocate the bears to Bear Plaza, contingent on being able to raise $4,500 by July 1, 1994. The city transported the bears to Bear Plaza and in the early spring of 1994, Swiss Bear spearheaded a fundraising campaign with a range of donation levels from $10 to $500+. Contributors received a small ceramic bear and name recognition on commemorative plaques, still on permanent display in Bear Plaza. The campaign raised $12,000, and in addition to purchasing the bears, new lights were installed and the Plaza was landscaped. At the dedication on November 20, 1994, Swiss Bear transferred ownership of the bears to the city.
By the late 1990s, the bears were in a state of deterioration. Termites, wood beetles and exposure to the elements were taking their toll. Jeth Lindsey, artist and owner of a retail shop, Art of the Wild, was a dedicated volunteer and steward who worked diligently to repair and save the bears. However, it was a losing battle. They became a safety hazard, and when the city hauled them away, Bear Plaza was once again, “bearless.”
In early the 2000’s, the MSD Advisory Committee approved $8,600 to fund the purchase of three new bear sculptures, if we could find an artist to replicate the existing sculptures and the new bears had to be carved from cypress and in the same configuration. The search was on and, thanks to John Sturman (Bern Bear Gifts) we were able to locate Tom Penny, the original carver of the three bears, who lived in Myrtle Beach. When I contacted Mr. Penny, he agreed to carve the bears for $10,000, and reduced it to $8,600 when Little Joe Weatherington, North Carolina Forest Products, Inc, found and donated three huge cypress logs. That October, Tom Penny, featured as a major venue at MumFest 2003, attracted many festival-goers who were able to watch him carve the large “papa” bear.
The following spring, when the bears were transported to the Plaza, they were placed on metal brackets that elevated the sculptures above their treated concrete bases, to eliminate infestation, and the New Bern Garden Club planted numerous plants and flowers, adding to the ambiance of this public connection.
Thanks to a fortuitous happening, the three bear sculptures in Bear Plaza brought a vitality to this revitalized public space that encourages civic engagement, reflects the city’s heritage and is a centerpiece for downtown happenings.
*The MSD continues to be a source of funding for public improvements in the expanded district, bounded by Hancock, Broad Streets to both water’s edge.