by Edward Ellis, Special Correspondent
By highway or waterway – or a little of both – Oriental makes a great day trip from New Bern. And what’s not to like? Great food, music, sailing, boutique-y shopping, and sightseeing make this waterfront gem a fine locale for a day or two off the beaten path.
Several comfortable hotels and taverns await overnight guests. One glimpse at the harbor full of trawlers and fishing boats confirms that the seafood in Oriental restaurants could not be fresher.
State historian Joe Mobley gives credit for the town’s name to Rebecca Midyette, wife of the first postmaster. The story goes that Rebecca learned the fate of the Federal transport ship, Oriental, sunk during the Civil War. She took a shine to the name and in 1899 Oriental, N.C. was chartered by the state legislature.
The place boomed for a while growing from just 150 people in 1890 to 1,250 by 1916. The town’s flush times were spawned by shipping, fishing, and a thriving timber industry. The largest employers were a big sawmill and the Defiance Box Company, which manufactured wooden crates primarily for shipping vegetables. A railroad spur and steamships made Oriental a vibrant transport hub.
The good times didn’t last, however. A series of economic blows struck in swift succession during the nineteen-teens. The lumber mill was destroyed by fire. The box company closed. A hurricane wrecked the railroad’s wharf and damaged the public wharf and bulkhead. The railroad line soon closed and Oriental fell into a state that would persist into and through the Great Depression.
Today with a population growing toward 1,000, Oriental is a flourishing haven for boaters, vacationers, and retirees. There are crowd-pleasing annual festivals and a sailboat race nearly every weekend.
To get there from New Bern, take the US 17 bridge to NC 55. It’ll take about 35 minutes through Pamlico County. Another great way to go is by boat. By sail or power, it’s a lovely cruise if you keep a watch on the weather. For a little of both options, head to Havelock and drive aboard the Cherry Branch ferry across the broad and beautiful Neuse River.