The New Bern Historical Society presented the awards to its first Gingerbread House Contest winners at the recent Beary Merry Christmas Tree Lighting in downtown New Bern. First place and runner up awards were presented in three divisions: Youth, Adult, and Professional. The winners and prizes were Youth: Runner-up $50 and pottery award to Cole Banks whose manger scene is at Bebop’s Café; 1st Place $100 and pottery award to Henry Bibby whose Hansel and Gretel cottage can be seen at the Four C’s; Professional: Runner-up $100 and pottery award, Reta Lamb of Grandma’s Goodies whose creation is at Bebop’s Café; 1st Place $200 and pottery award to Dori Sotirova of Circa 1810 whose gingerbread Harvey Mansion is at the Downtown Post Office; Adults: Runner-up $100 and pottery award, John Klecker whose reproduction of First Baptist Church is at Carolina Creations; and 1st Place, $200 and pottery award to Mary Hamilton Chiles whose Attmore-Oliver House is at the Downtown Post Office. As a special surprise, the winners in the Youth Division had the privilege of throwing the switches to light the tree. Henry Bibby and Cole Banks were delighted to have the job.
This was the first year for the New Bern Historical Society’s Gingerbread House Contest which was part of this year’s Beary Merry Christmas celebration. Thirty-one entries were submitted in the contest ranging from historic reproductions and Hansel and Gretel cottages to travel homes and 5 year old’s sprinkle covered fantasies. Kathy Morrison, Gingerbread House Steering Committee chairman is thrilled with the result. “We had 14 merchants partnered with us in this project sharing their windows to show these terrific designs. What a great start!”
The gingerbread houses will be on display at the downtown merchants until January 2. For more information contact the New Bern Historical Society at 252-638-8558.
The mission of the New Bern Historical Society is to celebrate and promote New Bern and its heritage through events and education. Offices are located in the historic Attmore-Oliver House at 511 Broad Street in New Bern. For more information, call 252-638-8558 or go NewBernHistorical.org or Facebook.com/NewBernHistoricalSociety.
Submitted by: Kathy Morrison, New Bern Historical Society