New Bern Preservation Foundations receives most of its support from member contributions and from project-specific grants. The Foundation was formed in 1972 to prevent the demolition and loss of historic structures in and around New Bern. Read NBPF brief history here.
With the help of the Kellenberger Historical Foundation and the N.C. Division of Archives and History, we surveyed and nominated the Riverside, Ghent, and deGraffenreid neighborhoods to the National Register of Historic Places. Their acceptance gives New Bern four historic districts.
NBPF has helped to save over 70 historic properties by purchasing and, in some cases, moving structures to prevent demolition. Each structure was resold with a preservation easement in place to ensure the historic integrity of a structure was being preserved.
2026 Board Members & Committees
Executive Board:
John Barnes, President
Richard Parsons, Vice President
Charles Benson II, Treasurer
Cathy Alix, Secretary
Board Members:
Mollie Bales
Ross Beebe
George Brake
Johnnie Britt
Joe Elliott
Tripp Eure
Heather Greenlaw
Donnette Hancock
Meredith Jefferson
Mae Blount Knott
Gregory Rusch
Lisa Ayn Setliff
M.J. Woika
John Young
Office:
Cyndi Papia, Office Admin.
Acquisitions & Covenants Committee:
George Brake, Co-chair
John Young, Co-chair
Richard Parsons
John Barnes
Joe Elliott
Tripp Eure
Donnette Hancock
Newsom Williams
Antique Show Committee:
Lisa Ayn Setliff, Chair • Email
Heather Greenlaw, Ticketing & Volunteers
M.J. Woika & Mae Blount Knott, Logistics
Meredith Jefferson, Sponsors & Marketing
Cathy Alix & John Barnes, Advisors
Membership Committee:
Cathy Alix, Co-chair
Lisa Ayn Setliff, Co-chair
John Young
Heather Greenlaw