Crockett-Miller Slave Quarters

The 1862 liberation of New Bern, North Carolina, by U.S. troops led to the establishment of temporary communities for freed African Americans, often referred to as “contraband” or refugee camps. 

With U.S. soldiers stationed in the area, freedom seekers from surrounding plantations sought refuge in communities such as James City, which had been established for just this purpose on the outskirts of New Bern. In many instances, the structures that once served as homes during the time of slavery were repurposed for the same function after emancipation. 

A duplex-style light-frame dwelling for the enslaved individuals would often be separated by a wall and shared fireplace with an exterior access to each side and could ultimately hold up to 30 people. In the early 20th century, local resident J.S. Miller lived with his wife in this particular facility until the property was passed out of the family's hands in the 1970s.

Originally located about four miles from its current location, the quarters were part of a larger facility known as the Meadows Farm and, according to local oral tradition, associated with the Crockett family. Now situated on land owned by the Coastal Carolina Regional Airport, the Crockett-Miller Slave Quarters serve as a testament to the era of enslavement and, eventually, emancipation in the vicinity of New Bern. 

Today, the slave quarters, believed to have been constructed in the 1850s, are managed by the James City Historical Society.