The Herman for whom the park was named, was Herman Weil, the first of a famous family of merchants in the city. He arrived in the US from Germany at age 16 in 1858, and after a short time in Baltimore, came to Goldsboro. Herman was one of the first to join up for the Confederacy in Goldsboro at the onset of the Civil War, joining Captain J.B. Whitaker's company of Goldsboro volunteers, despite his very limited knowledge of English.
After the war, he was joined by his brothers Henry and Solomonand started H. Weil & Brothers store. As merchants, they soon became quite rich.
In the 1930s through to 1941, there was even a zoo in the park, featuring bears, monkeys, birds and other animals. Mom remembers the zoo very well as she was a young girl back in that time frame.
Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My!! --Cooter
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