- 1679: Law Passed Related to Witchcraft On December 3, 1679, a North Carolina law was passed that directed local juries to investigate “felonies, witchcraft, enchantments, sorceries, and magick arts, among other crimes”. Unlike the Salem trials, most accused individuals in North Carolina were found innocent and some even successfully countersued their accusers.
- 1859: John Brown’s Execution Reported The Raleigh Register newspaper published an account of abolitionist John Brown’s execution on December 3, 1859, a significant event that heightened tensions leading to the Civil War.
- 1928: The Reynolds Building Structural Completion Structural work was completed on the 21-story Reynolds Building in Winston-Salem on December 3, 1928. As the new headquarters for R. J. Reynolds Tobacco, it became the tallest building in North Carolina at the time and served as a model for the Empire State Building in New York City.
- 1929: The Reynolds Building Opens for Business The R. J. Reynolds building officially opened for business on December 3, 1929, housing the tobacco company’s offices and various retail shops on the lower levels.
- 2004: Witchcraft Law Repealed A law from 1951 against “witchcraft” in North Carolina was finally repealed by the General Assembly on December 3, 2004.
- 2022: Electrical Substations Attacked The FBI investigated a targeted attack on two electricity substations in North Carolina on December 3, 2022, which caused widespread power outages for approximately 40,000 customers and led to school closures.
- Weather Event: Winter Storm of 2002 A significant winter storm struck parts of northeastern North Carolina on December 3, 2002, dropping up to 15 inches of snow in areas like Aulander and causing numerous accidents and road closures.
- 2022: NC Museum of History Celebration The North Carolina Museum of History celebrated its 120th birthday on December 3, 2022, with a public event that included free admission to an exhibition and other activities.
- Wilmington Coup and Massacre Commemorated The historic 1898 Wilmington Coup and Massacre, the only successful coup d’état in U.S. history where a biracial government was overthrown, is often commemorated around this date with tours and events to educate the public on this tragic event.
- Somerset Place Christmas Open House Historically, Somerset Place State Historic Site has hosted its annual Christmas Open House on or around December 3rd, offering tours and living history to educate visitors about plantation life in the 19th century.
