John Brown Remembered Exhibit
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Published for the Members and Friends IN THIS ISSUE: of the Harpers Ferry Reflections on Historical Association the John Brown Winter 2010 Sesquicentennial Lincoln Speech is Focus of Black History Month John Brown Remembered Exhibit t rained. And rained and rained. Leonino played music and once again cre- New Titles in the For five straight days, Harpers Ferry – ated their roles of John and Mary Brown in Park Bookshop Itypically mild in October, its fall foliage their one act play, Sword of the Spirit. For bathed in sunlight – endured a steady, two days, uplifting music poured out of the soaking rain and temperatures in the 40s. Although Mother Nature tried to frame a somber atmosphere for this historic oc- casion, she did not deter the thousands of visitors from across the country that came to the drenched little town to remember, debate, and commemorate John Brown. Madman or martyr? This question was scrutinized by 200 historians, scholars, history buffs, and laymen who attended the academic symposium, John Brown Re- membered, which initiated the five days of events. A re-examination of Brown’s life and legacy revealed that he is still a polariz- ing figure in American history, especially in the 21st century when “domestic terrorist” is part of our lexicon. He proved to be insepa- rable from the complexities of our history, rain pelted tents. Highlights included the Members of the U.S. Marine but instrumental to the end of slavery and U.S. Marine Band concert, the Uptown Corps Historical Company in the civil rights movement. Music Theater children, and jazz musician front of John Brown’s Fort. On Friday, October 16, nearly 300 Delfeayo Marsalis’ premiere of Tattered (Courtesy of Jim Wassel) people followed the footsteps of Brown and Souls. On Sunday, the Maryland Symphony his raiders in a six mile anniversary proces- Orchestra String Ensemble provided the sion from the Kennedy Farm in Maryland background music for selected readings (Brown’s hideout) to Harpers Ferry. It was from Stephen Vincent Benét’s poem, John 150 years to the day, and the nearly identi- Brown’s Body. Maryland Lt. Gov. Kathleen cal weather made it a profound and unfor- Kennedy Townsend and actor Danny Glov- gettable experience. For a moving descrip- er were two of the special guest readers. tion of this event, please read the blog on Also on Sunday, HFHA members The picture which appears page 4. joined descendants of John Brown, his raid- on our newsletter’s nameplate, The following day saw busload after ers, and townspeople for a special breakfast. dating from 1803, is one of the oldest prints of Harpers Ferry. busload of visitors converge on the town to Singer Jasmine Muhammad performed for Twenty years earlier, in 1783, hear stirring speeches, listen to music, and the descendants, and following the breakfast Thomas Jefferson had declared engage in interpretive activities. Fred Mor- they moved somberly through the wet town that this view was “worth a sell moved his audience with his recreation as park ranger David Fox retold the story voyage across the Atlantic.” of Frederick Douglass’ 1881 address on John their ancestors lived 150 years ago. All the Brown. Magpie duo Greg Artzner and Terry while water-logged yet smiling park staff and continued on page 2 1 Armory John Brown Remembered steps tempered by the solemn beats of a Superintendent Continued from Page 1 drum corps. Members volunteers continued to throw down straw, Below the reproduction scaffold, Jo (Kuhn) Curtis in keep the tents heated, and make the visit Artzner read from some of Brown’s let- memory of Jim Kuhn memorable despite the weather conditions. ters and papers. John Brown’s great-great- and Alexander and Mary Anniversary programs did not end on great-granddaughter, Alice Keesey Mecoy, nd Murphy that October weekend. On December 2 , spoke and placed a wreath under the mock Brandywine, MD a crowd gathered in front of the Jefferson gallows. Audience members sang “John Dr. Robert Johnson County Courthouse in Charles Town, WV, Brown’s Body” as the wagon with Brown’s Harpers Ferry, WV to commemorate John Brown’s death at the casket departed. The event concluded with Ronald Jones gallows. After the verdict from his trial was a trumpet solo. Our Lady of Sorrows read, Greg Artzner, again portraying Brown, A similar event took place two weeks School road atop a coffin in a horse-drawn wagon to later commemorating the hanging of raiders Farmington, MI the gallows site. A crowd of onlookers and John Cook, Edwin Coppoc, Shields Green, Nancy Myers in honor of several re-enactors followed behind, their and John Copeland. Don Campbell Harpers Ferry, WV Paymaster Members Reflections Cynthia Gayton The following reflections are shared by him, but in my mind, John Brown was there Harpers Ferry, WV members who were able to participate in walking with me…. Ranger Frye made a Tony Horwitz some of the sesquicentennial events: remark about the train coming into Harpers Vineyard Haven, MA Ferry at about ten p.m. and just as he said Jim and Suzanne Silvia “I was impressed by how the National Park that a train whistle blew…The procession Taunton, MA & Harpers Service and the Harpers Ferry Historical in town was very moving. Fred Morsell be- Ferry, WV Association members worked ing there was an added plus.” seamlessly together to create – Karl Buchspics, Willow Master Armorer such a phenomenal event for Grove, PA Members all of us. I was also impressed Allison Alsdorf by how they adapted to the “…it was a very rich and re- Harpers Ferry, WV weather and made everything warding experience, very well Kirk Bradley continue to run smoothly in organized, and something we Sanford, NC spite of the cold and wet con- will never forget…one of the Donald and Patricia ditions. The quality of presen- 1859 Raid most memorable things for Burgess tations was among the highest on Harpers Ferry me was sitting across the table Harpers Ferry, WV I’ve seen at a conference and from a gentleman from Kansas Rock Comstock the number of well-known Brown scholars who discovered he was a descendent of one Vienna, VA in attendance was impressive.” of Brown’s key activist supporters in Kansas. Hon. and Mrs. Thomas – Janet Beck, Valle Crucis, NC He had brought things with him that were Curtis and Family so interesting to us – we were glued to his Baltimore, MD “The kindness and decency of people at- every word.” Kim and Frank Edwards tending comes to mind. A man I did not – Louise Minks, Leverett, MA Edgewood, MD know, offered me the use of his umbrella, Scot Faulkner as he was attending a lot of the same lec- “I would go again in a heartbeat. I think this Harpers Ferry, WV tures…The variety of topics covered was will be a very hard act to follow going into Wayne Hammond amazing…Now, we get to The Walk from the 150th anniversary of the Civil War. Now Saxton, PA the Kennedy Farm…I was up close to the I know about the real John Brown…I want Rebecca Harriett horse and wagon most of the walk and that to compliment the committees, volunteers, Rocky Mount, VA added so much. At times, I felt like I was the Park Service and presenters and all Bruce Kramer both in the past and present…When Rang- whom were involved. It was wonderful.” Baltimore, MD er Frye got up and spoke I felt like he was – John Lofquist, Marysville, MI continued on page 3 speaking to John Brown’s men, not to me. I thought I saw a man that strongly resembled “For those of us who do not spend every day John Brown in the lantern light. Not want- immersed in history…it was great to be in 2 ing to break the mood, I didn’t speak to such a friendly, sharing group. I might add Clockwise from top left: Re-enactors and participants cross the bridge into Harpers Ferry during the anniversary procession. (Courtesy of Jim Wassel) Author Bob O’Connor and John Brown’s great-great- great-granddaughter, Alice Keesey Mecoy of Allen, TX, participate in events commemorating Brown’s death on December 2nd. (Courtesy of Marsha Wassel) Park Ranger speaks to a crowd at the original sight of John Brown’s Fort. (Courtesy of Marsha Wassel) Master Armorer Members (cont’d) Anne A. Long Myersville, MD Cynthia K. Mason Baltimore, MD Linda Parks Washington, DC George Rutherford Ranson, WV Steven and Barnette Savitz Teaneck, NJ Maureen Weber Falling Waters, WV that we have been on a number of “Civil events, several lectures and both commemo- Recent Donations War trips,” including with Ed Bearss and rations of the executions in Charles Town. Nancy Weaver James McPherson. Often, the people on I also worked on the Descendants commit- San Diego, CA those trips are OBSESSED with battlefield tee, the Jefferson County Committee, and Tony Horwitz details and who stood where, etc….my in- the Quad states committee. And I lectured Vineyard Haven, MA terest is much more in the effect of the war many times throughout the year on John Nina Stowell on human beings as they lived it and came Brown in relation to my book. The walk and Harpers Ferry, WV out of it. The John Brown symposium was Kennedy Farm activities and meeting all the Cannon Graphics refreshing because so many different topics, descendents were highlights for me. And Charleston, WV angles, and outcomes were presented…the the cooperation from all entities throughout John Brown subject provided conflict, de- the area in promoting all the events.