(08/10/09) - Akron continues its year-long
remembrance of one of its most famous residents, a man who many historians say helped
ignite the War Between the States.John Brown lived in Akron along with members of his
family off-and-on from 1844 to1854, and led the raid on the federal arsenal at Harpers
Ferry, October 16, 1859.
In July, over 100 people attended the weekend tours to
the monument at the Akron Zoo. Akron’s Deputy Mayor Dave Lieberth (right) led the
guided bio-tour of John Brown’s days in Akron. Click image to enlarge |
On the 150th anniversary of these events, the City of Akron, the Summit
County Historical Society, the Ohio Historical Society, and the Akron-Summit County Public
Library have joined forces to commemorate the sesquicentennial of the events at
Harper’s Ferry.
Again this weekend, in cooperation with the Akron Zoo, the City will host guided tours
of the permanent monument to Brown that was created on the 76 acres along the high wooded
ridge, now part of the Zoo’s property. The memorial was erected by the
German-American Alliance in 1910. The monument was enlarged in 1938 by the "Negro 25
year Club" to include a circular stone seating area and plaza.
Guided Tours of the monument will be given by Dave Lieberth, Akron’s Deputy Mayor
and a past-president of the Summit County Historical Society this Saturday, August 15, at
9:00am, and again on Sunday, August 16, at 4:00pm. The tours are free to the public, and
do not require a paid zoo admission to participate. Visitors should park at the western
end of the Akron Zoo parking lot, where the tour will begin. Gates open Saturday at
8:30am.
Tours of the monument will also be offered Saturday, September 5, at 9:00am, and
Sunday, September 6, at 4:00pm.
The City and Historical Society will present an official commemoration of the Raid on
Harpers Ferry on October 16, 2009, at 11:00am at the John Brown Monument in Perkins Woods.
Other events include the following:
Now through December 31: "Summit County's John Brown," an
exhibit of historical artifacts. Special Collections Division of the Akron-Summit County
Public Library downtown, http://www.ascpl.lib.oh.us
August 25 – John Brown Home,
Summit County Historical Society, Copley & Diagonal Roads. Open House, 3pm -6pm
This self guided tour of the rooms where Brown, his wife
and 10 of his children lived, will also be repeated on Tuesdays, September 22, October 27,
and November 24, 3pm – 6pm.
October 16 – February 14. Akron Art Museum, "The Legend of
John Brown."
Judith Bear Isroff Gallery. Selections from Jacob Lawrence’s celebrated print
series. www.akronartmuseum.org.
October 17, Akron Symphony Orchestra, "The Passion of John
Brown," by Malone College professor Jesse Ayers, 8:00pm, E. J. Thomas Hall.
