(09/02/09) - 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.
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. In 1938, the monument was enlarged 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, September 5,
at 9:00am, and again on Sunday, September 6, 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.
The City and its partners 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
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. www.akronsymphony.org.
December 2, 150th anniversary commemoration of John Brown’s Execution. The First
Presbyterian Church, East Market Street
