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Mayor, councilman lead gathering at Brown house
By Bill Lilley
Beacon Journal staff writer
Published on Wednesday, Jun 24, 2009
The gathering Tuesday morning at the John Brown House was to mark an historic milestone — the commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the famed abolitionist's last visit to the city he called home from 1844 to 1854.
But the city used the event to kick off a yearlong slate of events to mark Akron's and Brown's place in history.
Mayor Don Plusquellic spoke to about 50 in attendance about the importance of retaining Akron's history.
''We are committed to keeping our history alive,'' Plusquellic said. ''This [Brown's house] is one of the unique places in Akron that are the foundation for what we are today.
''What people forget is that not only was John Brown an important local historical figure, he also was one of the first entrepreneurs of Akron with dealings in the wool trade.''
City Council President Marco Sommerville was even more emphatic about Brown's importance in Akron's illustrious history.
''John Brown changed the course of history,'' said Sommerville. ''We are so proud he was a part of Akron and
that he was a man of action. He made things happen.''
Coming to Akron on June 23, 1859, was part of a string of a goodbyes and weapon-gathering missions for Brown in his long-planned attack on the U.S. Armory and Arsenal in Harpers Ferry, which was then in the slave state of Virginia.
Brown, who lived in Hudson during his formative years from 1805-1820, already had earned a reputation as one of the first American terrorists. Brown organized and led raids on pro-slavery groups in Kansas that resulted in numerous deaths.
Brown said goodbye to his second wife, Mary, and left his farm in New York to come to what was then a two-room cottage at Diagonal and Copley roads adjacent to the Perkins Mansion to visit his son, confirmed pacificist Jason. Brown believed it would be the final time he would see Akron.
''[Brown] knew that he would not come back alive from his raid on Harpers Ferry,'' said Deputy Mayor Dave Lieberth.
Brown's raid on Harpers Ferry is cited by many historians as a major igniting incident of the Civil War.
''John Brown was definitely controversial, and it's hard at times today to put what he did into perspective,'' Plusquellic said.
''Regardless of how you feel,'' the mayor said. ''John Brown is a very significant person in the history of Akron.''
Bill Lilley can be reached at 330-996-3811 or blilley@thebeaconjournal.com.
The gathering Tuesday morning at the John Brown House was to mark an historic milestone — the commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the famed abolitionist's last visit to the city he called home from 1844 to 1854.
Get the full article here.
Comments
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Akron, OH
Posted 08:04 AM, 06/24/2009
John Brown would be considered a terrorist by today's standards.
akron, oh
Posted 09:09 AM, 06/24/2009
@ Betamax: If you are correct, what does that say about today's standards?
One man's terrorist IS another's FREEDOM FIGHTER.
Heck, in today's "standards", one man's terrorist TODAY can be that same man's FREEDOM fighter the next month. Remember that Somali War Lord (Muhammed Farah?), the U.S. Govt. alternately called both names and treated accordingly? Was that even 10 years ago?
Akron, OH
Posted 11:10 PM, 06/24/2009
Well said Mr. Paine. However, sorry to make you feel old but that was almosst 20 years ago (M. Farah Aidid).
