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John Brown Day Celebrated
Around The Country
Lake Placid, NY - More than 300 people gathered May 1 at the John Brown Family Farm in North Elba, New York to commemorate the 199th anniversary of the birth of the great abolitionist. They came from the area around Lake Placid, from New York City, Boston, and as far away as Iowa and North Carolina. Among them were students, community activists, and two busloads of church people from Brooklyn. They came in response to the Call put out by the New Abolitionist Society and signed by Russell Banks, Toni Morrison, and twelve other artists and scholars. As guests arrived at the Trinity Chapel in North Elba they were greeted by music from Scott M.X. Turner and the Devil's Advocates, who also led everyone in singing "John Brown's Body." After welcoming remarks by Noel Ignatiev of the New Abolitionist Society, the crowd moved to the cemetery next to the chapel, where Lyman Epps and William Appo, Sr. are buried. Epps worked with Brown in the Underground Railroad and Appo, whose son fought in the Civil War, lived in Timbuctoo, the black farming community that drew Brown to the area. Following a recounting of their lives by historian Charles Thomas, the crowd walked to the John Brown Farm nearby, where the bulk of the ceremony took place. There were shuttle buses for those who could not walk. The John Brown Farm is a New York State historic site, and manager Terry Noe welcomed guests. The gospel group Voices of Glory sang several songs, including one of their own composition, "Old Souls," celebrating Brown, Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglass, and Malcolm X. They also sang "Blow Ye the Trumpet," a Methodist hymn which was one of John Brown's favorites and was sung at his funeral. The singing was followed by an invocation given jointly by Rev. Johnny Ray Youngblood of St. Paul Community Baptist Church and Rev. David Haberer of Community Bible Church, both from Brooklyn. William Banks, a ranger at Harper's Ferry National Historic Site, gave a moving reading from a speech by Frederick Douglass on Brown. Carolyn Sutcliffe read powerfully from the diaries and letters of Aaron Stevens, who fought with Brown at Kansas and Harper's Ferry and was hung shortly after the Old Man. Ms. Sutcliffe, of Sanbornton, New Hampshire, is a direct descendent of Stevens. In preparation for John Brown Day, Ronald (Cornbread) Owens, a former prisoner, had written and circulated an appeal to prisoners to take part in the day's events. His appeal elicited a number of responses, from which he and a young friend read to the crowd. Russell Banks, author of Cloudsplitter, a novel based on the life of Brown, read from Brown's last speech at his trial. Banks pointed out that Brown was not merely extremely courageous but probably "the most eloquent man of his time." Following the collection by Rev. Haberer there was an open mike at which people read from past writings on Brown and spoke of his contemporary relevance. People gathered afterwards at the Cascade Cross Country Ski Center for soup, bread, and fruit, provided by local chef Vicki Cram. That evening a crowd danced to music of Devil's Advocates. The next day about sixty people gathered in the barn to discuss continuing the legacy of John Brown. Following the meeting, Ed Cotter, former caretaker at the Farm, gave a slide presentation on the life of Brown. Local people did great work in organizing the event. Students from Lake Placid High set up, ushered, and staffed tables. Advance donations, the collection at the farm, and sales of literature and t-shirts more than covered costs. (For information on obtaining a John Brown t-shirt see below. [or page ?]) Before, after, and during breaks in the ceremony visitors toured the Farm and looked at the plaques commemorating Brown and his family members and comrades at arms who are buried there. The scene was beautiful, the weather perfect. Children caught pollywogs in the farm pond. |
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