John Brown Farm State Historic Site facts for kids
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John Brown Farm State Historic Site
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John Brown's house
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| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 416: Malformed coordinates value. | |
| Nearest city | Lake Placid, New York |
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| Area | 270 acres (110 ha) |
| Built | 1855 |
| NRHP reference No. | 72000840 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | June 19, 1972 |
| Designated NHL | August 6, 1998 |
The John Brown Farm State Historic Site is a special place. It includes the home and final resting place of John Brown (1800–1859). John Brown was an abolitionist, which means he strongly believed in ending slavery. He fought hard to make sure all people were free.
The farm is located on John Brown Road in North Elba, New York. It is about 3 miles (5 km) southeast of Lake Placid, New York. John Brown moved here in 1849. He wanted to teach farming to African Americans who were gaining their freedom.
People at the time called it the highest farm in New York. The area is known for its beautiful mountains and peaceful valleys. Visitors have described the views as "absolutely the grandest" in the Adirondack region.
The site was named a National Historic Landmark in 1998. The state of New York has managed it since 1896. You can visit the grounds all year round. Tours of the house are offered during the warmer months. The weather here can be very cold, even in modern times!
Contents
John Brown's First Home in North Elba
When John Brown first came to the Adirondacks in 1849, the town of North Elba did not even exist yet. It became a separate town in 1850. The farmhouse you see today had not been built either.
John Brown first rented a small house from a man named "Cone" Flanders. His daughter, Ruth, described it as having one main room downstairs. This room was used as a kitchen, dining room, and living room. It also had a pantry and two bedrooms. The attic had space for four more beds.
This small house was home to ten family members. This included Mr. and Mrs. Brown, five sons, and three daughters. They also had helpers and sometimes guests. They lived in this house for two years.
In 1850, John Brown showed his cattle at the Essex County Fair. People were very impressed with his "Devon" cattle. He won awards for his animals. This showed he was a good farmer.
In 1855, John Brown and his family moved back to North Elba. This is when they built the farmhouse that still stands today.
A Safe Place for His Family
John Brown saw the farm he built as a safe place for his wife and younger children. He himself only lived there for about six months in total. He spent most of his time fighting against slavery in other places, like Kansas.
He wanted his family to be safe and independent. He also wanted them to learn important skills like hard work and saving money. These were habits Brown believed were very important for children.
In 1859, John's son, Salmon, who was 23, was in charge of running the farm.
What the Farm Looks Like
We know a lot about John Brown's farm from 1859. Reporters and artists visited the farm for Brown's funeral. A minister named Joshua Young also wrote a long description. Other visitors in the years after Brown's death also described the farm.
The John Brown Farm is on John Brown Road. It is south of the modern village of Lake Placid. In 1859, Lake Placid did not exist. The farm was about 2 miles (3 km) from a small community of Black farmers called Timbuctoo, New York. Brown tried to teach these farmers his skills.
The property today is about 270 acres (109 ha). The northern part has the farmhouse and other buildings for visitors. The rest of the land is now covered with trees. In 1861, a visitor described the farm as a cleared area of about 60 acres (24 ha). It was surrounded by forest and used for growing grass, buckwheat, oats, and potatoes.
Today, the farm has John Brown's farmhouse and barn. The barn's second floor has an exhibit called "Dreaming of Timbuctoo." There is also a caretaker's house and other buildings for visitors. The house was described in 1859 as a simple, two-story wooden building. It had four rooms on the first floor. Most of the house's current look comes from repairs done in the 1900s. These repairs made it look like it did around 1860.
An 1859 visitor described the amazing view from the house. He saw rugged mountains, including "White Face" and "MacIntyre," the tallest peak in the Adirondacks. He felt it was the perfect place for John Brown.
The family graveyard is also part of the site. It is surrounded by a modern iron fence. A statue of John Brown by Joseph Pollia was placed nearby in 1935.
History of the Farm
John Brown came to upstate New York as part of a special project. A wealthy man named Gerrit Smith helped Black people become landowners. This was important because, at the time, owning land in New York State allowed them to vote. Smith gave away many 40-acre (16 ha) plots of wilderness land. The idea was for people to clear the land and start farms.
John Brown had faced financial problems. When he heard about Smith's project, he asked for a farm. He said he knew how to clear land and build a farm. He also offered to teach these skills to the Black families. Brown received the farm, though he never paid Smith for it. His friends later helped pay for the land.
The "Timbuctoo" project did not work out for most families. It was too cold and isolated. Clearing land and farming was very hard work. Most of the Black families left after a few years. However, John Brown himself did succeed in building a farm that could support his family.
John Brown's son-in-law, Henry Thompson, built the house with his own hands. Henry was married to Brown's daughter, Ruth.
Brown's Funeral and Burial
After John Brown's failed attempt to fight slavery at Harpers Ferry and his execution on December 2, 1859, his wife, Mary, brought his body back to the farm. He was buried on December 8. Many people attended, including formerly enslaved Black individuals.
A speaker named Wendell Phillips spoke at the funeral. John Brown's favorite hymn, "Blow ye the trumpets, blow!" was sung. The minister, Joshua Young, read a Bible verse as the casket was lowered. Young faced problems at his church for being part of Brown's funeral.
Memorial Service, July 4, 1860
On July 4, 1860, over 1,000 people gathered at the farm for a memorial service. This included Brown's surviving family members. It was the last time Brown's family would gather together in this way. They had been through a lot of trauma.
None of Brown's family members ever spoke publicly about him. His daughter Annie did not even tell her children they were John Brown's grandchildren. She felt it would make their lives harder.
Mary Brown Sells the Property
John Brown had hoped his family would stay at the North Elba farm. But this did not happen. His three oldest sons moved to Ohio. Salmon, another son, moved to California with his wife, children, mother Mary Brown, and sisters Sarah and Ellen. Mary wanted "a chance to start over in a 'new country'."
In 1863, Mary leased the farm to Alexis Hinckley. In 1865, he bought it from her for $800. The grave site was not included in the sale. The deed said that anyone interested could cross the property to visit her husband's grave. Visitors could sign a book and leave comments.
Saving the Property
By 1864, many tourists were already visiting John Brown's grave. It was seen as a special "shrine."
In 1870, Alexis Hinckley wanted to move. The farm was listed for sale for $2,000. A journalist named Kate Field bought it. A monument with her name and other sponsors is at the farm today. She created a "John Brown Association" to protect the farm and grave. They wanted to make sure visitors could always access it.
By 1885, hundreds of people visited the grave every year. By 1894, tens of thousands had visited. The farm was given to the State of New York in 1896. In 1897, President McKinley and other important people visited for a dedication ceremony. John Brown's favorite hymn was sung again.
Graves at the Farm
Three main burials have taken place at the John Brown Farm:
- John Brown himself was buried on December 8, 1859, right after his execution.
- Watson Brown, one of John Brown's sons, died in 1859. His body was brought here by his mother and buried in 1882.
- In 1899, the remains of 10 other people who were part of Brown's raid were reburied here. This included his son, Oliver Brown. Their remains were placed in one coffin because they could not be identified separately.
John Brown's grave has a special stone called a cenotaph. This stone was originally for his grandfather, who fought in the American Revolution. John Brown moved it from Connecticut to his farm. He later added the names of his sons, Frederick, Oliver, and Watson, to the stone. It is now covered in glass to protect it.
Modern Activities
Starting in 1922, a group called the John Brown Memorial Association began annual visits to the farm and grave. This group included Black members from Philadelphia and some local white supporters. They often brought famous speakers, like lawyer Clarence Darrow.
In 1935, a new statue of John Brown was unveiled.
It showed him helping a young Black boy. People from all over the United States donated small amounts of money to pay for it. About 2,000 people attended the unveiling. A local boy, Lyman Epps Jr., who had been at Brown's original burial as a child, helped unveil the statue.
After 1970, the annual visits changed. Attendance slowly decreased.
In 1999, a new group called John Brown Lives! started celebrating "John Brown Day" at the farm again.
In 2009, for the 150th anniversary of Brown's raid, a two-day event was held. It explored the impact of Brown's actions.
An annual "Blues at Timbuctoo" festival is held at the farm. It combines blues music with discussions about race relations. This festival started in 2015.
In 2016, the "Dreaming of Timbuctoo" exhibition found a permanent home at the John Brown Farm State Historic Site.
In 2017, students from the State University of New York at Potsdam did an archeology project at the site. They looked for old items linked to John Brown.
Gallery
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Parlor -
Kitchen -
First floor bedroom -
Second floor bedroom -
John Brown's tombstone, originally that of his grandfather John Brown, who fought in the American Revolution, moved here from the latter's Connecticut grave. Encased in glass (see the bottom). -
Plaque at John Brown's grave with names of others buried there. See John Brown's raiders for two errors.
See also
- List of New York State Historic Sites
- List of National Historic Landmarks in New York
- List of reference routes in New York
- Timbuctoo, New York
