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John Brown Farm, Tannery & Museum facts for kids
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John Brown Tannery Site
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John Brown's Tannery in 1885
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 Location in Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Location | 500 feet south of the junction of Pennsylvania Route 77 and John Brown Road [17620 John Brown Rd.], Richmond Township, Crawford County, Pennsylvania |
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| Area | 0.5 acres (0.20 ha) |
| Built | 1825 |
| Built by | Brown, John |
| NRHP reference No. | 78002383 |
| Added to NRHP | December 14, 1978 |
The John Brown Farm, Tannery & Museum is a special historical place in Richmond Township, Crawford County, Pennsylvania. It is located near Guys Mills, PA. This site is an archaeological site, which means it holds clues about the past.
A famous person named John Brown built a tannery here in 1825. A tannery is a place where animal hides are turned into leather. John Brown lived at this site from 1825 to 1835. His tannery was not far from the Pennsylvania and Ohio Canal, which was a busy waterway.
Contents
What Was the Tannery Used For?
John Brown's Fight for Freedom
John Brown was a strong abolitionist. This means he was against slavery and worked to end it. He believed that all people should be free.
His tannery became an important stop on the Underground Railroad. The Underground Railroad was not a real railroad. It was a secret network of safe houses and routes. It helped enslaved people escape to freedom in the North.
A Secret Safe Place
During his time at the tannery, John Brown helped about 2,500 enslaved people. He offered them a safe place to rest and hide. The site had a hidden room in the barn. This room was well-ventilated, making it a good place for people to hide safely.
The ruins of the tannery building can still be seen today. It was a rectangular building, about 55 feet long and 22 feet wide.
What Happened to the Tannery Building?
Changes Over Time
After John Brown left, the tannery building was used for other things. In 1874, it became a cheese factory. This shows how buildings could be repurposed long ago.
Later, in 1884, it was changed into a steam grist-mill. A grist-mill grinds grain into flour. People visited the site often because it was so important to history.
The Fire and Its Legacy
Sadly, a fire destroyed the building in 1907. Even though the building is gone, the site remains important. It helps us remember John Brown's brave actions.
The John Brown Tannery Site was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. This means it is recognized as a place important to the history of the United States.
Remembering John Brown
Community Celebration
Every year, on John Brown's birthday, May 9, a special event is held at the site. It is called "Spirit of Freedom." This community celebration honors John Brown and his fight for freedom.
Family Gravesite
Near the tannery site, you can find the graves of some of John Brown's family members. His first wife, Dianthe, is buried there. Also, their four-year-old son Frederick and an unnamed newborn son are buried nearby.
Images for kids
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Foundation of John Brown's Tannery, photographed in 2014