Pressroom

Jun 26 2009
John Brown Records on Whilbr Website

Whilbr, the historical website of Western Maryland Regional Library, has added a new collection: John Brown in Washington County online at www.whilbr.org/JohnBrownWashingtonCounty/index.aspx John Brown’s 1859 exploits at Harpers Ferry (and his subsequent hanging in Charles Town) are well known. Less well known is the time he spent in Washington County a few months earlier. It appears that Brown and his sons stayed at a Hagerstown hotel on their way from Chambersburg to the Kennedy Farmhouse in southern Washington County, his headquarters and principle base of operations. On June 30th, 1859, the Washington House on W. Washington Street had at least 25 guests, including I. Smith and Sons, all from New York. From papers found in the Kennedy Farmhouse after the raid, it is known that Brown planned to sign into a hotel as I. Smith and Sons. After the Washington House was destroyed by fire in 1879, the Baldwin House was built on the site and it is this building that presently houses the University System of Maryland at Hagerstown. Brown traveled down Washington County roads to access the federal armory on October 16, 1859. Activities planned by the Library are incorporated into the activities of the John Brown Quad State Committee activities. The Whilbr website features images of original source documents from the collections of the public libraries, historical societies, and individuals in Western Maryland. Its purpose is to display Maryland-related historical documents, images, audio, and video. Western Maryland Regional Library is an organization that provides support and materials for the continued enhancement of resources available through the Washington County Free Library System, the Allegany Public Library System, and the Ruth Enlow Library of Garrett County. # # # #