New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-07-06
NEED OF REPAIRS TO HOUSE
WHERE HE LIVED IN
ADLRONDACKS.
WHY THE ABOLITIONIST WENT TO THE
WILDERNESS TO MAKE HIS HOME
BURIED BESIDE BOWLDER
HE LOVED.


The song is right; over there in North Elba. in
the shade of the giant bowlder he loved in life. al
most beneath the caves Of the cosey little cottage
he fashioned in the Adirondack wilderness before
those days of trouble and martyrdom came, the
body OF John Brown has lain all these years.
But while all the singing John Browns place
in history has been going on, many visitors 10 Inc
Adirondacks this declare that scant thought
has been given the pretty lGtle home he reared
in the wilderness when in the vigor OF full man
hood the hope OF great achievement was young
in his heart. The historic farm is declared to-
day TO be in worse condition than il has been in
years and many say the State OF New-fork should
bestir herself for it.
Summer guests the various hotels in this
vicinity have begun their annual plgrimages TO
the one time home and grave of the anti-saVery
hero, and many have expressed themselves IN
dignantly the condition in which they ind the
buildings anC especially The house
1T is a shame disgrace, saic one New
York Il propose TO see If something cannot
be done about it
The sentiment Of the visitor is also
voiced by residents Of the towns Of Lake PLACID
and North Eiba-
but what can do?" asks Reuben Lawrence. the
csretaker Of the farm grave. who has held that
position for thirty-three years Il can't 60 down
into my pocket and pay for this work that needs
10 be done
81 shingled that roof and paid for it it is"
he continued pointing toward the barn. where the
sagging foundation timbers and wide gaping cracks
in the sides looked oddly enough beneath the COM
paratively shingles
but that building needs fixing badly" he added.
directing attention to the carriage shed leaning
heavily against the barn. People come here and
say 10 me Why don't you keep things up better?
They don't understand thai the State authorities
are supposed look after things No. Of course L
amt blame, but ! don't like TO nave people
thin So
Residents of North Elba and Lake Placid, who
have known Mr.. Lawrence for years as thrifty.
industrious man. know that whatever blame for
the present condition of the John Brown farm may
rightly exist none can attach to him The rear
portion Of the house has not been repaired since
Brown built IL years ago. and now II is scarcely
habitable, although Mr. Lawrence's family are
Obliged TO use for lack of room. The floor tim
bers were originally supported by huge logs These
have rotted away, allowing the floor TO sink and
become unsafe. The dropping away Of these tim
bers has also had its effect upon the whole rear
portion Of the house, causing the roof TO sag In
addition, the old shingles have started up so that
the roof leaks badly
Persons who have visited the place recently say
that the State forestry Commission, as the body
having charge of the property for the State should
at once take steps to prevent the further decay
of this part of the house Other parts OF the house
are also in bad condition. While all recognize that
the home should be preserved as nearly in Its
original condition possible. the contention is
that to do this steps must be taken to make i'm
provements about the house and other buildings at
once.
II is asserted that the total repairs needed all
Another matter which should receive prompt
attention according visitors the farm is the
proper marking of the graves OF John BROWNS
two sons. Oliver and Watson. buried beside their
father These graves now simply marked by
plain wooden stakes, bearing inscriptions what
ever On Memorial Day small American flags
planted above them, and still in position,
relieving TO some extent their otherwise barren
appearance. The original stone planted above John
Browns grave years ago covered with
wooden frame having glass front. This still
stands, and has served to protect the stone This
is appropriately inscribed, is also the
huge bowlder the mead of all three graves. 1t
was Browns last wish that his body be laid at
rest beside this ne had learned to love
In early life.
That John Brown thought much of his peaceful
little Adirondack home this last wish reveals. II
was not the place of his birth: he had lived il
many larger places. N the more fertile lands OF
portions OF his life but John Brown, the
man, not John Brown the reformer, who made
endeayor deserted ~ frienas, facing DEATH John
Browns strfe-sickened heart yearneq again Tor
soft soughlng of The trees for the birds for the
sunshine, for the rolling helds and the blue hills
beyond; for that nome where he had spent four
asked 10 be buried beside tie great bowlder where
he had built that little home many years before
the great bowlder, and floating in the buoyant
mountain breeze the stars and Stripes hlgh over
within that little iron rallied Enclosure is sacred
BTowns hisqFy needs mot 10 be repeated d
for himself in the Adirondack wilderness is not
familiar all. No living knows this part
of the hero's life better than Reuben Lawrence.
Gray haired and bowed with years. he looks him
self unlike the man whose former home he
now occupies. He takes genuine pride in show
ing Visitors about the place ana IN pointing Out
the many little things that sweep dry historical
records aside and bring The visitor face 10 face
with the real John Brown; that make feel
IL he she actually in the midst OF that
historic family circle Of years ago.
The study is in the house. OF course, the principal
Pet o E5 Bre% left M h boK Ks 20 8e w fSi
us entrance opening directly of the long piazza
counted poor apology for library study
even In the cheapest OF modern houses Yet there
the visitor is told Brown pondered ana prayed
many Of the weighty problems that presented
themselves 20 him. There he decided the
the visitor is shown the chair he used. his writing
cabinet the bayonet from his old musket, the
fitted, and other minor relics One picture of him
is pointed out as declared by his widow to have
been the best ever made of him. II is framed in
natural wood with the bark on, and around the
edge Of the frame is painted, Il have fought a
good fight; ] have finished my course: have
John Browns idea in settling in such an out of
the way place North Elba, in the very heart
OF the Adirondack Mountains simply part
OF his Unborn desire TO assist the downtrodden
negroes To number of free coored people had
Smith. and Brown. believing he could help them,
also accepted the gift OF tract from Mr.. Smith
and moved 70 North Elba in 1919: But his scheme
was failure. The region proved cold for the
coloreo settlers, and many OF them moved away.
But II is certain that Brown at time in his
career led a happier. more contented life than he
led during the years he lived in the Adirondacks
That he a of much resource and execu-
tive ability is demonstrated by the farm itself
Although at the time they were built there were
few Of the aids TO building that exist to-day the
buildings planned and constructed on a
scale generously large for those days. And that
they were built honor is demonstrated by the
fact that up the present time few repairs have
been necessary upon them. Now, however, the
he bu he