A free hike will highlight the life of abolitionist John Brown featuring historian Dave Lieberth and soloist W. Ginger Ferguson on May 9th. Please sign up on EventBrite to attend.
Join us for an Akron200 event with the Summit County Historical Society at the Akron Zoo to commemorate the life of John Brown on his 225th birthday. Enter at the main zoo entrance at 505 Euclid Avenue, and turn left following the John Brown Monument signs and arrows to the back parking lot.
Dave Lieberth, Society Chairman Emeritus, President of the Akron History Center and Executive Secretary of the Akron Bicentennial, will be the lead speaker sharing the life of John Brown. Mark Greer, Executive Director of Akron200 will also give remarks at the monument where soloist W. Ginger Ferguson will perform.
The John Brown Monument is located on land donated by Charles Perkins, grandson of Akron's co-founder Gen. Simon Perkins and son of Summit County's founding senator Col. Simon Perkins. The monument was dedicated in 1910 by the German American Alliance and then expanded in 1938 by an African American group called the Twenty-Five Year Club.
This hike is on uneven terrain and will occur rain or shine. Please dress accordingly wearing comfortable shoes and bringing rain gear if necessary.
Immediately following the hike, guests are invited to gather at the John Brown House, 514 Diagonal Road, Akron, for cake and ice cream under the team (fingers crossed on the weather). The house will be open from 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. On display is a temporary exhibit on loan from the Akron Zoo entitled, "Black History in Perkins Woods."
Team members for the Innerbelt project will also be on site.