"John Brown's Fort"

[Rockbridge]

I am building a scale model of the fire house at Harpers Ferry circa 1859. In the period news sketches the coupala is missing, but in a photo circa 1862 it is on the roof. Does anyone know if it was on the roof in 1859 or added sometime after John Brown's Raid? Thanks

[Third Mainer]

Re: "John Brown's Fort"

These are all I could find. The general consensus seems that the bell was present at the raid, so one would assume the cupola was as well. Then again, John Browns Fort moved around a lot, so maybe the architectural history has been obliterated by constant disassembly and reassembly.

http://www.historicmarlborough.org/John_Brown_Bell.html

http://www.americanbell.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=3694

Mike Pearson

[Jim Abels]

Re: "John Brown's Fort"

In one of the histories of the 13th Mass, which was there in '61, it was said that members of Co. I "captured" the bell from John Brown's Fort.

http://13thmass.org/1861/harpersferr...ohn_brown_bell

Jim Abels

[Rockbridge]

Re: "John Brown's Fort"

Yeah, one would think it would be cut and dry, but when I saw the original news paper sketches and then the period photos, and then quickly noticed that they did not match it got me to wondering. Why would more than one artist leave off a disticntive peice of the building? It is possible that the cupola was added after the raid. Maybe Ill just make the model without it and a seperate cupola that i can add later, simply by sitting it on the roof and not permanently attaching it. Thanks for the information, Happy fourth of July!

[Daniel]

Re: "John Brown's Fort"

Have you sent an e-mail to the parK?

Dan Stewart

[Rockbridge]

Re: "John Brown's Fort"

Yes, but I have no received a response yet. I was hoping someone on here might have the information on hand. Patience is not one of my virtues haha.

[jake.koch]

Re: "John Brown's Fort"

I interned there in 2005, I am not sure about the cupola, but would warn when the building was disassembled the last time and moved to its present spot it was built backwards. The engine room should be on the left and the little side room should be on the right. A modern photo would show it the wrong way.

[Rockbridge]

Re: "John Brown's Fort"

Thank you for that information. Being in California, it's not easy to head over to Harpers Ferry to get useful bits of info like that! haha. Thanks again.