Honors and Events--
East and West

Honors to Henry Robert Burke, Underground Railroad historian of southeastern Ohio .

April 2 marked the opening day for the season at the Belpre Historical Society’s Farmers’ Castle Museum Education Center , where a Southeastern Underground Railroad exhibit based on Henry R. Burke’s research is a permanent part of the museum’s collections. His extensive publications, which include detailed maps of his original design in the manner of William Seibert, are seen on his website Links to the Past, www.henryrobertburke.com. Henry’s recent honors include a lifetime achievement award in researching African American history from the Washington County (Ohio) Historical Society. He is a member of the Sons of the American Revolution and the Sons of Civil War Veterans.

Friends on Facebook have created an Underground Railroad group co-administrated by Henry Robert Burke, Art Thomas, and Bennie J. McRae. It is open for anyone to join.

Honors to Alice Louise Cook Hunt, the closest living relative of John and Mary Brown, on her 95th birthday, March 27, 2011. Mrs. Hunt, who lives in Oregon, recently restored the gravestone of her grandmother, Annie Brown Adams at the Old Pioneer Cemetery in Rohnerville , California . Her friend Don Bumgarner sent photographs of the honoree and the restored grave, which may be seen on www.alliesforfreedom.org/Annie_Brown_page.html. You’ll also find photographs of Alice Keesey Mecoy, who was named for her great-aunt, and is now the family historian.

Mary Brown’s birthday party at the Saratoga Community Library on April 15, 2011 will honor Mrs. Hunt’s 95th birthday with her nephew, Paul Keesey of Santa Clara . It is the 195th anniversary of the birth of Mary Brown, wife of John Brown of Harpers Ferry, who is buried at the Madronia Cemetery in Saratoga . If you would like to see a short slide show presentation by Jean Libby about Mary and Her Daughters, a documentary project being launched at the event on April 15, visit the San Jose Mercury calendar announcement: http://events.mercurynews.com/saratoga-ca/events/show/177228945-mary-browns-birthday-party. The show will disappear from the site after the event.

Congratulations to the Black Jack Battlefield & Nature Park Trust in Baldwin City, Kansas who have created an outstanding website and downloadable brochures and a splendid historical map as well as of their activities and facilities, www.blackjackbattlefield.org Their brochure is funded by the Kansas Humanities Council. Upcoming events include John Brown Day on May 7, and a major celebration and re-enactment of the Battle of Black Jack (winner: John Brown) of June 2, 1856.

Opening Event: May 7, 2011 (John Brown’s 211th birthday is May 9)
LOCATION: Black Jack Battlefield & Nature Park
TIME: 1:00 p.m.
COST: Free
Visit us opening day as the tour season kicks off when John Brown gives a guided tour of the battlefield.
Learn the history behind John Brown, the Battle of Black Jack, Bleeding Kansas, and the role that the Santa Fe Trail played in what some argue is the first battle of the American Civil War.
1 p.m. tours on Saturdays and Sundays continue until October 16th.
June 2nd, Thursday - Dawn at Black Jack Battlefield
LOCATION: Black Jack Battlefield & Nature Park
TIME: 5:00 a.m. - arrive by 4:45 a.m.
COST: Free
Walk the Black Jack Battlefield at the exact day and time of the battle, 155 years later.
The guided tour will begin at the Robert Hall Pearson farmstead home.

June 2nd, 2011 Thursday - John Brown, Martyr or Madman? Reader's Theater
LOCATION: Lumberyard Arts Center, 718 High Street, Baldwin City, KS
TIME: 7 - 9:00 p.m.
COST: Free
Refreshments provided

7-7:30 p.m.. St. Luke's AME Church Choir
Hear the choir from St. Luke's AME Church in Lawrence sing the songs that helped keep hope alive in
America 's enslaved people.
Stay for the Reader's Theater to follow.

TIME: 7:30-9 p.m. - Reader's Theater
In commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the start of the Civil War and the recognition of events that occurred in Kansas and Missouri during this period in history by using reader’s theater script prepared by the Kansas Humanities Council reflecting both the Kansas and Missouri perspectives. These voices from history provide insight into how 19thcentury Americans struggled with determining the future of our nation and defining the meaning of freedom.
June 4th, Saturday - John Brown's Battle at Black Jack
.... dawn of the Civil War
LOCATION: Black Jack Battlefield & Nature Park
TIME: Gate opens at 9:00 a.m. - closes at 7:00 p.m.
COST: Adults $8 / children over 3, $1
A commemoration of the 155th Anniversary of the Battle of Black Jack.
Three professional reenactments: 11:00 a.m., 2:30 p.m., and 5:30 p.m..
live period music * historic artifacts * first-person historic presenters * children's activities
nature park walks * vendors/crafters/sutlers * period demonstrations * food & drink

Thanks to the friendly Kansas people who sent printed materials to share in California, and the many friends of Henry Robert Burke on Facebook.

Jean Libby
Allies for Freedom
www.alliesforfreedom.org