Juneteenth to mark 150th anniversary of Brown's raid of U.S. Armory Two-day event celebrates freedom of last held slaves

Oberlin's annual observance of Juneteenth -- the date when the last slaves in America were freed in 1865 -- will this year commemorate the 150th anniversary of John Brown's raid on the United States Armory and Arsenal at Harper's Ferry, and the African-American men from Oberlin who participated in the raid.

All the Juneteenth events -- free and open to the public -- will be held Friday and Saturday, June 12 and 13 on Tappan Square and throughout points of interest in Oberlin.

The story of John Brown's raid is one of an attempt to bring revolution and freedom to enslaved people.

On Oct. 16, 1859, Brown and his Provisional Army of 21, including five African-Americans, stormed the federal arsenal at Harper's Ferry, Virginia (now West Virginia). Brown's plan was to give weapons from the arsenal to those enslaved in the area and start a war for freedom.

Brown's Army held the arsenal a day and a half before federal forces were able to retake the building, wounding Brown and killing 11 of his men including. Six men were captured, including John A. Copeland, Jr. and Shields Green of Oberlin. Five men escaped, including one of John Brown's sons, Owen, and an African American, Osborn Anderson. Shields Green and John A. Copeland Jr. were hanged on Dec. 16, 1859. In 1865 a monument was erected in Oberlin in memory of the men and the events at Harper's Ferry. The monument stands today in Oberlin's Martin Luther King Park.

This year's Juneteenth celebration begins Friday, June 12 at 10:30 a.m. with a "Heroes of Harper's Ferry Trolley Tour." Tour participants will "meet" the mothers of the five African-American men who participated in the raid on Harper's Ferry, as portrayed by five local women, and listen as they share their sons' stories. Seating is limited to 25 on a first-come basis.

Friday's events will continue with the following:

* Noon: Reception at the Oberlin Public Library where Pete Raymond of Wooster, Ohio, will present "The Life of Abraham Lincoln." Raymond has an uncanny resemblance to Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States and he portrays him through a historical dialogue. His presentations focus on the former president's life as he grew to adulthood, his leadership during the Civil War, and his love of the United States until his tragic death.

* 2 p.m.: North of Ebony, a marionette show, will be presented at the Oberlin Public Library. All marionettes are handmade by writer and director, Shanton Bland.

Bland, a puppeteer, is the creator of the puppet group Puppeteer Nubiansin. He has had partnerships with the Cleveland Federal Executive Board, The Cleveland Public Library, American Sickle Cell Anemia Association and the Lorain County Urban League to perform puppet shows and workshops educating youth as well as adults on Sickle Cell Anemia, nutrition, reading, self esteem, and black history. Bland is also the author of two children's books, "Grandpa Nubian Grows Greens," which teaches children patience and "Grandma Nubian Goes Grocery Shopping," which teaches children about nutrition. He is currently working on his third children's book, "Rochelle Nubian: Wash, Wash, Wash Your Hands," which teaches children to wash their hands regularly.

An IT specialist at NASA Glenn, Bland has been acting since the age of 13.

* 3 p.m.: Westwood Cemetery tour guided by Margaret Christian. The tour will focus on gravesites of early Oberlin African-American citizens and Civil War soldiers.

Christian, an Oberlin College graduate and local historian, has edited two books, one on American pianist, composer and professor Natalie Hinderas and the other on Oberlin American Legion Post #656.

* 4 p.m.: Juneteenth Community Picnic at Spring Street Park. All are welcome.

* 6:30 p.m.: Maafa Memorial Service in Westwood Cemetery. Speaker for the event will be Laurence E. Nevels, Sr., pastor of Christ Temple Apostolic Church in Oberlin. The Maafa Memorial Service is in memory of those who died as a result of the slave trade or slavery in the New World. This event is sponsored by the Oberlin Black Alliance for Progress. Maafa is a Kiswahili term for "disaster" or "terrible occurrence. In the event of rain, the service will be held at Peace Community Church, 44 E. Lorain St.

Nevels, Sr. has served as pastor of Christ Temple Apostolic Church since 1978 and was appointed District Elder in 1989. In 1993 Nevels became a contract chaplain at Lorain Correctional Institution and became a full time chaplain in 1997. He is the first chaplain in the Department of Rehabilitation and Correction to hold the honor of employee of the year in one of its institutions. He currently is the second vice president of the Ohio State Chaplains Association, a 50-year-old organization serving Ohio's chaplains. In 2005 he was nominated and selected to participate with 80 pastors in the two-year "Pastors of Excellence" program at Ashland Theological Seminary.

* 7 p.m.: Juneteenth Concert in the Park, Tappan Square, sponsored by the Oberlin Area Chamber of Commerce

On Saturday, June 13, the Juneteenth Festival begins at 10 a.m. on Tappan Square.

* 10 a.m.: Pouring of libation by mistress of ceremonies Jaqui Willis. Tita Reed, director of economic development and housing for the city of Oberlin will read the Emancipation Proclamation and councilmember Charles Peterson will read the City of Oberlin Juneteenth Resolution.

Activities during the day include:

* People's Parade pays tribute to the working men and women of Oberlin.

* Vendors and exhibits.

* Children's bike giveaways.

* Mime and step dancing presentations.

* Oberlin History Trolley Tours at 1 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m.

* Greens & Cobbler Cook-Off - $100 best greens, $100 best cobbler. Registration packets can be picked up at the Oberlin Public Library.

* Rock-Paper-Scissors Contest - Two categories, 11 and under and 12-17. First prize in both categories $25.

* Children's activities beginning at noon.

* Broom Jumping Ceremony - Couples may renew their commitment by jumping the broom at 4 p.m.

* Jump Rope Demonstration by OB Jump.

* The Great Brad, children's magician at 4:30 p.m.

* Music by Perfect Setting Click, Christian Rap Group; LaBamba, Latin Jazz.

New this year will be a history tent. Presentations will include:

* 1 p.m. John Brown by Gwen Mayer, archivist, Hudson Historical Society.

* 1:40 p.m. Deborah Rose as Mary Sampson Patterson Leary Langston, the widow of Lewis Sheridan Leary and the wife of Charles Langston.

* 2:20 p.m. The Copeland and Leary Family Histories by Brenda Pitts, Copeland descendant.

* 3 p.m. John Mercer Langston and the 5th U.S.C.T. by Clark K. Morgan, 5th Reenactor.

* 3:40 p.m. Video presentation by the Friends of the Oberlin Underground Railroad and more.

All Juneteenth events are free and open to the public. For more information call 440-935-0201.