In 1859, Frderkck Douglass stepped off the railcar of the Cumberland Valley Railroad and local residents recognized the well-known orator and abolitionist. Many queried Douglass to find out why he was in Chambersburg. Thinking quickly, Douglass said he was speaking at the Franklin Hall. So, the true reason was concealed from the public. Douglass was in Chambersburg to meet with John Brown. The key meeting took place from August 19-21 in a quarry near the Conococheague Creek. It was a pivotal discussion, where Brown asked Douglass if he would join him for the planned raid of the arsenal at Harpers Ferry. On August 17, the 165th anniversary of the date of Frederick Douglass’s speech, the Franklin County Visitors Bureau hosted a conversation between the two abolitionist friends and visited Chambersburg sites related to the meeting, the planners, and the generations that followed.
Nathan Richardson and Doug Dobbs portrayed Frederick Douglass and John Brown.
An upcoming docu-video of the day is planned, and a statue commemorating the meeting of the two men is under design, also. View an excerpt of Frederick Douglass and John Brown’s conversation–165 years after the original meeting–by clicking here.