Marlborough in Middlesex County, Massachusetts — The American Northeast (New England)

The John Brown Bell

Marlborough, Massachusetts

— The Museum in the Streets —

The John Brown Bell Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, September 30, 2024

1. The John Brown Bell Marker

Inscription.

The John Brown Bell. Marlborough, Massachusetts. , In 1859, abolitionist John Brown attacked the Federal Armory at Harpers Ferry, Virginia (now West Virginia) intending to create a general uprising that would lead to the eventual freedom of slaves throughout the United States. Surrounded in the Armory by Federal troops, he was captured, tried, convicted and later hanged for treason. Most Americans condemned the raid, but abolitionist Marlborough held an “indignation meeting” commemorating Brown as a “martyr to the cause of human liberty.” , During the Civil War, Marlborough's Company I of the Massachusetts 13th Regiment was stationed in Harpers Ferry. On orders from Special Services, they seized anything that was of value to the Confederates, including one of the brass bells from the ill-fated Armory firehouse, accidentally dropping the bell during its retrieval. After a decades long odyssey of time and movement, the bell finally arrived in Marlborough in 1892. It was secured on the exterior of the GAR building near the Civil War Monument. The American Legion, owners of the bell, and the Marlborough Chamber of Commerce arranged for the conspicuous placement of the Bell here on the Union Common in 1968. , The legacy of the bell continues. Marlborough's troops had invited Harpers Ferry slaves to come live in Marlborough. A number of slaves accepted this invitation and the Goins family followed. Today, Marlborough's Senior Housing Community Room is named after a Goins family grandchild, Anna Walker, who owned a dance studio here and encouraged and entertained Marlborough seniors and all residents for many years. , [Captions] , . Top left: The taking of the bell. , . Top right: John Brown in a photo taken in 1859, shortly before his ill-fated raid. He was sentenced to death for his act of treason and hung on December 2, 1859. The Virginia governor issued this notice announcing Brown's sentence. , . Bottom: Photograph of the Goins family. Geneva Goins (top row, second from the left) was the mother of Anna Walker. The home built by the Goins family still stands at the intersection of West Main Street and Lakeside Avenue.

In 1859, abolitionist John Brown attacked the Federal Armory at Harpers Ferry, Virginia (now West Virginia) intending to create a general uprising that would lead to the eventual freedom of slaves throughout the United States. Surrounded in the Armory by Federal troops, he was captured, tried, convicted and later hanged for treason. Most Americans condemned the raid, but abolitionist Marlborough held an “indignation meeting” commemorating Brown as a “martyr to the cause of human liberty.”

During the Civil War, Marlborough's Company I of the Massachusetts 13th Regiment was stationed in Harpers Ferry. On orders from Special Services, they seized anything that was of value to the Confederates, including one of the brass bells from the ill-fated Armory firehouse, accidentally dropping the bell during its retrieval. After a decades long odyssey of time and movement, the bell finally arrived in Marlborough in 1892. It was secured on the exterior of the GAR building near the Civil War Monument. The American Legion, owners of the bell, and the Marlborough Chamber of Commerce arranged for the conspicuous placement of the Bell

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here on the Union Common in 1968.

The legacy of the bell continues. Marlborough's troops had invited Harpers Ferry slaves to come live in Marlborough. A number of slaves accepted this invitation and the Goins family followed. Today, Marlborough's Senior Housing Community Room is named after a Goins family grandchild, Anna Walker, who owned a dance studio here and encouraged and entertained Marlborough seniors and all residents for many years.

[Captions]
• Top left: The taking of the bell.
• Top right: John Brown in a photo taken in 1859, shortly before his ill-fated raid. He was sentenced to death for his act of treason and hung on December 2, 1859. The Virginia governor issued this notice announcing Brown's sentence.
• Bottom: Photograph of the Goins family. Geneva Goins (top row, second from the left) was the mother of Anna Walker. The home built by the Goins family still stands at the intersection of West Main Street and Lakeside Avenue.

Erected by The Museum in the Streets. (Marker Number 11.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Abolition & Underground RR • African Americans

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, September 30, 2024

2. The John Brown Bell Marker

• War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Historic Bells, and the The Museum in the Streets: Marlborough, Massachusetts series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1859.

Location. 42° 20.843′ N, 71° 32.72′ W. Marker is in Marlborough, Massachusetts, in Middlesex County. It is on Main Street west of Exchange Street, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 91 Main St, Marlborough MA 01752, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Boston.

It is also in the American Northeast

and in New England.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: A different marker also named The John Brown Bell (a few steps from this marker); The East Village (a few steps from this marker); Samuel Boyd – Father of the City & The Boyd & Corey Shoe Factory (within shouting distance

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of this marker); The First Church & The Birthplace of Crystal Catherine Eastman (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Saga of Tory Henry Barnes (about 300 feet away); William Dawes – The “Other Rider” (about 500 feet away); The Great Shoe Strike (about 500 feet away); The “Ould Burrying Feeled” (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Marlborough.

Also see . . .
1. The John Brown Bell. Research report on the bell's journey from Harpers Ferry to Marlborough. (Joan Abshire, via Scribd; 2008) (Submitted on November 9, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

2. The Taking of the John Brown Bell. The fascinating account of the men and motives that led to the taking of the John Brown Bell from Harpers Ferry by a group of men from Co. I, 13th Mass Infantry during the Civil War. And the equally fascinating account of the completion of John Brown's task by these same soldiers. (Paul Brodeur, via SlideShare; 2011) (Submitted on November 9, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

Credits. This page was last revised on August 9, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 9, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 279 times since then and 26 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 9, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.