Historic Perkins House On Auction Block
- {West Virginia}...A 19th century mansion on Charles Town land where abolitionist John Brown was hanged more than 150 years ago is going on the auction block. Bidding on the Historic Perkins House, a 7,000-square-foot, five-bedroom Queen Anne Victorian built in 1891, will begin at $950,000 on September 11th, but the right offer could pre-empt the sale if it's made by 5:00 P.M. that day, says real estate agent Gary Gemstone of Historic Homes Marketing Group. The bidding officially begins September 5th. The house, erected some 30 years after Brown's execution, is on the National Register of Historic Places and is essentially in the same state as it was in 1891 - with the addition of modern amenities including a swimming pool and gourmet kitchen.
- During the Civil War, Brown staged a raid on a federal arsenal at Harpers Ferry in 1859, planning to seize thousands of weapons, arm a gathering guerrilla force and start the revolution that would end slavery. The first casualty was a free black male baggage handler who bled to death on the street while Brown's raiders grabbed hostages and holed up at a fire engine house. Within 48 hours, the rebellion was dead, along with at least four civilians, 10 raiders and a U.S. Marine who helped retake the building. At his trial for treason, murder and inciting a rebellion, Brown refused to apologize and declared the fight for freedom sanctioned by God and the Bible. He was swiftly convicted and executed on December 2, 1859.
