Our contributor bought a spear, or pike, from an antique shop in Chagrin Falls, Ohio. He knows abolitionist John Brown lived near Chagrin Falls and wonders if rebels used this blade in John Brown’s famous raid at Harpers Ferry, VA.
Spear, or pike, from an antique shop in Chagrin Falls, Ohio. In October 16, 1859, John Brown and 18 men attacked the federal armory in Harpers Ferry. Brown wanted to secure weapons for a future slave rebellion. Instead, thirteen raiders were killed; John Brown was captured and hanged.
To find out whether rebels used this pike in that raid, History Detectives follows the trail to the blacksmith who forged the weapon over 150 years ago, and walks the ground at Harpers Ferry where the battle took place.
Also on the program ,Eduardo Pagan wonders why U.S. troops were in Siberia during World War I and Elyse Luray sizes up a Ronald McDonald costume.
Tuesday at 8 p.m. on PBS-HD.
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