A statue of John Brown and an African-American boy is seen in August 2017 at the site of his farm near Lake Placid. (Enterprise photo — Peter Crowley)

LAKE PLACID — On March 27, 1896, New York state officially acquired the John Brown Farm, formalizing that it would “continue to be dedicated and used for the purposes of a public park or reservation forever.”

To mark the 125th anniversary of this significant acquisition, John Brown Lives, the Essex County Historical Society and the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation are coming together at the John Brown Farm State Historic Site on Saturday, March 27 at 11 a.m. to herald the state’s leadership that has ensured the preservation, integrity and accessibility of abolitionist John Brown’s Adirondack home and final resting place for 125 years. A series of commemorative, cultural and educational programs is planned to involve the community at the John Brown Farm.

Speakers at the event will include:

¯ Martha Swan, executive director, John Brown Lives

¯ Martin Tyler, vice president, John Brown Lives

¯ Lavada Nahon, interpreter of African American History, NYSOPRHP Bureau of Historic Sites

¯ Aurora McCaffrey, Essex County historian

¯ Sandra Weber, historian and author finalizing manuscript on history of John Brown Farm.