Gravesite gate at the John Brown Farm State Historic Site in Lake Placid (News photo — Oliver Reil)

Just south of this village sits a little house at the end of a road, one with history that dates to the mid-1800s. Under the shadow of the Olympic ski jumps and with sweeping views of the High Peaks, the small abode — built in 1855 — would be easy to overlook, despite its great cultural and historical significance. In abolitionist John Brown’s final decade, it was his family’s home.

Brown was famous for his advocacy of violent revolt against slavery, most notably his three-day raid on the federal arsenal in Harpers Ferry, Virginia (now part of West Virginia) starting the night of Oct. 16, 1859. There he led 21 men into combat with the goal of liberating arms and putting them into the hands of slaves for violent uprising. He was defeated and captured suffering a gash to the head and a bayonet wound to his kidney.

Brown was tried for treason and sentenced to death by hanging. Per Virginia state law, authorities had to wait 30 days after pronouncement of execution before hanging Brown. He used that time to write letters and grant interviews, which he used to get his word out. He was executed on Dec. 2, and his body was transported back to the Adirondack Park, where it was buried at what is now the John Brown Farm State Historic Site, just south of the village of Lake Placid.

The farm is quiet in the winter. It is a historic site operated by the state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, much of it preserved as it was in the 19th century. Split-rail fences run throughout the rolling farmland, and the old house stands tall and strong.

Walking onto the grounds, the bitter cold and gray skies felt fitting. I was immediately met with Brown’s grave, protected by a thick, black iron fence. An information post alongside the fence told me that 12 men are believed buried there; Brown, his son Watson and, in a third grave, 10 other men with whom Brown raided the arsenal.

Farmhouse at the John Brown Farm State Historic Site in Lake Placid (News photo — Oliver Reil)

Brown moved onto the farm in 1849 in order to help the inexperienced farmers of Timbuctoo, an experimental Black settlement in North Elba, cultivate their land and turn it into successful farms. His 244-acre plot was gifted to him by fellow abolitionist Gerrit Smith, who created the settlement in 1846 when he divided 120,000 acres of land he owned into 40-acre plots for the would-be farmers. Smith did so to circumvent New York’s law that said Black men could not vote unless they owned land worth $250 or a home. The experiment was largely a bust, though a few families were able to thrive there.

Today, Timbuctoo is lost in time and forgotten by many, but Brown’s farm stands as a reminder of efforts past, that human rights and the struggles to protect them were not exclusive to the South or to cities. The fight for equality was and is everywhere, even in the heart of the Adirondacks.

The farm’s visitor center is open this winter from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday to Saturday, and the farmhouse is open for tours by appointment. The grounds are open year-round during daylight hours, with a network of trails for snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and dog walking.

Special events are held throughout the year. The site will host a free Full Moon Hike from 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 27, meeting at the North Field on John Brown Road.

Visit http://tinyurl.com/3dmawdbx or call 518-523-3900 for more information on the farm and programs, or check out the farm’s Facebook page at facebook.com/JohnBrownFarm.

Interpretive sign at the John Brown Farm State Historic Site (News photo — Oliver Reil)

John Brown Farm State Historic Site in Lake Placid (News photo — Andy Flynn)

Interpretive sign at the John Brown Farm State Historic Site (News photo — Oliver Reil)

Interpretive sign at the John Brown Farm State Historic Site (News photo — Oliver Reil)

Views of the High Peaks can be seen here at the parking lot for the John Brown Farm State Historic Site’s trail system. (News photo — Andy Flynn)

Trail sign at the John Brown Farm State Historic Site in Lake Placid (News photo — Andy Flynn)