The Legend of Joseph Johns

Joseph Johns was born into slavery on a corn and cotton plantation in Fauquier County, Virginia, in 1794.  At the age of 49, he fled northward to Pennsylvania, with two other slaves in 1843.  They traveled mostly in the darkness of night, crawling on hands and knees, and slept during the day, so they would not be discovered. They had to swim or wade across every lake, river and stream because to use a bridge would be too dangerous. There were many bounty hunters at the time, anxious to capture runaway slaves and return them to the masters for a reward. 

 Eventually he met up with John Fahler who owned the farm that has now become Bashore Scout Reservation near Greenpoint, PA.  Mr. Fahler gave him permission to construct a small hut and live on his property in exchange for help on his farm.  The hut was constructed of Oak and Birch logs, in an Indian tepee style, with its walls packed with mud and leaves to keep out the weather. It was reported to be twelve feet in diameter and thirteen feet tall. It had a wooden door, but no windows. It was heated by a small woodstove. Nearby were two springs which still flow today. He lived off the land, hunting and fishing. He primarily made his money by working for the local farmers and selling charcoal that he made for the local iron furnaces and railroad. There are approximately twelve charcoal "flats" on the mountainside that are still visible.

 He lived in solitude up on the mountainside until his death on February 7, 1906. Because no official birth records were kept of slaves, there is a chance that he could have been older than 112 when he died.  He remembered the War of 1812 in great detail.  In an interview shortly before his death, he recollected, how he, a boy of 10 years old watched George Washington's funeral train pass through the town where he lived.  If this were true he would have been about 117 years old at the time of his death.  

The original site of his hut can still be visited. Over the years since the Fahler Farm became Bashore Scout Reservation, the hut has been rebuilt several times by the Scouts as service projects. During the reconstruction, several artifacts were discovered such as broken pottery and a hand made mule shoe.  In 1994 a stone memorial was erected at the entrance of the camp by the Lebanon County Historical Society to preserve the amazing legend of "Old Black Joe".   During your stay at Camp Bashore you can learn more details about this local legend, as well as visit the old homestead on top of the mountain.  

This is a picture of the hut during reconstruction. We decided to use more durable materials than were used previously. Locust poles replaced rotted pine and oak. Hemlock slabs were used for the interior walls. The exterior was treated with a layer of asphalt felt paper, and will then receive a coat of brown stucco to simulate the mud. A layer of branches and leaves will be added as well. After all is finished, it will be treated with a waterproof  sealant in hopes that this renovation lasts for many years to come.

Send mail to webmaster@campbashore.org with questions or comments about this web site.
Copyright © 2008 Bashore Scout Reservation / Eagle-Web Design
Last modified: 08/05/08