By Eric Jones, The Journal
HARPERS FERRY, W.Va. – When Ted Staley first purchased the John Brown Wax Museum in Harpers Ferry in 2010, he had little knowledge of the historic town and the events of John Brown.
“I didn’t know much. I had been there one or two times, so it was an education in history,” he said. “Although in junior high, I wrote a paper about John Brown.”
After 14 years of helping bring the story of John Brown to the public through its wax figures, Staley has sold the museum, effective July 1. It brings to a close his first business venture and the museum’s 61-year residency in Harpers Ferry.
“It was time. It had run its course,” Staley said. “I lived in Baltimore, and I was trying to run it from there, with a full-time job. Now that I’ve moved to North Carolina, it’s even more ridiculous (trying to run it).
“It’s like a lot of people who leave a job and think, ‘Boy, am I relieved to not have to do it anymore,’’’ he added. “At the same time, I’ll miss the people and all the activity and doing things my way.”
Staley said that he will especially miss the people in the community he worked alongside when he was in town.
“Getting to know the people, particularly the other merchants in the community,” he said. “When I would occasionally work there, you get to meet people from all over the world that visit Harpers Ferry.”
