King to speak Nov. 6 on the Mother Arsenal

JOHN F. KING

WAYNESBORO - John F. King will present a program on the Mother Arsenal and Hall's Rifle Works (Harpers Ferry Rifle Factory) at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 6 at the Industrial Museum, 235 Philadelphia Ave.

The story of America's "Mother Arsenal" is the story of five men and five weapons and explains the technology and development of gun manufacturing in the early 1800s.

Hall's Rifle Works was developed by John H. Hall to produce his patented rifle for the Untied States government. From 1819 to 1840, Hall directed the production of his flintlock rifle and the innovative machinery and methods used. This included making the parts of the rifle interchangeable, an innovation in arms-making technology that King says, "influenced all other industries and we still live with the legacy of that technology."

King is the Supervisory Park Ranger at Harpers Ferry National Historical Park in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. He began his career at the park in 1981 and became a supervisor in 1983 and currently directs the living history program and the period exhibit interpretation.

As a Chief Historic Weapons Officer, King is often detailed to other parks to oversee special events, filming and exhibits and has served as a national certification training officer. He was the keynote speaker at Springfield Armory's first exhibition of Confederate weapons. At Harpers Ferry he supervises 13 permanent museums, including an operating blacksmith shop and a functioning gunmaking machine shop. King has personally collected more than 100 weapons and will bring a selection with him for display and discussion.