Printer Friendly Version - BHS Celebrates Bicentennial of Lafayette’s Farewell Tour Branford Visit

On Aug. 21, a special trail marker was unveiled at the Branford Historical Society’s (BHS) Harrison House Museum to celebrate the bicentennial of General Lafayette’s year-long farewell tour, including his visit to Branford on August 21, 1824. The marker was unveiled with the help of ‘Lafayette’ on horseback. BHS hosted a celebratory event which included honorary guest speakers (l-r) Branford Town Historian Jane Bouley, Branford State Representative Robin Comey, and Branford First Selectman Jamie Cosgrove. Pam Johnson/The Sound

History came to life in Branford on August 21, the bicentennial of General Marquis de Lafayette’s year-long nationwide farewell tour which included a visit to Branford on August 21, 1824. Fifty years after the end of the Revolutionary War, the famed General toured on horseback through states including Connecticut.

Thousands of citizens hoping to get a glimpse of the hero as he traveled through the state thronged Lafayette’s stops along the trail, according to lafayettecttrail.org, where information can be found about what Lafayette did in each of the 28 Connecticut towns on his tour. In Branford, elderly veterans of the Revolutionary War were present to greet Lafayette. Town Historian Jane Bouley recounted that, according to the descendants of Branford Revolutionary War veteran Daniel Averill, he was likely one of the veterans in the group. Averill was a young fife player when he first entered the war.

Two hundred years after Lafayette’s visit, a crowd of Branford citizens and supporters cheered once again as “Lafayette” arrived on horseback, to help Branford Historical Society (BHS) celebrate unveiling a commemorative plaque in Branford as part of the trail of his tour.

Bouley, Branford First Selectman Jamie Cosgrove, and Branford State Representative Robin Comey, who is also a BHS board member, spoke to a large crowd of well-wishers there to honor Lafayette, known as “The Hero of Two Worlds.” Among those gathered to celebrate in Branford were several BHS members dressed in Colonial garb. Many guests dressed in white, the custom during Lafayette’s tour.

As Bouley noted, Lafayette was more famous in America than his home country of France for his role in fighting for American independence, including securing French troops as the first allied country to support the American Revolution and the Colonial fight for freedom.

Lafayette’s 1824 visit to Branford was recorded as taking place between 4:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. The BHS celebration was held at 5 p.m., during which “Lafayette” arrived and raised a toast to the crowd. He then unveiled the impressive red, white, and blue marker which now stands tall beside the museum. The red saltbox Harrison House, built in 1724, and the new marker are readily visible to passerby at 124 Main Street.

From August 20 through September 4, markers are being unveiled in Connecticut towns in the order they were visited by Lafayette as part of the bicentennial commemorative tour. The Branford marker includes information specific to Lafayette’s Branford tour stop. The markers have been generously provided by The Lafayette Trail, Inc. with funding from the William G. Pomeroy Foundation.

At the Branford commemoration, BHS members served up light refreshments to the crowd, including a mocktail version of ‘Flip,’ a Colonial-era beverage which Lafayette is said to have enjoyed while in town. Tours of the Harrison House Museum followed the unveiling. Within its collection, guests could view a Flip cup said to be the one from which Lafayette drank while in Branford. Another item in the collection, Averill’s rare wooden fife from the Revolutionary War, was also on view.