City News Briefs
Portland Joins National Lafayette Trail
On Wednesday, April 22nd the City of Portland joined the national Lafayette Trail marker system stretching across twenty-five states. The new historic marker was formally unveiled at Bramhall Square, site of the city’s reception of Revolutionary War hero General Lafayette in June 1825. The unveiling and dedication began the City of Portland’s celebration of the 250th birthday of America.
The ceremony included local and state dignitaries, city and nonprofit leaders, as well as French nationals. About fifty to sixty attended despite cool weather, overcast, and a stiff breeze.
“One of the largest turnouts of all northern New England events,” said Julien Icher, National Director of the Lafayette Trail in America, headquartered in Marland, who spoke at the event.
Herb Adams, former State Representative, delivered the 1825 speech of welcome by US Congressman Stephen Longfellow (father of the poet). Icher delivered Lafayette’s 1825 response, in French.
Lafayette’s Tour
From 1824 to 1825, Lafayette, the last living General of the Revolution, returned to America as “The Nation’s Guest.” He toured what were then all twenty-five states. Portland, Lafayette’s northeastern most stop, was then the capital city of the five-year old State of Maine.
In June 1825 Lafayette’s entourage rode up Bramhall Hill from Stroudwater, where he was greeted by cannon salutes, church bells, and a parade of hundreds of schoolchildren and thousands of spectators. They marched down Congress Street to the wooden Maine Capital building, where Portland City Hall now stands. There Lafayette received an honorary degree from Bowdoin College.
In honor of the 200th anniversary of Lafayette’s return, the Pomeroy Foundation of Ohio is erecting plaques at the hundreds of sites Lafayette visited across America. Portland’s red, white, and blue plaque is the 203rd to be erected in America.
“It even spit snow a bit early this morning,” said Herb Adams, who organized the event. “But Portland knows how to show a warm heart. May the 250th anniversary be a time of thought and reflection about the real meaning of Democracy and Liberty.”
