Daughters of the American Revolution rededicate Lafayette marker
On June 1, 1825, Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette, the last surviving major general of the American Revolution, rode through the streets of the newly formed borough of Butler, Pennsylvania.
On Sunday, June 1, on the bicentennial of his visit, members of the General Richard Butler Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution and dignitaries from across the area gathered on the steps of the Butler County Courthouse to rededicate the marker recognizing Lafayette’s visit.
The marker is on the Historic Lafayette Building, located next door to the courthouse. Lafayette ate at the Mechling House, otherwise referred to as the Mansion House, at the time owned by German-American innkeepers Jacob Mechling and his wife, Mary Magdalene.
Since Lafayette’s visit, the original building collapsed and was replaced with the current Historic Lafayette Building, which is now used for apartments. A marker was placed on the wall to commemorate Lafayette and his visit to the location.
Lafayette, a French army officer and politician, is primarily remembered for crossing the Atlantic Ocean to fight as a Revolutionary War major general under George Washington at just 19 years old.
Once again, however, at 67 years old, Lafayette returned to the United States accompanied by his son, Georges Washington de Lafayette, and a small entourage. His celebrated tour of the young nation — dubbed the “Nation’s Guest” — began on Aug. 15, 1824, when he arrived on Staten Island.
When Lafayette arrived in Butler, he was greeted by three ceremonial arches. One stood at what is now South Main and Wayne streets, another at South Main and Diamond and the third was near Cunningham and South Main. At the center of each arch hung a plaque bearing the message “Welcome Lafayette,” encircled by wreaths of fresh flowers and roses.
At the rededication ceremony, greetings were sent by letter from dignitaries from the area as well, including from city Mayor Bob Dandoy, U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, R-16th and Gov. Josh Shapiro. Others, like state Rep. Marci Mustello, R-11th, and county Commissioner Leslie Osche, gave theirs in person.
One speaker was Patricia Maclay, the national chairwoman for the Franco-American memorial committee for the Daughters of the American Revolution. She spoke about Lafayette’s life and explained the purpose of the arches created for his visit to Butler.
“While Americans thought it would be an honor to construct these arches for Lafayette, like the ones in his hometown of Paris, they did not at all realize that the man who was symbolized in the arches, Napoleon, and later King Louis XVIII and King Charles X, were not at all held in high spirit by the democracy-loving Lafayette,” Maclay said.
Maclay went on to recount many of Lafayette’s beliefs, as he was a strong supporter of the abolition of slavery and a proponent of women’s rights.
“He was a man way ahead of his time,” Maclay said. “It is very appropriate that we should honor him and follow his example, not just as a great major general, but more importantly, what I want to call him, our human rights hero of two worlds.”
Afterward, keynote speaker Jason Cherry took the stage. Cherry is a French and Indian War and American Revolution reenactor who spoke as Galbraith Wilson, a veteran who witnessed Lafayette’s visit to Butler.
“I asked him, if he remembered the young man who assisted him over the fence (at the Battle of Brandywine) when he was wounded and he immediately embraced me,” Cherry said as Wilson.
The crowd then moved to the Historic Lafayette Building, where the marker was officially rededicated and a wreath was laid below it. After a benediction, the ceremony concluded.
Martha Eberhardt, the organizer behind the rededication, said she was happy to see a few dozen attendees willing to spend some time learning a piece of Butler’s history.
“Lafayette was here 200 years ago and we had soldiers in the community,” Eberhardt said. “Obviously, we have descendants of those soldiers now in the community.”
Eberhardt said her goal with the ceremony ultimately aligned with the mission of the DAR, in helping to remind people that history can, and does, happen right in your backyard.
“It’s also historic preservation, you know? Being able to preserve what our chapter has done before, it really speaks to us on all levels of our mission,” Eberhardt said.
Eberhardt encouraged people to learn the history of the area they grew up in and to check their genealogy to see if they would be eligible to join the Sons or Daughters of the American Revolution.
