Sitting Tour
Monday, August 19th at 6:30 pm
Stratford Library, Lovell Room
Refreshments to follow.
$5 suggested donation.
Open to Public
Walking Tours
Tuesday, August 20th at 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday, August 21st at 6:30 p.m.
Beginning at 1889 Main Street, Stratford
Refreshments at Stratford Historical Society after the walk.
Registration required. Donations appreciated.
Parking available on Academy Hill.
The rain date for the Walking Tours is Thursday, August 22.
Register at https://www.stratfordhistoricalsociety.org/events-programs
Lafayette in Stratford
Saturday, August 21st at about 8:00 AM
Southwestern view of the Episcopal Church and academy, Stratford by John Warner Barber about 1836.
Object number 1953.5256.
Connecticut Museum of Culture and History
Arriving on Saturday at about eight o’clock in the morning, Lafayette and his company were a day later than expected. With hopes of greeting the General, many of the Stratford citizens had gathered in town the previous afternoon and waited until the late evening before returning home. Connecticut Lieutenant-Governor, David Plant, who lived in Stratford, was one of the men who waited at Marshall’s Inn until after eleven o’clock Friday night before concluding that the General probably would not arrive until the next day.
This presented a problem for Plant, the most important citizen of Stratford, who was expected to be on hand to welcome Lafayette to his hometown. But, in his official role as Lieutenant-Governor of the state of Connecticut, he was also expected to be in New Haven early the next morning to stand beside Governor Wolcott to greet the hero. What to do? Plant made the decision to leave Stratford to be ready to meet Lafayette in New Haven. Unfortunately, the Bridgeport Courier printed a scathing report criticizing Plant for not giving Lafayette a proper welcome in Stratford. Naturally, the people of Stratford resented the report in the Courier and a letter from a Stratford citizen was printed a few days later in the New Haven Register, explaining Plant’s absence and attempting to set the record straight with a full report of the warm welcome extended to the visiting hero by the people of Stratford.
The home of David Plant which was built about the time of Lafayette’s visit to Stratford located on the northwest corner of Elm and Broad Streets.
Photo by Lynn Friedman
Although Lieutenant-Governor David Plant was not on hand to greet Lafayette, the General was met in Stratford with the ringing of bells, roaring of cannon and cheers of hundreds of the citizens of the town. He was led to Marshall’s Inn where he was escorted into the building by two of Stratford’s oldest magistrates and introduced to the ladies and gentlemen of the town. While shaking the many hands, Lafayette expressed his “happiness at beholding and revisiting this fine country and all the people in it.”
After about a half hour, Lafayette and his company made their way from the inn and prepared their departure for New Haven. However, one last stop was made before leaving when the General’s carriage halted in front of the home of Judge Samuel W. Johnson. Here a young lady emerged from the house and presented a bouquet of flowers to Lafayette who responded by bowing and sharing a few complimentary words before proceeding on the route. Judge Samuel W. Johnson (1761-1846) was the son of one of America’s Founding Fathers, William Samuel Johnson (1727-1819), a signer of the United States Constitution.
Home of Judge Samuel W. Johnson at the corner of West Broad and Main streets, Stratford, Connecticut.
Photo by Lynn Friedman
When departing the Stratford, about thirty men, some on horseback and others in carriages, joined the cavalcade in escorting Lafayette to New Haven.
Marshall’s Inn, which burned in 1899, was located on the corner of Main Street and Stratford Avenue was owned and operated by Elijah Marshall.
