La visita de Lafayette: Testigo ocular de la historia
Septiembre es el mes de cumpleaños del Marqués de Lafayette, el héroe francés de la Revolución Americana que en 1780 llevó la noticia al General Washington en Morristown de que la flota francesa estaba navegando para ayudar a los colonos.
Forty-five years later on Bastille Day, July 14, 1825, Lafayette returned to Morristown escorted by the Morris cavalry. His visit was part of a six thousand mile year long grand tour of all the twenty-four states by invitation of President Monroe. Lafayette had arrived in New York City on August 16, 1824.
Tras una ceremonia de bienvenida en Morristown's Green, Lafayette visitó la casa de Charles Ogden en la esquina de Market Street. Más tarde asistió a un suntuoso banquete "sólo para hombres" que se le ofreció en la sala superior de la Casa Sansay, en la calle DeHart. Después, de vuelta a la Ogden House, fue presentado a las damas de Morristown. Pasó la noche en casa de James Woods, en South Street, y al día siguiente partió hacia Filadelfia.
La historia familiar sugiere que Louisa Macculloch (1785-1863) y su hija, Mary Louisa (1804-1888), formaron parte del comité de decoración de la recepción. Años más tarde, el hijo de Mary, Jack, escribió sobre esta ocasión: "Un joven abogado llamado J.W. Miller hacía cabriolas en el exterior como intendente general de la milicia mientras la chica [Mary Louisa] con la que se iba a casar se reía de sus payasadas durante la preparación de la cena para los distinguidos invitados en Sansay's House... La casa había sido decorada con mucho gusto por la bella Caroline Campfield, Mary McCulloch y otras".
On July 15, 1825, Mary Louisa wrote to her brother, Francis, in Salem, N.J., describing the day’s events. Her letter is one of many hundreds of family letters in the archives of Macculloch Hall Historical Museum that provides an eyewitness account of this historic occasion, “I should have answered your letter several days ago had I not been occupied in making preparation for la Fayette’s visit to our humble village. He arrived last evening about six o’clock, alighted at Charles Ogden’s house, which we had decorated for his reception, was received on a platform…by the military and the community, and after remaining in the house for a few moments, came out and listened to a very long address from Dr. Condict, by which he returned a short answer, shook hands with the revolutionary heroes, and was saluted by all the troops. After these ceremonies were over, he walked to Sansay’s room where a very handsome supper was provided. The room was tastefully decorated with flowers and evergreens, and really did credit to our taste. After dinner, he returned again to Ogden’s where the ladies and a crowd of women went to shake a paw with him. He slept at James Woods, and left town early this morning on his way to Newark. Sally [Woods] I understand covered his bed with flowers and will, I suspect, take possession of his sheets for the remainder of her life.”