Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1905-12-09
LAFAYETTE IN RoYALTON
Vivid Story Of the French Generals
Visit in 1925.

(The following interesting paper
describing the visit of Gen. Lafay'
cite to Royalton SO years ago, was
read before the Woman's Club Of
Royalton Nov. is, by Mrs. Charles
w. Joiner,)
On the morning of June 2S, 1926,
the then noted town of Royaltou
was early astir preparing to welcome
Gen. Lafayette, for Royalton was
one of the six towns in the state to
have the honor OF entertaining the
most popular hero of the time.
Lafayette was invited to visit Yer
mont by the Legislature OF 1894. Gov.
Van Ness and staff went to Windsor
to meet the general when he entered
the state at that point.
In Tunbridge was full company
Of cavalry that had just been fitted
out with new uniforms and equip
ments. The uniform consisted Of
blue pants, white vest, bright led
coat and tall cap, the coat orna-
mented with braid and bras buttons,
the peculiar shaped cap with stiff
blue and white plume. The Hon.
Lewis Dickerman has a coat, cap
ana sworn wniGir1sie"ged to a mem
Der OF that company. The buttons
on that coat were bought in Boston
at the expense of $37 each button.
The Tunhridge cavalry company
of one hundred and three men under
Captain Eaton were ordered by Gov.
VanNes' to meet Gen. LataJ cite at
Windsor and act as escort, but the
messenger on horseback did not
reach Capt. Eaton until late in the
evening of June II, and AS the night
was dark and misty the cavalry COM
pany did not start until morning,
meeting the general and others on
Barnard hill. In Royalton village,
on the ground between the present
church and academy, back where
now is the railroad, was long one
story wooden building with numer-
Gus openings, without windows, but
with heavy wooden shutters. One
end of this building was partitioned
into woodshed, kitchen and store
room; the remainder was long din
ing hall with three tables and nee.
essary benches built in the hall to be
used on training and other great
DAYS.
On this June morning the kitchen
was full of women getting ready to
feed the throng that were not to be
entertained at the hotel. AT the side
of this dining hall was formed a
long procession of children and
tuwnspeople. Heading this process
sion were Horatio Nelson Smith
and Dudley Chase Denison, boys
not quite six wears old Del Bill
lings, father of Frederick Billing S,
was marshal Of the day. Colonel
Smith, a landlord noted for his fine
hotel, as we'll as his gracious, genial
manners to guests and all he met,
had all his available force busy in
kitchen, rooms and stable.
Lafayette's time being too prec-
ious to be kept waiting one moment
aud telegraph and telephone an UNI
known quantity, necessity invented a
means Of heralding the coming OF
the hero of the day, A number Of
youths on horseback, equipped each
with a dinner horn, were stationed
at intervals from beyond where
Frank Rand now lives on Barnard
line to within horn distance Of Roy.
alton village. AS the first sentinel
saw the approaching cavalcade he
gave blast on his horn, to be re.
peated by each succeeding horn un'
til the last gave note and notice tc
Landlord Smith and eXpectant citi
zens that Lafayette was coming.
On they came over the Woodstock
and Royalton turnpike, as it was
then called, Puusing at the place
where Henry Pierce now lives, fol
Mr.. Williams, who kept the tollgate
at that spot, to give LAfavette {
glass of wine. Miss A. E. Parke
owns the glass from which the gen
eraI drank.
The turnpike at that tine turned
here, going across the flat in from
of the house now occup ed BY Mr.
Hale, so the procession entered Roy
alton village up what is now callet
Bridge street. No wonder the eye
of Young Denison and Smith, tn
leaders of the welcoming town pro
cession, grew large at the sight o
that cavalry escort and the guam
carriage drawn by six white horse
and holding the well-heloved hero
Lafayette. Dudley Denison told m
he was SO fascinated with Lafayett
that he hardly noticed the following
ten carriages and the boys who
with their horns, heralded the ar
proach of this grand party. MI
Denison treasured in his memory tn
touch of Lafeyette's hand on hi
head, with a few pleasant word
spoken to him. In the Joiner HON
is the dinner horn used bl FRANKLIN
: Joiner on that day at his stati n nea
the home Of Norman Sewall.
Judge Collamer delivered the ad
dress of welcome from the balloon
of house opposite the hotel, Afte
{ dinner Gen. Lafayette reviewed tn
Revolutionary soldiers in town, an
i--c-I c.---l.-- I -.L-.....L.