The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1914-09-10
LAFAYETTE'S CHAIR.
Interesting Relic of Revolutionary Days Now
on Exhibition in Portland, Me.

Interesting Relic of Revolutionary Days Now
on Exhibition in Portland, Me.
A remarkable relic of Portland's earlier
history and a unique piece of furniture is
the Lafayette chair, now on exhibition at
the. Portland Veteran Firemen's Associa-
ton Building on South street. This chair
WAS carved by former Chief Nahum Lit
tlefeld from the trunk of a giant elm
which stood in front of the State Capitol
on the site of the present City Building,
when Portland was the capital city of the
State, and under this tree Gen. Lafayette
was received by the city authorities with
appropriate exercises when he made his
famous visit to Portland in 1924. But as
Mr.. Littlefield has received several fiat
tering offers for the relic it is feared that
the chair may be lost to Portland unless
steps are taken to retain it here in some
suitable place for historic memento of
so much value and Importance.
The old elm was city landmark and
even survived the ravages of the great
fire of 1866, but the contlagration had
stripped it of many Of It's branches, and in
spite of careful nursing it never fully re-
covered and by 1882 was practically dead.
In that year, against the protests of
many citizens, it was cut down.
On the representation of many of the
city's most prominent residents, whose
names are linked with the history of
Portland, that some worthy relic of the
historic tree should be preserved, Mr..
Littlefeld, who was one of the most ex-
pert artists of the craft of wood carving,
carved from the solid trunk of the tree a
huge chair. The chair was exhibited in
some of the store windows, and sub
scription started to purchase it for the
Historical Society or the City Hall, but
only small sum was raised and Mr.. Lit
tlefield kept the chair.
This unique piece of furniture is one
solid piece Of wood, from the tips of the
legs to the top of the artist, ally carved
back. The back and sides are covered
by the thick bark of the famous elm.
The back is high with minarets and an
appropriate pile of cannon balls as the
principal parts of the decorations. The
seat is broad and deep, enclosed by solid
arms, and the chair is as comfortable a
seat as one could wish. The chair seat
and back are carved in imitation of leath-
er upholstering and many people have
been deceived into believing that it was
upholstered with tan leather. There is
every feature of such upholstering, even
to the deep set buttons of the ''tack-
ing"
The chair back bears the inscription,
"Welcome. Lafayette, 1924" in honor
of the great General, while on the front
edge is the date 1882, when Chief Little
field put in more than two months OF
steady work to create this furniture
from the solid wood. His own name is
carved on the chair bottom.
Several generous offers have been re-
ceived for the historic relic. which is at
the same time worthy article of furni.
ture, and there is danger that it may be
lost to the city, SO much of whose his
tory passed under the shade of its parent
tree. One New York man has offered
SIS for the chair and Portland man has
offered an equal figure. 1t is understood
that another man from out of the State
IS negotiating for it's purchase at an even
larger figure. But Mr.. Littlefield woulo
rather have it remain in the custody OF
the city of the historical association, and
does not want to sell it outside the city
unless keeping it here would mean toe
great a sacrifice. Several of the people
who have seen the remarkable chair anc
heard it's history agree with him that il
should be secured to be kept forever as 8
relic Of Portland g earlier history. Port
land Telegram.
Mr.. Littlefield is a cousin of Mrs
Helen w. Crosby of this city.