The return of General Marquis de Lafayette will be celebrated in Gray this week with a short parade, formal greeting event and reception. The public is invited to attend and be part of the historic occasion.
The event will begin at 3 p.m., March 27, at Butler Hall, located at 117 Ross Street. Lafayette, in period attire, will ride in a horsedrawn carriage to the gazebo behind the Jones County Courthouse to accept formal greetings by local officials.
The procession will return to Butler Hall, following the presentation, for a reception to honor the general’s contribution to American liberty.
John Trussell, co-chair of the American Friends of Lafayette in Georgia, has been working on commemoration of the 200th anniversary of Lafayette’s Farewell Tour of America that was completed in 1825.
The tour began in 1824 during the celebration of the nation’s 50th anniversary. It spanned 24 states and lasted 13 months, traveling 6,000 miles. Commemoration of the anniversary of the tour began in August of 2024.
Lafayette was an important person in the American Revolution and was invited back by President James Monroe, who was the last “founding father” to serve as president. One of the noted contributions of Lafayette was securing French troops and ships to aid the American revolution.
The Marquis was 19 years old when he first came to America in 1777.
Trussell said Lafayette spent 11 days in Georgia in 1825.
“He was greeted as a hero. He went to Milledegville, which was the state capital at the time, the chairman said. “We want to celebrate his passage through Jones County.”
Trussell said the general traveled along the Old Federal Road that is now Highway 49, on his way to Macon, and stopped at a stagecoach house to rest and get fresh horses.
The final event of the Farewell Tour was a state dinner given for Lafayette by President Adams, Sept. 7, 1825, that took place on the general’s 68th birthday.
Trussell announced the plans for the event to the Jones County Board of Commissioners at their Dec. 3 meeting asking for support. After listening to the presentation, Commissioner Wendy Vaughn said the house she grew up in was the stagecoach stop that is 17 miles from Milledgeville and 17 miles from Macon.
Trussell also visited Gray City Council members at their Dec. 16 committees meeting. He said the local event is supported by the City of Gray and Jones County High School Band, and Joe Partenza with Ingles Market in Gray is assisting with food for the reception.
