Dalton Select Board Supports Town Inclusion on Lafayette Trail
DALTON, Mass. — The Marquis de Lafayette made his way across the state of Massachusetts back in 1825, passing through the Berkshires as he completed a tour of the young country.
A number of towns have markers noting his historic passage — now Dalton wants to be included.
The Select Board last month voted in favor of being designated on the Lafayette Trail. Town Manager Thomas Hutcheson will work with Lafayette Trail Inc. founder and President Julien Icher on the application for a Lafayette Trail marker, which would be place somewhere along Main Street.
The French general played a significant role as an ally of the rebellious colonies. President James Monroe invited Lafayette on a tour of the nation in 1824 because of his contributions during the American Revolution.
The tour traveled all 24 states, including going directly across the Berkshires on his way to Boston to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Bunker Hill. The tour's bicentennial anniversary is starting in August.
The trail runs along Route 20 to Route 8 to Route 143. Route 8 runs right down Main Street.
The non-profit Lafayette Trail Inc. has placed a number of markers to educate the public on the national significance of the tour and "promote a broader understanding of Lafayette's" contributions to American independence.
The Berkshires has at least three markers, including one in Pittsfield, Hinsdale and Peru. The nonprofit has been working with the William G. Pomeroy Foundation to memorialize all the stops Lafayette made.
There are 135 markers all over the United States, Icher said.
While working with the foundation, Icher found in a newspaper article that Dalton was one of Lafayette's stops. The general made few stops as he crossed the state in three days.
"We think it's a great anniversary coming up. We think that if there is the data available, I think Dalton should be included on the Lafayette Trail," Icher said.
"And I just wanted to reach out, make that proposal in the name of [France–United States relations] and the historical ties that unite our two countries. I think it'd be a great addition to your town if you would be willing to accept that donation provided of course that it gets through the application process."
The nonprofit has an application to secure the funding, which would require an approval letter from the land owner where the sign would be placed if it's approved.
Icher said he can not commit to the outcome of the application at this point but is interested in collecting the materials necessary to move forward.
Since there is already documentation showing that Lafayette stopped at Dalton on June 13, 1825, the application process should be straightforward.
If the application is approved, the nonprofit would donate a 2-foot-by-3-foot cast aluminum cast sign that would be installed on a 7-foot aluminum pole. Both the pole and sign would be shipped to the town at no cost.
"The marker design honors the national colors of France and the U.S. The title 'LAFAYETTE'S TOUR' is generic and common to all our markers around the nation. So are the credits of our partner the William G. Pomeroy Foundation at the bottom," Icher said in an email.
The nonprofit would need assistance installing the marker which is usually handled by the Department of Public Works or state Department of Transportation.
Icher sent over documentation of a potential location on Main Street for the sign but board members cautioned that the proposed location would run into some obstacles because it is on a state highway.
The town would be required to receive written approval from the MassDOT to put a sign there.
The nonprofit operates across 25 states but the process of erecting a marker would be easier if the conversation is kept between the nonprofit and local government, rather than involving the commonwealth, Icher said.
Board member Marc Strout recommended that the town reach out to the Community Recreation Association, located at 400 Main St., to gauge its interest in housing the sign.
"I think that'd be a better location and I think it would free this up from involving the state Highway Department," Strout said.
The location would relinquish the need to involve the state government; it would also likely get more visitors, Hutcheson said.
"I'm sure [the CRA] would look favorably on [this opportunity] and it would probably get a lot more visitors because it's much more easily approachable by foot," he said.
The town cannot commit to that location but it is worth a conversation with the CRA to see their receptiveness to this opportunity, Vice Chair Dan Esko said.
The board approved the concept of adding a Lafayette Trail marker in town and Hutcheson will work with Icher on ironing out the details.
More information on the Lafayette Trail here.
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