On Sunday October 25, 2020, the MLS joined with Julien Icher and his Lafayette Trail project to attend the unveiling and dedication of a Lafayette Trail marker at a historic house in Bolton, MA.   Lafayette “slept here” on September 2, 1824, on his way from Boston to New York City. The home, the Wilder Mansion, belonged to S.V.S Wilder (just call me Sampson!) who was an international businessman who spent years in France.  While there, he befriended Lafayette.

A crowd of 25 attended, including eight MLS members. Representing the MLS and the American Friends of Lafayette, I made introductory remarks and then introduced Julien who talked about the Lafayette Trail project.  Notably, he announced that the Pomeroy Foundation, which pays for the markers, has approved funding for 175 Lafayette Trail markers!  

The weather was decent, albeit cool; and the event provided a respite from the humdrum existence most of us are consigned to during the pandemic.

Our great thanks to Paul and Dawn Tesini, the owners of the Wilder Mansion, for permitting the marker to be placed on their property and being our hosts for this event.  I would like to thank their son, Nick Tesini, and members David and Dorothea Jensen for providing photographs.  Finally, I would like to express our appreciation for the work that President Emeritus Bill Dunham did to facilitate the placement of a marker at the Wilder Mansion.  Bill, a direct descendant of Mr. Wilder, made the initial contact with the owners, and cultivated their interest in Lafayette and a marker, before introducing them to Julien.  

Click here for photographs of the event.