The American Friends of Lafayette recently contacted the Tolland Historical Society to say its research shows that Marquis de Lafayette visited Tolland on Sept. 4, 1824 as part of his return trip to America, where he met with soldiers who had served with him during the Revolutionary War.
Our archivist, Barbara Cook, and members of the Society found secondary sources that indicated the Lafayette stopped at Smith’s Tavern on the Tolland Green, near the Old Tolland County Court House, on his way to Hartford that September day.
With its primary sources, the organization decided to include Tolland on the Lafayette Trail and donated this marker to reflect our town’s part in Lafayette’s extraordinary journey. Thank you to Mary-Pat Soucy and Keith Soucy for installing the marker at the Court House.
