July 16, 2024
By: Veronica Bruno, What’s Up Newport
Despite the dismal weather, plenty turned out for a real treat with French and colonial re-enactors taking over Washington Square Park and Colony House to bring history to life
Costumed re-enactors took over Washington Square Park and the Colony House in downtown Newport over the weekend. Despite the dismal weather, the rain cleared up by the afternoon, allowing plenty of locals and visitors to experience living history thanks to the Newport Historical Society, National Park Service Washington-Rochambeau National Historic Trail, and the Alliance Française, in partnership with the Franco-American Alliance.
Re-enactors in French and colonial wear transported visitors to the Newport of 1780 on Saturday and Sunday. Fans of history got to listen to colonial musical concerts with sounds from the Middlesex County Fife & Drum Corps throughout the weekend. There were tea tastings with Oliver Pluff & Co flavors of raspberry, peach and a Southern concoction (our favorite was the peach, but they were all delicious). Others got handmade silhouettes done by artist Lauren Muney from Silhouettes By Hand (mine even featured my camera around my neck!). While some visitors had the privilege of watching military, woodworking and cider demonstrations.
Chloe Cameron, 11, who was visiting on Saturday with her mother, Lori Cameron, was looking forward to getting her silhouette done. She and her mother said they were also excited to go to the Colony House museum. They were also relieved that the rain had stopped by Saturday afternoon so they could “just enjoy the day,” said Lori.
For visitors, it was a day of living history, with demonstrations of everyday colonial life under the tents chock full of artifacts throughout Washington Square Park.
“I just love history,” said Corri Swart, from Norwich, CT, who was portraying a colonial boarder staying at a boarding house. “You get to tell the story at oftentimes from unheard aspects of it, in different ways, different narratives. You’re really kind of revoicing the past.”
The event also offered a chance to ask questions from the Marquis de Lafayette and Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, Comte de Rochambeau, two pivotal French leaders who helped tip the balance in the American fight for independence from England. Or rather, the re-enactors who played them, Ben Goldman (Lafayette) and Sean O’Brien (Rochambeau).
“More than 12,000 French soldiers and sailors became an important part of the Newport community as our nation fought for its independence,” said Rebecca Bertrand, executive director of the Newport Historical Society in a press release.
On Saturday, there was an interview with Goldman as Lafayette, where he talked about the contribution that the American Revolutionary War hero gave to this country, the difficulties he faced when he returned to Europe, including being imprisoned in Austria and the terrible toll it took on the health of his wife, among other details. All the factors were told in fascinating fashion, truly giving meaning to living history, where visitors sat transfixed in the Colony House and got to ask Lafayette (Goldman) questions afterwards.
“I think it’s important to give life to the history, to understand that these were real people,” said Goldman, 30, who has taken on the role of Lafayette part-time since 2007. “They were making these decisions, taking these risks, and making the sacrifices, but it also makes it a lot more accessible… It transforms it from something that you can read about… into something that’s still very present.”
Currently, a policy analyst who lives in the Washington, D.C. area, it was his studies in French and living near so much history in Philadelphia that inspired the re-enactor to bring the historical figure to life.
“This is how I get to keep it in shape,” he said about his French language practice. “It’s not as good as when I started in the fall of 2007. I had just moved back from a semester abroad in Paris and my French was the best it’s ever been. Yeah, but it’s how I get to keep it working out a little bit,” he added.
“I will admit that I was a horrible French student in college. My third year, they asked me if I wanted to move to Spanish instead,” said Newport mayor Xay Khamsyvoravong, laughing, during the ceremony to commemorate the Franco-American Alliance In partnership with Alliance Française. He also gifted representatives from the Alliance Française with proclamations that honored “Alliance Française of Newport Day,” “Thierry Chaunu Day,” President of the American Society of le Sounvenir Française, INC., and “Chuck Schwam Day,” honoring the President of the American Friends of Lafayette.
“Alliance Française is one of those organizations that does so much to work on educational cultural programming throughout our country, specifically felt strongly here in Newport,” added the mayor.
Goldman is very much in demand since this year commemorates the momentous Bicentennial of Lafayette’s return to America as an honored “Guest of the Nation.” Goldman will be portraying the Marquis in several large cities and towns that the fighting Frenchman toured during the years 1824 and 1825, helping to educate the public about the important role that both he and the French played in America’s quest for independence.
O’Brien, as Rochambeau, extended the same opportunity to history fans on Sunday, sitting down for his interview and questions from the audience.
The weekend also offered history buffs an opportunity to be among the first to view “Fete Lafayette: A French Hero’s Tour of the American Republic,” produced by the American Revolution Institute of the Society of Cincinnati, which tells the story of Lafayette’s time in America.
“I like to say Rhode Island is a small state with big history,” said Johnny Carawan, the trail administrator for the Washington-Rochambeau National Historic Trail, during the ceremony to commemorate the Franco-American Alliance In partnership with Alliance Française.
“We want to help make the past relevant to present day audiences through the reenactments that you, see how all these soldiers who arrived here 244 years ago, the hardship that they endured so that we could we can have the freedoms we enjoy today.”
It was only the fourth year that the Newport Historical Society has put on the event, and it truly was a dynamic way to bring history to life. Make sure to mark your calendars for next year, when the French return to the city by the sea.
View this article online at: https://whatsupnewp.com/2024/07/living-history-left-an-indelible-mark-in-newport-with-lafayette-rochambeau-and-several-re-enactors-representing-the-french-contribution-to-americas-independence/?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email