Lafayette200 Shipwreck
The American Friends of Lafayette are celebrating the 200th Anniversary of General Marquis de Lafayette's return to America by re-enacting events in the 34 states that Lafayette visited on the exact calendar day that they occurred 200 years ago. Karen Schwartz, President of the Historical Society of Harrison County, became involved because the leader Chuck Schwam requested assistance with staging the shipwreck of the Mechanic which was transporting General Lafayette upriver from Tennessee to Louisville. The ship hit a snag and sank at Lafayette Springs in Perry County Indiana (Just upriver from the Cannelton Dam. Schwartz recruited woodworker Jim Lynch to build a miniature replica of the boat and worked with the American Friends of Lafayette to stage the shipwreck on May 9th, 2025. This video includes the National Anthem of France and the United States, remarks by Jerry Hubbs and Chuck Schwam, first person recollections of the shipwreck by Lafayette Portrayer Michael Halbert, and The Ballad of Lafayette's Ship written and performed by Karen Schwartz as well as a short clip of staging the wreck itself. Lafayette and company were rescued by the Paragon a steamship heading downriver which turned around and went back upriver and delivered Lafayette safely at the Portland Wharf. Participants who attended will enjoy this trip down memory lane and those who didn't attend in person will see what they missed on May 9th, 2025. It was an outstanding experience! For more information feel free to contact Schwartz @ (812)736-2373 or [email protected]