"Waiting for Lafayette" at the Beaufort County Library

The BDC and Beaufort Branch are helping Historic Beaufort Foundation and a host of other local organizations commemorate 200th anniversary of that important red letter local history day when the Marquis came to Beaufort on the night of March 18, 1825. 

The Beaufort Branch's Children's Department are doing crafts on March 6th and playing games on March 12th with the kids to prepare for the celebration.  

Because the Marquis de Lafayette was stuck on a sandbar awaiting the tide and getting around Beaufort County was somewhat difficult at the time, the ladies had to occupy their time waiting for the most famous man in America's arrival. (The painting to the right was made in 1825 when the Marquis was 69 years old.) 

We propose that some of the women may well have done some needlecrafts while they waited. Thus, the BDC and Beaufort Branch are co-sponsoring two needlework crafting sessions on the afternoon of Wednesday, March 12th for 40 adults. 

We are delighted that Jade Weaver will provide an embroidery instructional session from 1 - 2 PM. Our plan is for you to embroider a keepsake handkerchief to wave (if so desired) during the big procession down Bay Street on March 18th. Two of the Beaufort Branch's staff, Katharine Argall and Mackenzie Goodman, drew the designs we will be offering as patterns.

We're adding in a little break for re-set of the Children's Programming Room and a comfort break for attendees from 2 - 2:30 PM. In and around the crafts instructional sessions, I will be sharing some key points about the course of the most famous man in America's short visit to Beaufort District.

The Sea Island Quilters will provide instruction to registrants from 2:30 - 3:30 PM. They will show you how to quilt a square. Again space is limited.

Registration opens for the Adults crafting sessions on Saturday, March 1, 2025. Call the Beaufort Branch Children's Department: 843-255-6441 to save your spot(s). 

You are welcomed to sign up for both the embroidery and quilting sessions or just one of them. We leave that decision to you. Just remember: Space is limited. (In case you're wondering why you're registering with the Children's department rather than us it's quite simple: the Beaufort Branch's Children's department has more hours of operation. The Children's department is open until 7 PM Mondays through Thursdays; and on Saturdays, 9 AM to 5 PM when the BDC isn't open at all.) 

On Tuesday, March 18, immediately after the Grand Procession welcoming the Marquis to town, Library staff will have a booth at the  Street Fair on Scott's Street. We plan to be there from Noon to 3 PM. Please drop by the Library's booth to say "Bonjour." 

Please check out the Lafayette Bicentennial Celebration website for information about additional  opportunities to commemorate Lafayette's very brief visit to Beaufort in 1825 sponsored by others involved in this community commemoration.