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A historical marker commem orating Rawlings’ Hotel, where General Lafayette was enter tained in 1825, will be dedicat ed at Old Shawneetown on Sun day, June 29. The ceremony at 2 p.m. will be held at the Ohio River levee, one block east of Main street and a half block south of Main Cross street, where the build ing stood. In case of rain, the ceremony will be held in the old St. Mary's Church in Old Shawneetown. Co-sponsors of the marker are the Illinois State Historical Society and the Gallatin Coun ty Historical Society. The hotel was built by Moses M. Rawlings, a veteran of the War of 1812 and subsequently an entrepreneur in Shawnee town (now Old Shawneetown). Work on the building was be gun in 1821 and completed the next year. The building was one of 11 destroyed by fire on June 23, 1904. Lafayette visited almost all the states of the American union in 1824 and 1825, almost 50 years after the American Revolution, during which he had distinguished himself as a sold ier in the continental army of the United States. Clinois was not originally scheduled in the itinerary of his 1824-1825 visit to the United States, but during his tour of the Southern and Western states he accepted an invitation from Illinois Gov. Edward Coles to visit Kaskas kia and Shawneetown. Lafayette arrived in Shawnee town on May 7, 1825, at 4 p.m. Accompanied by Gov. Coles and other dignitaries, he walked be tween two long lines of people from the river’s edge to Rawl ings’ Hotel. He left town late that evening. Principal speaker at the dedi cation will be John Y. Simon, professor of history and execu tive director of the Ulysses S. Grant Association at Southern Illinois University in Carbon dale. The title of Professor Simon’s address will be “Shaw neetown’s Welcome to General Lafayette.” Mrs. Lucille M. Lawler, his torical markers chairman for the Gallatin County Historical Society, and Russell C. Birk of Springfield, historical markers supervisor for the Illinois State Historical Society, are in charge of the Sunday ceremony. Pat rick Seates, Jr., former presi dent of the Gallatin County His torical Society, master of cere monies, will extend a welcome. The marker will be present ed by Ebers R. Schweizer, pres ident of the Illinois State His torical Society, and Miss Ethel Wooley, president of the Gal latin County Historical Society. Joseph R. Hale, a local attor ney, will make the acceptance speech on behalf of the com munity, THE RIVER VIEW ... of the Rawlings (Lafayette) Hotel in Old Shawneetown is shown here as the building nestles close to the levee only a short half-block from the main street of town. The Rawlings’ Hotel, which is referred to by most as the Lafayette Hotel (since Laf ayette’s visit in 1825) is now in its rebuilt condition and is owned by Lela Horlick. Pres ent occupants are Mr. and Mrs. H. M. Case. The public is cordially invited to attend the ceremony Sunday at 2 p.m. dedicating a historical marker commemorating the old hotel. A cake and punch social gathering sponsored by the local historical society will be held at the Shawneetown American Le gion Hall following the dedication ceremonies.
Newspaper Details
Shawneetown Gallatin Democrat
Shawneetown, Illinois, US
Thu, Jun 26, 1969
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
James K.
USA 05 May 2026
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Shawneetown Gallatin Democrat
