Wednesday, November 1, 2000

LaFayette Ball reopens old state Capitol at Milledgeville

In March of 1825, the Revolutionary War hero, Gen. Marquis de LaFayette, was welcomed to Milledgeville and to Georgia by Gov. George M. Troup and a ball was held in the 1807 Capitol building.

Oct. 21, 2000, LaFayette was again welcomed to Milledgeville, personified by Dr. Preston Russell of Savannah, as the gothic style Capitol building was rededicated after a $10 million restoration. Residents of Fayette County, named for LaFayette, were present.

The restoration was spearheaded by Gen. Peter Broylan, the dynamic president of Georgia Military College, and was completed over a two-year period. The building houses classrooms, GMC administrative offices, a museum of the history of Milledgeville as the capital city of Georgia, and the restored Legislative Chambers of the Georgia Assembly from 1807 - 1868.

Attending the day of rededication activities were staff members from the Union City campus of GMC who are all residents of Fayette County, LaFayette's namesake county. They included Debbie Condon, Ben Condon, Jim Price, Cindy Price and Janet Mack.

The reenactment of LaFayette's 1825 visit included a parade from the Oconee River front where he landed to the doors of the Capitol building in a horse-drawn carriage, speeches by dignitaries including Gov. Roy Barnes, a barbecue on the lawn, an afternoon of music and games and the evening ball.

GMC is a two-year college with off campus locations throughout Georgia, including both Union City and Ft. McPherson campuses in the Atlanta area. Morning, evening and weekend classes offer working students the opportunity to gain a two-year associate science degree in a number of disciplines.

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