The Middlebury Historical Society embarked on a project in 2019, inspired by the efforts of the late Bill Crutcher, of Middlebury, to memorialize the encampment of General Rochambeau and the French army under his command, encamping at Breakneck Hill on June 27, 1781.
The new location for the memorial will be in Meadowview Park.
The Rochambeau Memorial Committee meets Fridays at 10 a.m. at the Middlebury Historical Society. The Honorary Chair for our entire project is Larry Janesky. Frank Mirovsky is the chair of the Rochambeau Memorial Monument Project.
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Plans for the site
This monument will memorialize the encampment of General Rochambeau and the French Army on Breakneck Hill in 1781 and, on their return, in 1782.
The Middlebury Historical Society announces our Capital Campaign to establish the Rochambeau Memorial in Meadowview Park.
Our goal is to raise enough funds to build a brick plaza, complete with benches, trees and other shrubbery and flagpoles, designed by our landscape architect. We have contacted several area professional sculptors and one will be chosen to craft the statue. This monument will stand in a beautiful public park that has many visitors. In addition, it has many parking spaces and has room for school classes and others to visit and learn about American values and the veterans who sacrificed and continue to sacrifice to ensure their survival.
It will also memorialize the sacrifice of the families of Middlebury, particularly those who fought in our War for Independence, and will serve to educate all about the values that our new nation established, and our long road to fulfilling those values.
We invite you to participate in this once in a lifetime opportunity. Please contact the Middlebury Historical Society: president@middleburyhistoricalsociety.org and let us know of your interest.
Links to our articles and other interesting sites about Rochambeau:
The Rochambeau Monument, April 2022 Bee-Intelligencer article
The Old Rochambeau Monument, June 2019 Bee-Intelligencer article
Rochambeau’s Visit to Middlebury, June 2016 Bee-Intelligencer article
Take a Tour of the Vernon House in Newport, Rhode Island, Rochambeau’s Headquarters while in Newport
View the Site of the Newport Restoration Foundation
The Middlebury Historical Society, Inc., 4 Library Road, Middlebury, Connecticut 06762; Mailing Address: P.O. Box 104, Middlebury, Connecticut 06762. Contact President@middleburyhistoricalsociety.org.