Lafayette Park, Fredonia, NY.
Posted by: 
Andy Too
N 42° 26.398 W 079° 19.930
17T E 637172 N 4699974
A centerpiece for Fredonia, " the most beautiful Village in New York."
Waymark Code: WM3PVK
Location: New York, United States
Date Posted: 05/01/2008
Views: 14
The following is an excerpt from New York: A Guide to the Empire State-Tour #8.
In Lafayette Park, at the center of the Village, is the statue of Mrs. Esther McNeil, who in 1873 led local women to organize one of the first units of the Women's Christian Temperence Union. For years the group battled valiantly against the evils caused by the fermenting grapes from local Vineyards. The influence of the W.C.T.U. is responsible for the developement of the Chautauqua belt as a fresh fruit and grape juice region rather than as a wine center.
Today, Lafayette Park remains the centerpiece of the Village of Fredonia, the site of many cultural and social events. Unfortunately the statue of Mrs. McNeil no longer exists in the park. All that remains is the base of the statue and the dedicatory plaque. The statue itself has been replace with a light fixture.