In September, Bob Moss ’57 and his wife, Norma, traveled to Lafayette, Kentucky, and Lafayette, Texas, marking their 18th and 19th destinations since they began to visit all the cities in the United States named Lafayette. Their quest started in 1997 at the beginning of the College’s last capital campaign and helped bring attention to it.
Bob Moss says they found a wonderful group of people in Lafayette, Kentucky, whose little town is slowly fading away. It was founded in 1839. It is surrounded on three sides by Fort Campbell, an Army post which is the home of the 101st Air Assault Division. Years ago, the U.S. Army bought the land around Lafayette, which essentially left the town at the end of a little-used country road. Many of the original buildings are still there, including a doctor’s office/small hospital and a bank.
On the other hand, in Lafayette, Texas, there is nothing but a “T” in the road and a cemetery. If there were any government offices in the area, the Mosses could not find them.
In 1997, Bob Moss researched the cities named after the Marquis de Lafayette and found there were 23 named Lafayette. He did not consider the many other cities named after the general such as Fayette, Fayetteville or Lafayette Hills. Only Fayetteville, N.C., was added to the list, as it was the first city in the United States named after the Marquis. It was founded in 1783. The Mosses also have visited LaGrange, Ga., as it was named after Lafayette’s home in France. All of the visits have been undertaken in a motor home, with advance announcements sent to alumni in the area.
The couple has found that many people don’t know why their city was named Lafayette.
On the other hand, there are those with extensive collections of memorabilia and pride at having their city named after the general.
This year, the Mosses are planning on completing their journeys as they head out west to visit Lafayettes in Oregon, California, and Colorado. They note that Lafayette, Pa., consists only of a church and a parsonage.