The student news site of Hawthorne High School.

The Clarion

The student news site of Hawthorne High School.

The Clarion

The student news site of Hawthorne High School.

The Clarion

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General Lafayette’s Encampment in Hawthorne

Many know about General Lafayette and his role in the Revolutionary War. Many also have knowledge of Lafayette’s encampment during the Revolutionary War, which was stationed in the Borough of Hawthorne, Passaic County, New Jersey. Many, however, do not know exactly where in Hawthorne the famous general supposedly stayed for about six weeks during the Revolutionary War with his troops.

Lafayette’s light infantry were assigned to stay in a separate locality called Wagaraw. Wagaraw is now known as part of the Borough of Hawthorne. This location was called Camp Wagarough* by Lafayette in his correspondence on October 23, 1780 and November 2, 1780, which can be read at the New York Public Library. Reports in the Hawthorne New Jersey Tercentenary Souvenir Book note that for years the designated place where Lafayette’s troops was located was inaccurate. Lafayette was supposed to have his tent set up near the Ryerson house that’s located at 367 Goffle Road while his troops were camped along Wagaraw stream(now known as Goffle Brook). Historians have researched and revealed that Camp Wagaraw had actually been part of the land owned by the Ryerson family during the revolutionary time period and camping in that location “would have violated a principle of good military strategy,” so according to the history book, no main army would station itself along a brook that leaves them defenseless to enemies.

In Hawthorne, there are two homes built and originally owned by the Ryerson family. One is located at 40 Wagaraw Road while the second house is located at 367 Goffle Road. Each house is located within one-half mile of the other. Many locals of Hawthorne have stated that Lafayette stayed at the house located at Goffle Road, when in fact, Lafayette stayed at 40 Wagaraw Road. Locals believed since the houses were similar and built in the same time period by the same family name, the historical information about the houses had gotten muddled. This confusion is understandable since a wooden sign placed by the house by a patriotic society in 1929 stated that the house located on Goffle Road was Lafayette’s headquarters, when in fact, the other house located on Wagaraw Road was his headquarters.

According to the Hawthorne New Jersey Tercentenary Souvenir Book, research for the truth about Lafayette’s encampment consisted of hard facts. To fully understand the past, researchers were gathering information from the Library of Congress and the National Archives, which included many military documents of the Revolutionary War time period. Researchers were able to accurately state that Marquis de Lafayette did in fact reside in Hawthorne for about six weeks during the Revolutionary War, but he stayed at Wagaraw Road.

To learn more about Lafayette and the history of Hawthorne, NJ, information can be found in Hawthorne New Jersey Tercentenary Souvenir Book 1964, located in the high school library. *Original spelling