Part of the definition of a healthy city is that it knows itself. The Fall River Public Library and the Lafayette-Durfee House, Inc. hosted an educational tour of the historic Lafayette-Durfee House on June 2, 2007. Using stories and demonstrations, the tour afforded children in Fall River to see what life and housing was like in Fall River in the mid-1700s. Built sometime before the birth of Thomas Durfee's son, Joseph, in 1750, the house is one of the oldest structures in what is now the city of Fall River. A review of the history of Fall River reveals that the famed Marquis de Lafayette, who served with Joseph Durfee in the Revolutionary War, stayed at the house several times. The house was originally located just south of the present Superior Courthouse on North Main Street and was moved to its present location at 94 Cherry Street, once the location of the Durfee farm orchard in the 19th Century. Click here for photos of house tours conducted by the Preservation Society of Fall River, the Fall River Historical Society and the Lafayette-Durfee House Foundation at Christmastime. For more information about the Lafayette-Durfee House, contact David Jennings at 508-821-5976.
 

(Top row, left) Dave Jennings, President of the Lafayette-Durfee House, Inc. and Fall River Library Children's Services Director David Mello await the arrival of tour participants at the house that now sits at the western end of Cherry Street within sight of the Braga Bridge. (Top row, center) Volunteer tour guide Hallie Larkin welcomes the group. (Top row, right) Mr. Jennings describes some of the handmade baskets used to transport chickens and to catch eels in the nearby Taunton River. (Middle row, left and right) Mr. Mello asks notes how heavy the lead shot was that was used by colonists while Rose Reagan looks on. (Middle row, right) Nine-year-old Brendan McDonald picks up the shot as his younger sister Reagan looks on. (Bottom row, left) Visitors Ben, Rose and Brendan and volunteer Roger Lambert watch as Mr. Jennings demonstrates a reflector oven. (Bottom row, center and right) Ms. Larkin describes to Brenda Emsley and her parents Nicole and Scott from Fall River how tea was served in the 18th Century.