From the 1700s and the French and Indian Wars through the Cold War, the Champlain Valley and its surrounding regions have had a close connection with the formation and growth of the nation.
The Tri-County region -- lovingly labeled the "North Country" by those who live in Clinton, Essex and Franklin counties -- has a rich and varied history, both geologically and culturally. At one time, much of the region was covered by a huge inland sea, and the Adirondack Mountain peaks are a visual reminder of the power the earth has used to create its current splendor. Human settlers found their way to the shores of Lake Champlain centuries before the lake had a name, and people have been moving inland ever since.
The lake, in fact, has had the most pronounced influence on the history of northeastern New York and has played an integral part in the growth of the nation itself. When Samuel de Champlain first sailed on the pristine water in 1609, it had already become useful as a waterway for the Native Americans who survived because of the wealth the lake and surrounding countryside offered them. But his presence announced the arrival of the European settler, and soon the word of a navigable waterway leading to the interior of the New World spread like wildfire.
Over the next two centuries, the lake would play a profound role in the fight for independence as a new nation began to take shape. In the mid-1700s, the French and Indian Wars -- in many ways a precursor to the War for Independence -- brought significant action to areas such as Crown Point, where the remains of that historic fortress remain as a popular attraction for visitors each year.
Author: Dennis Aprill; Outdoors Columnist for the Press-Republican |
It is hard to imagine an area in the northeastern United States that offers more outdoor-related opportunities than Lake Champlain and the nearby Adirondack Mountains.
While the Vermont side of the big lake, the sixth largest in the country, is blessed with fertile farmlands, the rugged western shore on the New York side was the home to tenacious outdoor types. That tradition continues today.
Lake Champlain is world recognized as the premier bass fishing lake in North America, luring anglers, both recreational and professional, from throughout the country in the warm months; in winter, ice fishermen congregate in "shanty villages" in search of perch, smelt, pike and even lake trout. In addition, Lake Champlain holds Atlantic salmon, walleye, pickerel, brown trout, steelhead and carp.
Paralleling Lake Champlain is a bike trail that meanders for 100 plus miles and a birding trail with locations for birders to park and observe.
The Kent-Delord House was built in 1797 and is one of the oldest residences in Plattsburgh. At the dawn of the 19th century, successful merchant and political figure Henry Delord purchased the house with his wife, Betsey. They renovated the home into a two-story federal structure, which appears much the same today as it did during their lifetime.
The lake, in fact, has had the most pronounced influence on the history of northeastern New York and has played an integral part in the growth of the nation itself. When Samuel de Champlain first sailed on the pristine water in 1609, it had already become useful as a waterway for the Native Americans who survived because of the wealth the lake and surrounding countryside offered them. But his presence announced the arrival of the European settler, and soon the word of a navigable waterway leading to the interior of the New World spread like wildfire.
