Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1908-10-02
800 Years of Lake ChampIsin.


Champlain. New York has already ap-
propriated $4,000 for the celebration
and it is expected that this government
and the Canadian government will make
liberal appropriations. The Legislature
of 1906 authorized the government to ap-
point a commission to report to the
Legislature of 1908. The commission
was appointed, has made a thorough
report that will be made to the coming
legislature. After rehearsing what the
commission has already accomplished
the report continues:
The commission desires to call the at
tention of the general assembly to the
fact that Samuel Champlain, in july.
1909, not only discovered the beautiful
body of water which bears his name but
also was the first European to set eyes
upon any part of the territory now
known as Vermont The year 1909.
therefore, will be the three hundredth an
niversary of the discovery of Vermont, as
well as that of Lake Champlain, and it is
sincerely desirable that this important
event be celebrated in a fitting manner
by the people of this State.
From time immemorial the observance
of times and events has been found de-
sirabe and in the truest sense profitable
Those states and nations that have at
tanned the most advanced civilization are
those that have held in highest esteem
the famous deeds of their founders and
patriots.
The historic importance of this ami
versary, and a proper consideration for
the good name of the State, alike demand
that this commonwealth take official no
tice of the occasion. Such celebration
will be an inspiration to a more earnest
and careful study of history to a truer
appreciation of the important place held
in the annals of the nations by the terri
tory in which we live; and to a higher
standard of patriotism.
1t is well for us to recall the prominent
place which Lake Champlain holds in
the story of North America. From pre-.
historic times 1t has been great natural
thOroughfare between the st. Lawrence
River and the Hudson Valley.
The great nations, France. Great Brit
ain and America, have made it a high
way in war and in peace.
The French erected fort at Isle La
ment within the present limits of Yer.
mont, and although it was not literally
p' rmanent settlement, yet it was fire.
quent stopping place for voyagers
through the lake, and 1T is believed new
er thereafter lapsed into a wilderness.
The first public observance of the
Christian religion in Vermont was held
at Isle La Motto, and the relics of that
early period of French occupation may
still be seen at the shrine of st. Anne in
that place.
At Crown Point, France established
Fort St Frederic, with the single excep-
ton of Quebec her strongest American
fortress; and there, at latter date Great
Britain built a stronghold with ramparts
twenty-five feet high and twenty five
thick, at a cost of over two millions of
pounds sterling. For these great fort
resses that guarded the route from Cana
da to New York and New England, the
armies of France and England contend
ed in series of campaigns, for news of
which the capitols of Europe waited in
eager expectancy. In no small measure
the manner in which America should be
developed was fought out between some
of the greatest captains of the age in the
valley of Lake Champlain. The British
Revolution at Ticonderoga upon the de-
mand of Ethan Allen, ain the name of
the Great Jehovah and the Continental
Congress" an event of tremendous sig
nificance in its effect upon the country,
and in furnishing artillery which enabled
Washington to compel the evacuation of
Boston by the British. The first import
ant naval battle of the Revolution was
fought on Lake Champlain. The first
aggressive movement of the American
colonies on a considerable scale, the in
vasion of Canada, was undertaken by
way of Lake Champlain and by the same
route the army returned, broken by de-
feat and disease, to take post at the Cham
PLAIN fortress. 1t was by way of Lake
Champlain that Burgoyne came in 1777,
with boasts and threats and powerful
army, to cut in twain the American colo
MES, and it was at Bennington that he
received the defeat that was the begin
ming of his downfall. At Plattsburg was
fought one of the fiercest battles of the
War of 1912; and McDonough's victory
was one of the most important in Ameri-
can naval history. 1t will be recalled that
McDonoughs fleet was built at Vergen-
mes on Otter Creek, and at the mouth of
this river is Fort Cassin, where another
important engagement TOOK place.
In 1909 the vermont" the second sue
cessful boat ever navigated by steam, be-
gan regular trips; and so the year 1909
will mark the one hundredth anniver ,ary
of steam navigation ON this body of wa
ter.
1t would be difficult to find in America
region richer in historical associations.
President Roosevelt has declared that in
his opinion no section of America is rich
er in historic lore than the Champlain
Valley.
When Samuel Champlain first sailed
into these waters his Indian guides.
pointing to the Eastward, to the land we
call Vermont, told the French pioneer
that there were in those parts beautiful
valleys and fields fertile in corn, with an
innumerable variety of other fruits"
And from that day to this the beauty
of our valleys and the strength of our
hills have excited the admiration of all
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