The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1911-12-26
TO Be
{ RECTEO FOR
MEMORIAL
ChampIain Monument at Crown
Point
VERMONT AND NEW YORK
Two States Join In Erecting the
Memorial to Great
Discoverer

The commissioners of New York
and Vermont for the Champaign ter
centenary celebration of 1909 have
united to erect permanent memoir
ial to Samuel Champlain at Crown
Point, and have adopted a design
that combines this object with a uti-
litarian purpose in the form OF
memorial lighthouse. 1t is the first
time a lighthouse has been so de-
signed in this country and probably
in any country.
The acts of New York and Yer
mont creating the commission TOT
the celebration provided that part OF
the funds appropriated should be re-
served for the erection of a perma-
nent monument. The combined com
missions chose the lighthouse reser-
walton at Crown Point as Offering
greater advantage than any OF the
many available situations about the
lake. 1t lies near the upper or
southern end of the lake, between
Bullawaga bay on the New YORK SIDE
and the narrow channel that leads
down from Ticonderoga on the Yer
mont side. Though actually in New
York. it seems, from either shore,
| TO lie between the two states. II is
visible from both shores and from
| the railroad and from the lake itself
| for a great distance to the north and
tho line of water traffic passes with
in coo feet of IT, The lighthouse IT.
self is built at the extremity OF
| Crown Point. on the site of an anc-
lent battery. whose earthworks are
still visible and is not far from the
ruins of Forts Frederick and Am
herst. dating from 1871 and 1856.
| Permission was obtained from the
government to use the site, subject
to the approval of the lighthouse bur.
eau. and an ARCHITECTURAL competition
was held under the direction OF Pro
lessor Hamlin of Columbia. The de-
signs submitted bore no names and
their authors were not known until
| after a decision had been reached.
Dillon, Mcclellan & Beaded was Sc
ected.
The plan provides for the recon
| struction of the present lighthouse in
monumental form. The style is
that OF France OF the time OF Cham
plain. as used in parts OF Fontaine-
bleau and other royal hunting lodges
situated in comparatively wild
places. Eight robust columns on a
high base surround the central shaft
and carry a boldly decorated entab-
lature. Above the entablature is a
visitors gallery, separate from the
gallery about the light itself, which is
carried up on the continuation of the
stair shaft. The whole has a sharp
~ accented silhouette and strong YER
teal lines OF light and shade, which
will differentiate It and make it's mon
umental character unmistakable al
any distance at which II can be seen
At the front Is bronze statue OF
Champlain, placed high so as to be
above the trees. On one side of the
statue Is an Indian and on the other
"couereur debois." Just below the
, group is a prov of conventionalized
canoe laden with the products of the
!. country Broad granite steps lead
from the landing wharf up to the cir
cular terrace on which the structure
stands, with two pyramidal memorial
obelisks az either side bearing tn,
I arms OF New York and Vermont.
The proximity of the old forts anC
the popular idea of Champlain al
} constantly engaged in battle would
point to the erection Of a memoria
. OF military character and as a mat
ter OF fact the forts were built lonl
before his time, and his real fame
rests essentially on his achievement
in exploration and navigation, Hi
military exploits against the Indians
resulted in allying them with tn,
British against the French and Hu
4 rons. and contributed to the ultimate
y loss Of Canada to the French so tina
I. these are not so much to be CON
y memorated as his more peaceful pun
y suits; and for this Lighthouse
!. seems especially we'll fitted.
. Ambassador Jusserand was a CUES
/. OF the celebration committee in 1905
!. and has ever since followed wit
!. great interest the progress OF IN
r plan for honorlng Champlaln. III
n has been In communication with tn
r architects ever since the conception
n OF the monument and has arrange
/. for the participation OF the Frenc
In tho memorial. As soon as tn
4 necessary data Is obtained fror
g France, he and the architects vii
y decide on the position that will b
!, given to Robins work.