The Calumet news., 1912-06-11
PLAN TO RESTORE
FORT TlCONDEROGA.
Historic Spot to be Rebuilt and
Many War Relics Gathered
There as Museum.
:.:.s'.:s..!.....

abandonment Fort TtconderOGa, one of
the spots most replete with memories
of American history. is undergoing a
radical restoration and will stand when
the work is completed, in precise out
ings associated with the names of
Samuel de Champlain Montcalm,
Abercrombie. Burgoyne. st. Claire and
last. but by no means least, Col. Ethan
Allen. The work has been going on
quietly for several years, and has now
been carried out to about one- third
of it's proposed extent That which
has been done already has aroused
enthusiasm in all who have seen it,
including the party of eminent French
men who journeyed the other day to
Lake Champlain to present the La
France" memorial bust by Rodin.
From the time of the discovery of an
Indian stockade on the site of the fort
by Champlain in 1909 until the end of
the struggle of the colonies to throw
off the British yoke, Ticonderoga was
the scene of oft-renewed conflict. There
F'renchmen and Englishmen fought
bitterly and with varying fortune, TO be
followed by antagonists of one race
one faction of which was TO become
the founder of the United States. 1t
was there on July .. 1858. that Mont
calm inflicted upon Abercrombic one
OF the most severe defeats that the
English ever suffered at the hands of
Ga Jfransh IA
drove st. Claire and harasscd him as
far as Saratoga. where he fell into
the hands OF Gen, Gates. In 1875
Ethan Allen, with his Green Mountain |
Boys demanded and received the sur
render of the fort. In the name of |
the Great Jehovah and the Continental
congress- from neither of which. as
has been remarked, he held commits
sion, and in 1880 the British, last to |
occupy the fort i'm its changing des-
TIMES. evacuated it and left it to fall |
into decay.
once the accumulation of decades |
and the hlled-in earthworks of con-
querors had been removed. the out
lines Of the buildings could be ac-
curately traced. Indeed, in several
parts it was as if the ruins had merely
collapsed upon themselves. Where the
wooden walls had been burned by ac-
cident or by evacuating commanders,
such as Boulemarque, the roof tiles
lay upon the debris which cluttered
the original floor. Moreover, to as
sist in the work of making the restora-
ton absolutely authentic. the French
government gave permission to- have
its archives and records searched Pei
also purchased in France tall, brown
folios which would delight the heart
Of a bibhOphile and delighted Bosom
still more, for they contained the man.
uscript descriptions Of the forts plans
and were illustrated by beautiful and
carefully executed hand -colored plates
of the work as a whole and i'm detail
The architect, Of course. found these
volumes treasure trove, and they will
rest in the museum to be established
IN the fort when his use of them is at
an end.
Much of the original material Of the
tort as has been indicated. was found
intact Although. in the severe cli-
nate of the region. where forty below
zero is not uncommon no uncarod for
walls had much chance OF enduring,
he rough stones composing the walls
we're retrieved and will all eventually ]
ind their way into their former places
n the reconstructed walls and build
ngs. The same is true Of the bricks
which composed part Of the structure,
ma so diligent has been the search
or original material that not single
new brick will have to be used.
Indeed the aim Of the Pells has
been to restore the fort MS far as was
possible, not merely in APP
'earance, but i'm it's actual materials.
IS it stood when the red coats of the
British left IL in 1850. on this point
he architect said the other day:
After the federal government had
,eded the site 90 the state Of New
j ork. and IT had in turn been granted ,
q Columbia and Union colleges the ,
and upon which Ticonderoga stood .
'ecarne the property Of the Pell family ,
'NNf'Afh - NiAf dbVlA lOuI years 1
go, became interested in the restore ,
ion of the fort, and. after number ,
II consultations with Alfred G. Bosom. 4,
IN architect ot this city. who had been ,
ndeavoring for some time 10 have
ither the state of one OF the patriotic |
ocieties take up the work, acquired
omplete possession of the land ard ,
Mr.. Bosom TO proceed with !
he restoration.
The task was no light one as n It's A,
aDtures and recaptures the lines OF /,
lac fort had i'm great part apparently /.
cen obliterated. In one place, between
he bastions and the wall, eighteen
set OF excavation was necessary be-
IRE the remains of the old buildings
ould be reached. However the work