Historic Markers and Wayside Interpretive Panels in the Village and Town of Champlain
Many blue and yellow markers as well as modern wayside interpretive panels have been created to commemorate historical events and sites in and around the Town and Village of Champlain. Six of the blue and yellow markers were dedicated during the Town of Champlain's 150th anniversary in August of 1938. Starting in the mid-2000s, many wayside interpretive panels were placed at historic sites around the town. These panels were sponsored by the Lake Champlain Basin Program.
The following are the blue and yellow historic markers that were dedicated in August 1938:
The following are the blue and yellow historic markers that were dedicated in August 1938:
FIRST SAWMILL
--------------------------
NEAR THIS SITE THE
FIRST SAWMILL
WAS ERECTED IN 1788 BY
PLINY MOORE
AND
ELNATHAN ROGERS
(State Education Department 1938)
CAMP GROUND
OF THE BRITISH ARMY 1814
OPPOSITE IS THE
FARM OF PLINY MOORE
BUILT IN 1808
AND USED BY THE COMMISSARY
(State Education Department 1938)
BURYING YARD
----------------------------
SITE OF
BURYING YARD
IN WHICH WAS INTERRED
LT. COL. BENJAMIN FORSYTH
KILLED AT ODELLTOWN, L.C.
June 28, 1814
(State Education Department 1938)
GEN. IZARD'S ENCAMPMENT
---------------------------------------------
EAST BATTERY
ON THIS HILL WAS ENCAMPED
THE ARTILLERY OF THE
AMERICAN ARMY
UNDER GEN. GEORGE IZARD
1814
(State Education Department 1938)
[was located on Pine St.; long since removed]
ASHMUN BIRTHPLACE SITE
-----------------------------------------------
SITE OF THE BIRTHPLACE OF
JEHUDI ASHMUN
April 21, 1794
FIRST COLONIZATION AGENT
AT LIBERIA, AFRICA
1822-1828
(State Education Department 1938)
FIRST SCHOOL
------------------------
FIRST SCHOOL
WHICH STOOD NEAR THIS SITE
DR. WILLIAM BEAUMONT
SURGEON AND PSYCHOLOGIST
WAS SCHOOLMASTER 1807-1810
(State Education Department 1938)
CHAMPLAIN ACADEMY
---------------------------------------
ERECTED A.D. 1838
BY THE PUBLIC-SPIRITED EFFORTS OF TOWNSPEOPLE
ZEALOUS FOR THE SPREAD OF USEFULL KNOWLEDGE,
DESTROYED BY FIRE JAN. 19, 1887
REBUILT A.D. 1888
[possibly dedicated at the site of the school on Elm St. in 1938, the school burned down in 1941 and was relocated nearby;
the plaque is supposed to be at the Northeastern Clinton Central School]
--------------------------
NEAR THIS SITE THE
FIRST SAWMILL
WAS ERECTED IN 1788 BY
PLINY MOORE
AND
ELNATHAN ROGERS
(State Education Department 1938)
CAMP GROUND
OF THE BRITISH ARMY 1814
OPPOSITE IS THE
FARM OF PLINY MOORE
BUILT IN 1808
AND USED BY THE COMMISSARY
(State Education Department 1938)
BURYING YARD
----------------------------
SITE OF
BURYING YARD
IN WHICH WAS INTERRED
LT. COL. BENJAMIN FORSYTH
KILLED AT ODELLTOWN, L.C.
June 28, 1814
(State Education Department 1938)
GEN. IZARD'S ENCAMPMENT
---------------------------------------------
EAST BATTERY
ON THIS HILL WAS ENCAMPED
THE ARTILLERY OF THE
AMERICAN ARMY
UNDER GEN. GEORGE IZARD
1814
(State Education Department 1938)
[was located on Pine St.; long since removed]
ASHMUN BIRTHPLACE SITE
-----------------------------------------------
SITE OF THE BIRTHPLACE OF
JEHUDI ASHMUN
April 21, 1794
FIRST COLONIZATION AGENT
AT LIBERIA, AFRICA
1822-1828
(State Education Department 1938)
FIRST SCHOOL
------------------------
FIRST SCHOOL
WHICH STOOD NEAR THIS SITE
DR. WILLIAM BEAUMONT
SURGEON AND PSYCHOLOGIST
WAS SCHOOLMASTER 1807-1810
(State Education Department 1938)
CHAMPLAIN ACADEMY
---------------------------------------
ERECTED A.D. 1838
BY THE PUBLIC-SPIRITED EFFORTS OF TOWNSPEOPLE
ZEALOUS FOR THE SPREAD OF USEFULL KNOWLEDGE,
DESTROYED BY FIRE JAN. 19, 1887
REBUILT A.D. 1888
[possibly dedicated at the site of the school on Elm St. in 1938, the school burned down in 1941 and was relocated nearby;
the plaque is supposed to be at the Northeastern Clinton Central School]
The Town of Champlain
Pliny Moore's sawmill was on the Great Chazy River in Perrys Mills. A blue and yellow plaque notes the location.
The Village of Champlain
In 1938, the Village of Champlain, with the assistance of architect and historian Hugh McLellan, erected a bronze marker at the site of Village Hall (the former Presbyterian Church at the corner of Main and Church Streets). The marker commemorated the first settlers who arrived in 1788 to build a sawmill: Pliny Moore (former soldier and surveyor of Champlain), William Beaumont (surveyor and uncle to the future Dr. William Beaumont), Samuel Ashmun (father of Jehudi Ashmun), Joseph Rowe, Elnathan Rogers (brother-in-law of Pliny Moore) and Caleb Thomas (blacksmith). Six blue and yellow markers were also dedicated in the village and Perrys Mills.
Planning Committee:
Memorial Tablet and Historical Markers Are Erected At Champlain
(North Countryman, September 8, 1938)
Perhaps the most interesting event on the very elaborate program presented at the Champlain Sesquicentennial on August 20, 1938, in honor of the founding of the town 150 years before, was the dedication of the memorial tablet attached to a huge boulder permanently placed in position in front of the Village Hall. While hundreds of persons saw the dedication and heard the dedicatory remarks of the speakers, there were many who did not have the opportunity to read the inscription on the tablet. It follows:
Inscriptions on the six historical markers placed at sites in and near the village are as follows:
Planning Committee:
- Arsene Tremblay, Honorary Chairman
- A J V Durbin, Chairman
- C W McLellan (Woody), Secretary
- Philip Agel, Finance
- Hugh McLellan, Historian and Markers
- Mrs Mary Deal, Mrs. Lola Nason and J J Fallon, Tickets
- Walter B. Spelman, Dinner Program
- Decorations, Clarke Washburn
- Banquet, Mrs, George Glode
- Publicity, Oscar E. Bredenberg
Memorial Tablet and Historical Markers Are Erected At Champlain
(North Countryman, September 8, 1938)
Perhaps the most interesting event on the very elaborate program presented at the Champlain Sesquicentennial on August 20, 1938, in honor of the founding of the town 150 years before, was the dedication of the memorial tablet attached to a huge boulder permanently placed in position in front of the Village Hall. While hundreds of persons saw the dedication and heard the dedicatory remarks of the speakers, there were many who did not have the opportunity to read the inscription on the tablet. It follows:
Inscriptions on the six historical markers placed at sites in and near the village are as follows:
- "Near this Site the First Saw Mill Was Erected In 1788 by Pliny Moore and Elnathan Rogers"
- "East Battery. On this Hill Was Encamped the Artillery of the American Army Under Gen. George Izard, 1814."
- "Camp Ground of the British Army, 1814. Opposite is the Farm of Pliny Moore, Built in 1808, and Used by the Commissary"
- “First School, Which Stood Near This Site, Dr. William Beaumont, Surgeon and Physiologist, was Schoolmaster, 1807—10”
- “Site of the Burying Yard in Which Was Interred Lt.-Col. Benjamin Forsyth, Killed at Odelltown, L. C., June 28, 1814”.
- "Site of the Birthplace of Jehudi Ashmun, April 21, 1794, First Colonization Agent At Liberia, Africa, 1822‑1828".
1788 1938
TO COMMEMORATE THE FOUNDING
OF THE
TOWN OF CHAMPLAIN
MARCH 7, 1788
AND THE ARRIVAL OF THE FIRST SETTLERS
PLINY MOORE JOSEPH ROWE
WILLIAM BEAUMONT ELNATHAN ROGERS
SAMUEL ASHMUN CALEB THOMAS
MAY 23, 1788
ALSO AS A TRIBUTE TO
THOSE CANADIANS, EARLY INHABITANTS OF THE
TOWN, WHO SUPPORTED THE AMERICAN CAUSE
IN THE REVOLUTION.
ERECTED BY THE CITIZENS OF CHAMPLAIN
AUG. 20, 1938.
TO COMMEMORATE THE FOUNDING
OF THE
TOWN OF CHAMPLAIN
MARCH 7, 1788
AND THE ARRIVAL OF THE FIRST SETTLERS
PLINY MOORE JOSEPH ROWE
WILLIAM BEAUMONT ELNATHAN ROGERS
SAMUEL ASHMUN CALEB THOMAS
MAY 23, 1788
ALSO AS A TRIBUTE TO
THOSE CANADIANS, EARLY INHABITANTS OF THE
TOWN, WHO SUPPORTED THE AMERICAN CAUSE
IN THE REVOLUTION.
ERECTED BY THE CITIZENS OF CHAMPLAIN
AUG. 20, 1938.
Jehudi Ashmun
Jehudi Ashmun (April 21, 1794 – August 25, 1828) was an American religious leader and social reformer who was born in Champlain, New York. He later traveled to the African nation of Liberia and became its first governor.
A blue and yellow historic marker notes the location of his birthplace. His house is not standing but it was noted many years ago that the foundation was still present. This marker was dedicated in August 1938. A second Ashmun marker was dedicated in August 1959 as part of the 350th Champlain Sesquicentennial celebrations. The marker was placed at the elementary school at the time but was recently moved to the village park.
A blue and yellow historic marker notes the location of his birthplace. His house is not standing but it was noted many years ago that the foundation was still present. This marker was dedicated in August 1938. A second Ashmun marker was dedicated in August 1959 as part of the 350th Champlain Sesquicentennial celebrations. The marker was placed at the elementary school at the time but was recently moved to the village park.
Dr. William Beaumont
William Beaumont (November 21, 1785 – April 25, 1853) was a resident of the Village of Champlain between 1807 and 1810. He taught school on Oak Street during these years. In 1810, he left Champlain and went to St. Albans, Vermont to train as a physician. He then entered the army and became a surgeon. It was during this time in the army that he studied human digestion and became known as the "Father of Gastric Physiology."
William Beaumont had an uncle named William Beaumont who was one of the first settlers of Champlain in 1788. This Beaumont was a surveyor who surveyed many areas of Champlain, including Point au Fer in 1805.
A blue and yellow marker notes the location of Champlain's first school where Beaumont taught. The marker was created by Hugh McLellan in 1938.
William Beaumont had an uncle named William Beaumont who was one of the first settlers of Champlain in 1788. This Beaumont was a surveyor who surveyed many areas of Champlain, including Point au Fer in 1805.
A blue and yellow marker notes the location of Champlain's first school where Beaumont taught. The marker was created by Hugh McLellan in 1938.
Abolitionists Noadiah and Caroline Moore
The Village and Town of Champlain in the War of 1812
Dewey's Tavern
The Dewey family homestead is one of the oldest houses in the Town of Champlain and was witness to many important events during the War of 1812. The house was built by one of Champlain’s earliest settlers and its fields were occupied during the War of 1812 by both American and British troops. Two prisoner of war negotiation meetings were held at the house. Near the house was the Dewey family cemetery where the remains of American and British soldiers were buried. The former Dewey property is one of the most historic locations in Clinton County.
The Arrival of Elias Dewey in Champlain
In the late 1790s and early 1800s, many New Englanders arrived in the Town of Champlain from Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont and central New York. In 1797, Elias Dewey and his wife Lovisa settled here. Elias was born in Hebron, Connecticut on April 26, 1768, and died in Champlain on January 11, 1854. He married Lovisa Hamilton (July 29, 1773-May 19, 1846). She was born in Massachusetts and was the daughter of John Hamilton and Sarah Stone. The Hamiltons settled in Champlain north of the Dewey’s house.
Elias Dewey purchased Lot 104 of 80 acres from his father-in-law, John Hamilton. Although a sawmill existed in Champlain, Elias chose to build a log house using logs that were hand hewed with a broad axe and adze. His family lived in this log house for two or three years. Elias’s daughter, Drusilla, was told that a blanket was placed over the front door to block the cold winter wind from entering the dwelling. Today, the 1797 log cabin still stands and is one of the oldest structures in Champlain. Its hand-hewed timbers and dovetailed corners are still clearly seen 224 years later.
In 1800, Elias built a 15-room frame house adjacent to his log cabin. He was fairly well-off by then and his house was built of exceptional workmanship. Since Elias’s house was on the main road from Albany to Canada, many travelers passed by and needed rest. This prompted him to build an addition on the back of his house that was used as an inn. With the addition, the entire tavern contained 22 rooms. By 1815, it was known as the “Elias Dewey Inn”.
The War of 1812
The War of 1812 started on June 18, 1812 and Champlain saw many incursions by the Canadian militia, British troops and Indians employed by the British army. Numerous skirmishes took place between the tavern and the border on the Route 276 road as well as on the hill off of upper Prospect Street. Champlain Town’s residents were in “perpetual fear” throughout the war.
In September 1813, General Wade Hampton planned to invaded Canada by way of Odelltown. His army of 3,000 to 4,000 troops camped in the fields surrounding Dewey’s Tavern and then marched up today’s Route 276 to the border. In Odelltown, his army was easily repulsed.
In March of 1814, General James Wilkinson planned to conquer Montreal. On March 30, his army of 4,000 soldiers marched from Dewey’s Tavern to Lacolle and engaged in battle around a large stone mill. Wilkinson was forced to withdraw after a two-hour battle with 13 killed and 128 wounded. The dead were buried in Canada but the wounded were taken back to the tavern. Drusilla Dewey, Elias’s 12-year-old daughter, remembered that the wounded soldiers were laid on the floors of the house and in the out-buildings (probably the log cabin and barn). The soldiers who died at the tavern were buried in the family cemetery in “nameless graves.”
On August 31 and September 1, 1814 British general George Prevost’s army of 14,000 soldiers crossed the border into Champlain. The left-wing of the Army camped in the fields near the Dewey and Hamilton houses.
On September 11, the Battle of Plattsburgh occurred and the British were defeated. Drusilla Dewey said that people in Champlain could hear the firing of the cannons in Plattsburgh. Drusilla remembered seeing the “flying soldiers” retreat back into Canada. Abandoned war material littered Route 9 for 20 miles. One brigade remained in Champlain until September 25.
Tradition says that when the British retreated, they left many of their wounded at Dewey’s Tavern. When the wounded died, they were buried in the Dewey family cemetery. Another story states that a British officer left his dispatch box at the house and it remained in the Dewey family for years. In 1936, it was owned by the writer of an article about Dewey’s Tavern.
The Signing of Prisoner of War Treaties at Dewey’s Tavern
During the war, both countries were eager to negotiate prisoner of war exchange agreements to reduce their prisoners. Four agreements were signed and two of these were signed at Dewey’s Tavern. On April 15, 1814, American Brig. Gen. John Winder and British Adjutant General Edward Baynes signed one agreement. The American government did not accept this agreement and it was renegotiated at the tavern on July 16.
A complete history of Dewey's Tavern as well as Champlain's role in the War of 1812 can be found in the 2010 Champlain Historic Calendar.
The original 1797 log cabin built by Elias Dewey still stands today and is used as a shed. The original ax and adze marks are clearly visible on the outside of the building. The interior reveals more about how the cabin was built. Injured American soldiers were cared for here in the shed after the failed offensive on the Lacolle Block House in March of 1814.
In 1800, Dewey built a two-story frame house using wood cut in a nearby sawmill. The floor joists in the basement are composed of huge logs that are still lined with bark.
In 1800, Dewey built a two-story frame house using wood cut in a nearby sawmill. The floor joists in the basement are composed of huge logs that are still lined with bark.
Mr. Joseph Bedard at his house and farm, formerly the "Elias Dewey Inn," later known as "Dewey's Tavern." Both interpretive panels have been installed. This is one of the most historic houses in Clinton County as officers from both armies stayed at and camped around the house. Two prisoner of war treaties between American and British agents were negotiated in this house. Photos by David Patrick.
Pliny Moore Stone Farm House and Murray's Raid (1813)
The British Commissary, September 1814
Maps created by David Patrick based on his research of the War of 1812 in Champlain. See the two Champlain historical calendars for 2006 and 2010 for more information.
Samuel de Champlain Statue,
blue and yellow marker and wayside panel,
St. Mary's Church, Village of Champlain
The first monument built in the United States to commemorate Samuel de Champlain was erected in Champlain in 1907.
Originally, the monument was to be placed at the intersection of Oak and Main Streets in front of the Champlain House. However, when various Franco-American societies raised money for the project, the location for the monument was moved here to St. Mary’s Church. The Rev. Father Alexis F.X. Chagnon was instrumental in leading the drive to erect the monument at the church. Several Champlainers were part of this project and included Louis-Camille Lafontaine who was later appointed a commissioner for the 1909 Champlain Tercentenary celebrations. Lafontaine had an important role in the building of this monument as well as the design of the Plattsburgh and Crown Point Champlain Memorials in 1912.
On July 4, 1907, 6,000 people attended the monument unveiling ceremonies that included a parade, speeches, dinners and fireworks. On the church lawn were American and French flags with the mottoes, “Vive Champlain” and “Nous-Nous Souvenons”. On August 8, 1959, during the 350th anniversary of Champlain’s exploration of Lake Champlain, the monument was re-dedicated during a day long celebration with as many as 10,000 visitors to the village. On August 2, 2009, the monument was again re-dedicated as part of the Quadricentennial celebrations.
Originally, the monument was to be placed at the intersection of Oak and Main Streets in front of the Champlain House. However, when various Franco-American societies raised money for the project, the location for the monument was moved here to St. Mary’s Church. The Rev. Father Alexis F.X. Chagnon was instrumental in leading the drive to erect the monument at the church. Several Champlainers were part of this project and included Louis-Camille Lafontaine who was later appointed a commissioner for the 1909 Champlain Tercentenary celebrations. Lafontaine had an important role in the building of this monument as well as the design of the Plattsburgh and Crown Point Champlain Memorials in 1912.
On July 4, 1907, 6,000 people attended the monument unveiling ceremonies that included a parade, speeches, dinners and fireworks. On the church lawn were American and French flags with the mottoes, “Vive Champlain” and “Nous-Nous Souvenons”. On August 8, 1959, during the 350th anniversary of Champlain’s exploration of Lake Champlain, the monument was re-dedicated during a day long celebration with as many as 10,000 visitors to the village. On August 2, 2009, the monument was again re-dedicated as part of the Quadricentennial celebrations.
LE 4 JUILLET, 1907. À LA MÉMOIRE DE
SAMUEL DE CHAMPLAIN
PAR LES FRANCO-AMÉRICANS.
SAMUEL DE CHAMPLAIN,
NÉ À BROUAGE, FRANCE, EN 1567, FONDATEUR DE QUÉBEC, EN 1608.
DÉCOUVREUR DU LAC CHAMPLAIN, 6 JUILLET, 1609.
MORT À QUEBEC AN 1635.
HE VALUED THE SALVATION OF A SOUL MORE THAN THE
CONQUEST OF A KINGDOM.
BEHOLD: A FERVENT CHRISTIAN; AN INTREPID NAVIGATOR;
A MAN OF LETTERS AND THE DISCOVERER OF THE GEM
OF THE LAKES OF AMERICA.
LE SALUT D’UNE ÂME VAUT PLUS QUE LA CONQUÊTE D’UN ROYAUME.
SA MÉMOIRE EST UNE INSPIRATION QUI NOUS PORTE VERS LE VRAI,
LE BIEN ET LE BEAU!
COMME NOTRE PATRON, ST. JEAN BAPTISTE;
IL “PRÉPARA LES VOIES” SUR CE CONTINENT.
IL FÛT UN FERVENT CHRÉTIEN: UN INTREPIDE NAVIGATEUR:
UN SAVANT, ET LE DÉCOUVREUR DU PLUS BEAU LAC DE L’AMÉRIQUE.
SAMUEL DE CHAMPLAIN
PAR LES FRANCO-AMÉRICANS.
SAMUEL DE CHAMPLAIN,
NÉ À BROUAGE, FRANCE, EN 1567, FONDATEUR DE QUÉBEC, EN 1608.
DÉCOUVREUR DU LAC CHAMPLAIN, 6 JUILLET, 1609.
MORT À QUEBEC AN 1635.
HE VALUED THE SALVATION OF A SOUL MORE THAN THE
CONQUEST OF A KINGDOM.
BEHOLD: A FERVENT CHRISTIAN; AN INTREPID NAVIGATOR;
A MAN OF LETTERS AND THE DISCOVERER OF THE GEM
OF THE LAKES OF AMERICA.
LE SALUT D’UNE ÂME VAUT PLUS QUE LA CONQUÊTE D’UN ROYAUME.
SA MÉMOIRE EST UNE INSPIRATION QUI NOUS PORTE VERS LE VRAI,
LE BIEN ET LE BEAU!
COMME NOTRE PATRON, ST. JEAN BAPTISTE;
IL “PRÉPARA LES VOIES” SUR CE CONTINENT.
IL FÛT UN FERVENT CHRÉTIEN: UN INTREPIDE NAVIGATEUR:
UN SAVANT, ET LE DÉCOUVREUR DU PLUS BEAU LAC DE L’AMÉRIQUE.
Rededication of the Champlain monument during the Quadricentennial celebrations in August 2009.
St. Joseph's Church, Coopersville
Point au Fer Historic Site
A complete history of Point au Fer in the French and Indian War and Revolutionary War can be found in the 2017 Champlain Historic Calendar which is still on sale.
Steamboat Landing, Rouses Point
Markers and Plaques in the Rouses Point area
(not a comprehensive sample)
Important copyright notice
All wayside panels, except the steamboat panel, were created by David Patrick and designed and sponsored by the Lake Champlain Basin Program. All recent photos, except the photos of the 2009 Champlain monument dedication, are owned by David Patrick and are copyright.