The history of Point au Fer

CHAMPLAIN — For many years, Point au Fer wasn't where people lived, but where they fought. The small peninsula, the former battleground for American and British soldiers, is nestled along Lake Champlain on the eastern side of the town of Champlain that currently contains under 100 residents. Over the course of 200 years, the land served many different purposes. Local history buff David Patrick recently released a new calendar, "A History of Point au Fer," focusing on the area's hectic past. "Point au Fer is surely the most historic location in all of Clinton County," said Patrick. "No other location has seen so many notable events occur." Patrick's research, obtained primarily through the SUNY Plattsburgh Feinberg Library, goes back to 1760 during the French and Indian War in June 1760 when the area's first European conflict occurred. During that time, Major Robert Rogers — leader and founder of the military group called "Roger's Rangers" — was ordered to destroy the French military posts along the Richelieu River in Canada. Patrick said the land remained vacant, for the most part, until 1774 when the British built a garrison called the "White House," which frequently switched back and forth between the American and British armies during the Revolutionary War. After the war ended in 1783, the British still occupied Point au Fer, along with land in Champlain and Chazy. During this time, the British tried to limit American settlement by ordering all men living up to 10 miles south of the Canadian border to join Canada's military and follow Quebec laws. The residents not living within that range were asked to leave. "This caused terrible anxiety among the people of Champlain," said Patrick. Tired of living in fear, Champlain and Chazy residents went to the highest man in power during this time: President George Washington. Although Washington couldn't make the journey to the North Country, he sent a convoy, Major John Doughty, on a secret mission to find the issues and report back to the actual White House. The British left in 1796. The area was surveyed in 1805 by William Beaumont and auctioned off in 1809. During the War of 1812, the site was used as a lookout post by the American army. Over the next several years, the site served many different purposes, such as a farming community and summer camp. Now, it's a residential community and the theme for Patrick's 2017 calendar, his 15th in a series. "The area has no trace of any event that happened back then," he said. "That's why I make these calendars — to inform people on what's been long forgotten within the town." Get the calendar Calendars can be purchased at Kinney Drugs in Champlain, village of Champlain office, town of Champlain office, Champlain Memorial Library, Chauvin Insurance in Champlain, Samuel de Champlain History Center, Cornerstone Drug and Gift in Rouses Point, Corner-Stone Book Shop in Plattsburgh, Clinton County Historical Association in Plattsburgh. Calendars cost $15 and all proceeds go to the Glenwood Cemetery Association.

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The history of Point au Fer

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