Fort Montgomery (Lake Champlain)

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For Revolutionary War fort on the Hudson River, see Fort Montgomery (Hudson River).

Fort Montgomery, July 9, 2002

Fort Montgomery was an American fort on Lake Champlain.

The massive stone fortification was built between 1844 and 1871 at the US/Canada border of Lake Champlain at Island Point in the town of Rouses Point, New York. The first fort at this location was built in 1816 to protect against an attack from British Canada such as that which led to the Battle of Plattsburgh in 1814. Due to an earlier surveying error this first fort was inadvertently built on the Canadian side of the border, resulting in its sometimes being better known as "Fort Blunder." When a new survey discovered that the 45th parallel was actually located some three-quarters of a mile south, effectively placing the fort in Canada, all construction on this first fort stopped and the fort was abandoned. Much of its material was scavenged by the locals for use in their own homes and public buildings. No evidence has come to light that this first fort was ever named. It is often mistakenly referred to as Fort Montgomery.

A second fort was constructed on the same site after the Webster-Ashburton Treaty of 1842 returned Island Point to the United States. Fort Montgomery was one of a very few "Permanent" or "Third System" forts built along the Northern Frontier, most being constructed along the Atlantic Coast.

In 1926 the US Government sold the Fort along with its adjacent Military Reservation at public auction. Most of the fort was demolished in 1936-1937 for fill to construct a bridge between Rouses Point, New York and Alburg, Vermont. After a number of private owners, the property was sold to Victor Podd, Sr. who constructed the headquarters of the Powertex Corporation on the adjacent "Commons" to the west of the fort. Island Point, the actual fort site, was left untouched. During the mid-1980's Podd worked with local historical societies to have the State of New York purchase the property with a view toward possible restoration of the site. Despite being offered the fort at no cost, negotiations were unsuccessful and the State declined to accept the property. Since May 2006 Podds' heirs have attempted to sell the fort on eBay. The first auction ended on June 5, 2006, with a winning bid of $5,000,310.00, but the sale was not completed. The fort and lands surrounding it remain for sale. [1]

[edit] References

[edit] Further reading

Millard, J. (2005). Fort Montgomery: Through the years...A Pictorial History of the Great Stone Fort on Lake Champlain. America's Historic Lakes. ISBN 978-0-9749854-2-8