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Fort Ticonderoga Purchases Carillon Cruise Boat


Fort Ticonderoga announced today that it has acquired the Carillon cruise boat, 60 foot replica 1920s 1000 Islands cruise boat. Plans are underway for 2015 waterway tours and programs at Fort Ticonderoga.

Fort Ticonderoga, a not-for-profit educational organization and major cultural destination, announced today that it has purchased the Carillon cruise boat, formerly located on the shores of Lake Champlain in Shoreham, Vermont. Waterway tours will be offered by Fort Ticonderoga beginning in the spring of this year. The acquisition of the boat is part of a larger Fort Ticonderoga waterway recreation and transportation initiative that is anticipated to continue to develop over the next several years.

“Fort Ticonderoga is thrilled to have the opportunity to expand its cultural destination experience to the internationally significant waters of Lake Champlain. The lake is a tremendous asset for our region and with Fort Ticonderoga’s 2 miles of shoreline and story that is intricately linked to Lake Champlain, the development of a water experience is an obvious next step in our program development,” said Beth Hill, Fort Ticonderoga President and CEO. “Thanks in part to a New York Empire State Development grant and other generous supporters, Fort Ticonderoga’s waterway experience will expand our tourism demographic, increase the length of stay of our guests, connect our historic properties on both sides of Lake Champlain, and highlight Ticonderoga’s epic story in a new and exciting way. We are particularly enthusiastic about this project as it is directly linked with a Town of Ticonderoga priority to increase access and waterway experiences through tourism development.”

“We are extremely pleased to acquire this iconic vessel,” said Sanford W. Morhouse, Fort Ticonderoga Chairman of the Board. “My wife and I were privileged to be guests of Captain Paul Saenger and his wife Rene, the Carillon’s prior owners, on Captain Paul’s last Carillon cruise prior to his passing. Captain Paul clearly wanted the boat to stay in the southern part of Lake Champlain, and we at Fort Ticonderoga are exceedingly pleased that we will fulfill that wish while greatly enhancing the Fort Ticonderoga experience.”

The Carillon boat, a replica of a 1920s 1000 Islands cruise boat, is a 60 foot luxury vessel previously owned by Paul and Rene Sanger. The Saengers owned and operated the boat from a dock in Shoreham, Vermont, offering scenic and educational tours in southern Lake Champlain that highlighted the region’s history, beauty, and nature. Fort Ticonderoga plans to finalize ownership of the boat this spring as it builds plans for waterway tours on Lake Chaplain for the 2015 season.

Fort Ticonderoga recently received a funding in the latest round of the New York State Regional Economic Development grant awards. The grant was awarded to Fort Ticonderoga to support the first phase of development in a waterway transportation and recreation system. Specifically, the funding will be used to construct a dock. Fort Ticonderoga continues to seek philanthropic support to fund the development of this waterway initiative and related educational programs.

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Saturday Quote

“Mediocrity knows nothing higher than itself, but talent instantly recognizes genius.”

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
The Valley of Fear (1914)

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Now For Some History: Date Unknown

These two old postcards, which are a bit different from ones I’ve seen before, are courtesy of my brother Al’s collection.

They’re a bit tricky to date. The Horicon was in service from 1877 to 1911 and the picture of the shoreline has people in it. Judging from their attire, I would guess, the bottom one dates from about the late 1800’s.

What a good way to start the New Year, by looking at some scenes from long ago. (Click to see full-scale.)

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Happy New Year & The Significance of 2015

Welcome 2015! I hope that everyone had an enjoyable, and safe evening last night, and that 2015 brings you much happiness.

2015 will mark the 100th anniversary of the Hulett Hotel fire, which I chronicled in my book, on the left sidebar.

As we get closer to the actual date in November, I will post some pictures that did not make the book. Others pictures that did make the book, but which you’ll see better when you can expand them to full-screen and finally one picture that I have found since the book was released that would have made it into the book if I had had it during the first printing.

So once again, Happy New Year to everyone, and please continue reading the Huletts Current. 2015 will be an exciting year.

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Saturday Quote

“It is said an Eastern monarch once charged his wise men to invent him a sentence to be ever in view, and which should be true and appropriate in all times and situations. They presented him the words, “And this too, shall pass away.” How much it expresses! How chastening in the hour of pride! How consoling in the depths of affliction!”

Abraham Lincoln
Address, Wisconsin State Agricultural Society
Milwaukee
September 30, 1859

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Merry Christmas


Nativity of Christ – medieval illustration from the Hortus deliciarum of Herrad of Landsberg (12th century) (Click image to see full-scale.)

I wanted to take this opportunity to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy holiday season.

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Frances Hebert, R.I.P.

It is with much sadness that I report that Frances Hebert, passed away on Thursday, December 18th at the age of 101. Frances was the oldest child of Royden Barber, who was instrumental in selling the first Hulett hotel to William H. Wyatt. Royden Barber had three children; Frances, Agnes Peterson, and Stanley Barber, who I interviewed in 2012. Frances was a delightful person who passed along many recollections of life in Dresden to me during the early part of the 1900’s.

Her father’s sister, Cora Barber, was married to Henry Buckell making Frances the niece of Henry and Cora Buckell, who owned the first Hulett hotel. She was an invaluable link to the history of the town of Dresden, experiencing first hand, life in Dresden and Huletts Landing during the first part of the last century.

For many years, she helped her father deliver milk, vegetables and meat to the families in Huletts Landing on horse drawn sleds. She also helped mow the fields, including Bluff Head. She loved horses and was even riding one when I last saw her at age 99!

Frances was always very kind to me, sharing not only her knowledge of local events but most importantly, sharing her experiences about what life was like in Huletts from the early 1900’s.

In another unique fact, she was also featured on the billboard advertising the Whitehall Health Center for many years, as you entered Whitehall.

She will be dearly missed. Our condolences to the Hebert, Peterson, Barber and Foster families.

Update:

Here is her obituary in the Post Star.

“May God support us all the day long, till the shades lengthen and the evening comes, and the busy world is hushed, and the fever of life is over, and our work is done. Then in His mercy may He give us a safe lodging, and a holy rest and peace at the last.”

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Six Years Old

Well, here it is another November 9th which is the day I celebrate the “birthday” of the Huletts Current. It’s been exactly six years since my first post in 2008.

I’ve been told that the site is some people’s first stop on the Internet every morning. While I’m sorry there’s not always breaking news, I try to mix it up with news, interviews, history and fun. I’m always looking for info to share with everyone.

So thank you to those who read the Huletts Current and those who share pictures and tidbits with the rest of the community here. If it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t be engaging in this and I’d certainly run out of things to say.

As is my custom, here are the most read posts from the past year.

1.) Huletts Landing Post Office to Remain Open
2.) HLVFD’s Dual Event: “Santa’s Visit” and “Fire House Re-dedication”
3.) Dresden Has a Website: www.TownOfDresdenNY.com
4.) Catholic Bishop Visits Huletts Landing
5.) Mutual Aid Ice Drill a Success
6.) Bald Eagle Sighting: Lake Champlain South Bay Bridge
7.) Interview with Annelies Cook, U.S. Biathlon Team
8.) Foster Brook Summer Flood Revisited: Where Did the Water Come From?
9.) Interview with Pat Rushia: Candidate for School Board
10.) Catholic Chapel of the Assumption Interior Renovation in Progress

So thanks again for reading, and thanks for sharing your news and pictures here. Now it’s on to year seven.

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Columbus Day 2014

Columbus Discovers America
The Royal Standard of Spain

Oil on Panel by N.C. Wyeth (1882-1945)
U.S. Naval Academy Museum

One of a set of twelve paintings created by the noted Brandywine School artist Nowell C. Wyeth late in his career. He is the father of artist Andrew Wyeth and grandfather of Jamie Wyeth. The pictures were used to illustate a 1944 calendar with its theme being historic flags in American history.