The first record of the white man's visit to this immediate vicinity was in
1615, five years prior to the memorable landing of the Pilgrims. Samuel de
Champlain and his compatriots on their expedition to the Iroquois country
reached Lake Ontario near Kingston, Ontario, Canada, thus bringing the
expedition within the water limit of our town.
Early in 1655, French Missionary priests, Father Chaumonoit and Father
Dablon were here as missionaries among the Onondaga Indians. History shows that
both England and France were endeavoring to monopolize the Indian trade and to
extend their influence with the native tribes. The French established a fort at
Niagara and the English established a fort at Oswego. Both the French and
English built trading posts, established missions and built homes in this area.
Among the large land holders in the North Country was James LeRay Chaumont,
who came to America in the late 1700's His holdings covered a large part of
this area and included much of what is now the town of Cape Vincent.
In March 1815, and act was passed by the Legislature stating that the
Islands of Carleton and Linda in the St. Lawrence River, and Grenadier, Fox and
neighboring islands in Lake Ontario were a part of Cape Vincent. The village of
Cape Vincent was incorporated in June 1853 with a population of 1,218. The
village water system was installed in 1895, and electric lights in 1903. The
Town of Cape Vincent separated from the Town of Lyme in 1849.
As early as 1880, the "Thousand Islands" were being written about
in a book published in Canada. Shortly after, Cape Vincent was becoming a
popular vacation resort for down-state residents. At this time, it was recorded
that: "In Cape Vincent may be found the best small mouth bass fishing
among the Thousand Islands--here the surroundings are picturesque, the climate
is mild and healthful.
Cape Vincent developed rapidly during the era of the early 1800's when the
state road was extended from Brownville to this village. In 1848 sufficient
stock was subscribed to warrant building a railroad from Rome to Cape Vincent,
at a cost of $7,500 per mile. Then a large train shed, hotel, freight houses
and wharf were built. In 1853, a canal was cut through Wolfe Island to shorten
the route from here to Kingston, closed for a while but now to be reopened. The
railroad was the main means of transportation to and from this village for many
years.
During the War of 1812, declaration of war made it necessary to have armed
forces at Cape Vincent, and there was no army post on the frontier in as much
danger as Cape Vincent, since the enemy had a large force in Kingston, Ontario,
Canada. At this time many inhabitants left for back settlements, but when the
danger was over, many returned and the number of settlers steadily increased.
In 1900 Cape Vincent was a "bustling town." There were seven
grocery stores, three meat markets, a bakery, two drug stores, five hotels, a
paint and wallpaper store, a book store, two clothing stores, two general
stores, a hardware store, and a jewelry store. There were also five physicians,
three dentists, two lawyers, two undertakers, and several dress makers.
Businesses included boat builders, hay dealers, photographers, monument
salesmen, blacksmiths, milliners, tailors, draymen, and several livery stables.
Early industries were lumbering, ice harvesting, hay and seed raising. The
J. A. Scobell Company and the Cleveland Seed Company were two such businesses.
As you travel through Cape Vincent today your first impression is probably
of the serenity of the village, or the friendliness of its inhabitants, or the
beauty of the St. Lawrence River. Those of us who make our home here in the
Cape Vincent area are very proud of all of these factors, but we would like to
point out a few of our landmarks and other outstanding "bits of interest"
for this vicinity.
At the end of Tibbets Point Road leading west, where the great Lake Ontario
meets the St. Lawrence River stands the Tibbets Point Lighthouse. This
lighthouse was erected in 1826 by an appropriation of $3,000. Today it still
guides ships traveling the St. Lawrence Seaway into the Great Lakes. The light
is automated and under the control of the U. S. Coast Guard. The main dwelling
is now used for a Youth Hostel. The land used was a grant received by Captain
John Tibbet of Troy.
Proceeding down the Tibbets Road is a beautiful sight, especially at sunset
time. lake Ontario was known in the Indian language as "Beautiful Lake"
from the days of Cartier.
As you enter the village coming down from Tibbets Point, you will pass the
famous "Stone House" which housed Canadian Rebels during the Patriot
War in 1838. This house has not been changed in any way.
Up on Kanady Street stands the stone Catholic Church, St. Vincent of Paul's,
which was built in 1851. The attached stone covered church hall was added in
1965.
On Real Street, toward the river, is the new modern Cape Vincent Community
Library which opened in June 1968. On the land where the new library is located
was built the original Cup and Saucer house constructed in 1818 as a refuge for
Napoleon. Although the original structure was destroyed by fire in 1867, the
foundation of the original building is a part of the new library building. Mr.
and Mrs. Robert Purcell of New York City and Deerlick Farm, near this village,
equipped and furnished this attractive and modern library for the people of this
area.
The first of three Cape Vincent Newspapers, the Gazette, was published in
1852. The Cape Vincent Eagle was published from 1872-1951, when the final
edition was printed. The building that housed the newspaper is presently owned
by James Brown and is next to the fire hall.
On Broadway stands a new and attractive fire hall built in 1967 by
subscriptions of interested citizens. This building replaced an old wooden
structure which served the needs of the volunteer fire department for
eighty-three years. The Fire Department celebrated their centennial on June 23,
1984, with an open house and dance.
Across from the Fire Hall is the John C. Londraville American Legion Post
No. 832 which was formed in 1919. Down one block toward the river is the
Memorial Plaque in memory of Cape Vincent World War I and World War II veterans.
The Cape Vincent Improvement League takes care of the shrubs and flowers there.
The United Church on Broadway, formerly the Presbyterian Church, was erected
in 1823. The chimes that are heard three times daily from the United Church
were donated by a summer resident in memory of his wife. Many recordings in
memory of people of all faiths are now being played.
Cape Vincent's other church, St. John's Episcopal Church built in 1841,
stands on Market Street.
The Post Office on Broadway opened its new building on April 2, 1962. The
old office, now housing the Cape Shop clothing store was used for sixty years.
Since 1817 there have been twenty-four postmasters.
The New York State Fish research Center, formerly a Bureau of Fisheries
building, was erected in 1856. Built to be used as a grist mill, it was
purchased in 1895 by the Federal government for a Fisheries Bureau. As a
Federal Fish Hatchery it is noted that in 1906, 38,780,000 eggs from various
kinds of fish were hatched and distributed to different points. This building
was operated as such until recently when it was turned into a New York State
Fish Research Center. This building is open to the public today for your
inspection, displaying many kinds of fish.
The work on the breakwater was started in 1900 and completed in 1906. This
makes a safe harbor for both large ships and small boats. In 1983 the
breakwater was repaired and resurfaced.
The newest asset in Cape Vincent is the Seaway Pilots office and dock on
lower Broadway. From here the Lake and River pilots are transported to their
assigned ships as they travel from the lake into the river or from the river
into the lake. This operates twenty-four hours a day from April until November
during the lake and river navigation season.
Throughout the area are many old homes built of limestone which was
available in the region. These attractive homes were build of a low-sprawling
design, many in the Wilson's Bay area, and have been kept in their original
form.
On James Street in the village is the home of the Rev. and Mrs. David Windle
which was built in 1872, by General Delos Sackett who entertained Civil War
Generals and is considered one of the most historic homes in the village.
History shows that one of the first schools of learning in this area was
erected on Carleton Island in 1823. From then on many one room school houses
were built throughout the area, when in 1906 the records show that there were
seventeen school districts in the the town of Cape Vincent. The present school
building, on Esselstyne Street, now an elementary building, was constructed in
1942 when all the districts centralized. This brought an end to the one room
school house.
In 1967, voters in Cape Vincent and Clayton (15 miles to the north) voted to
consolidate their two districts in order to provide facilities to increase
educational opportunities to all local youth. In September of 1972, the new "Thousand
Islands Junior-Senior High School" opened on its site at Sand Bay, half way
between Cape Vincent and Clayton.
In 1968, local residents inaugurated a FRENCH FESTIVAL DAY. This day has
become an annual affair and is held in July on the Saturday nearest Bastille
Day. French Festival Day has grown each year since 1968, bringing thousands of
visitors to Cape Vincent for the celebration which consists of many French
booths, exhibits, costumes, French pastries, parade, band concerts and climaxed
with a gigantic fireworks display in the evening. The LeRay family owned and
settled much of the land in this area, with most of the early deeds of the
1700's bearing the signature of Vincent LeRay. Familiar names then, as now, are
Gosier, Docteur, Dezengremel, Mussot, Chavoustie, Favrey (Favret), Merchant and
Majo.
The main program on French Festival Day features many New York State
dignitaries and specially invited guests. The program is held on Broadway.
The museum on Market Street was the first framed house built in the early
1800's by the Borland family. In 1931 the Fish family donated it to the village
for a Community building. In 1969 it was opened as the first Museum for the
village.
Although it appears that Cape Vincent is "just a quiet place to live"
those of us who make our homes here find that our small town is the "center
of activities." We are located only 25 miles from the city of Watertown
with a modern hospital, large shopping areas, Jefferson Vocational-Technical
School, Jefferson Community College, and most of all the facilities of a large
city.
Locally, there are many organizations with active membership. These include
Church Societies, Parent-Teacher Organization, Masonic Lodge, Knights of
Columbus, Eastern Star, Study clubs, Firemen, Firemen Auxiliary, Ambulance and
Emergency Squad, American Legion, and American Legion Auxiliary, Chamber of
Commerce, Lions Club, Senior Citizens, Improvement League, Republican Club, and
numerous others. For those who belong to a number of these organizations, the
winter months particularly are filled with various activities. Ice fishing,
snowmobiling, skating, ice boating, cross country skiing are popular with Cape
Vincent residents during the winter months also.
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