E 
 
Glass. 
 Book 
 
 
STATE OF NEW YORK 
 
 REPORT 
 
 OF THE 
 
 Plattsburgh Centenary 
 Commission 
 
 TRANSMITTED TO THE LEGISLATURE APRIL 11, 1917 
 
 
 ALBANY 
 
 J. B. LYON COMPANY, PRINTERS 
 
 1917 
 
« s 
 
STATE OF NEW YORK 
 
 \ 
 
 REPORT 
 
 OF THE 
 
 Plattsburgh Centenary 
 Commission 
 
 TRANSMITTED TO THE LEGISLATURE APRIL 11, 1917 
 
 ALBANY 
 
 J. B. LYON COMPANY, PRINTERS 
 
 1917 
 

 D, of D. 
 MAY 15 1917 
 
<.^-^ 
 
 ^ 
 
 State of New York 
 
 No. 60 
 
 IN senate: 
 
 Ai'HII. 11. 1!»1T 
 
 Report of Plattsburgh Centenary 
 Commission 
 
 Ti) ihc Lf'fiishifiirr of tiw Stuff' of Xfir York: 
 
 Under chapters 730 and 828 of the Laws of lOlo and chaj^ter 
 95 of the Laws of 1914- the Plattsburgh ('eiitenarv Coininissioii 
 was created and organized to " provide for the celebration of the 
 centenary of the battle of Plattsburgh " and '' bv itself, or in co- 
 operation with the government of the United States to provide for, 
 erect and establish a suitable niemorinl to Tbouias ^facdonough 
 in the city of Plattsburgh, ^e\\ York." 
 
 An appropriation of $1::?5,()()0 bv tbc Legislature of the St;ite 
 of Xew York April 3, 191-1:, under chapter {);") of the laws of that 
 year for the purposes outlined above was followed July 31, 1914, 
 by an appropriation of an equal amount by Congress " to aid in 
 constructing at Plattsburgh a fitting, perniiinent uieuiorial of the 
 victory of Macdonough and Macondi." 
 
 THE CELEBRATION 
 
 The members of your Commission arranged that September (> 
 
 to 11, 1914, should be the dates for the celebration and proceeded 
 
 in the belief that a celebration of this event should be so planned 
 
 and carried out as to enable as many as possible to take active part 
 
4 [^Senate, 
 
 in the ceremonies ; that it should appeal to people in all walks of 
 life, young and old, rich and poor, grave and gay. The battle 
 was fought and won by people from all walks of life, laboring men, 
 farmers, ministers and priests, merchants, manufacturers, profes- 
 sional men and at least one member of Congress fighting shoulder 
 to shoulder. There were lads of eighteen and under; there were 
 gray-haired veterans of the Kevolutiou. Few had uniforms. 
 More than half of the men who won the battle of Plattsburgh were 
 residents of the Champlain valley. 
 
 Accordingly, the following program was arranged and carried 
 out to the letter: 
 
 Peace Day 
 Sunday, September Qth 
 Forenoon 
 
 Services in the churches in the city and at the Catholic 
 Summer School of America at Cliff Haven. 
 
 Afternoon 
 
 3.30 1'. M. Popular patriotic mass meeting, pageant field, 
 Plattsburgh barracks. Addresses and patriotic songs, led 
 by chorus of 400 voices and by bands of the First Brigade, 
 U. S. A. 
 
 Evening 
 
 7.30 v. M. Services in the churches appropriate to occa- 
 sion. 
 
 8.45 p. M. Sacred concerts by several bands, throughout 
 city. 
 
 Labok Day 
 
 Monday, September 7th 
 Forenoon 
 
 Parade of labor organizations, under the auspices of Trades 
 and Labor Assembly of Plattsburgh. 
 
 Afternoon 
 
 1.30 V. M, Address at Clinton county fair grounds by 
 Hon. Samuel Gompers, President American Federation of 
 Labor. 
 
;{.00 J*. M, Program of horse racos, foot races, niotorcyi-le 
 races, jumping contests, tug-of-war and oilier sj)orts, Clinton 
 county fair gronmls. Trap shooting tournament on the 
 grounds of Phittshurgli luxl and (luii (Muh, Oak street and 
 Bovnton avenue. 
 
 N'lOKUKXNKs Day 
 Tiicsdai/, Srpfpiiihrr S/// 
 III Vergennes, Vt. 
 
 Celebration of the building of Macdonough's Heet. 
 
 /;/ Pldttsburgh 
 
 Trap-shooting tournament (Continuecl ). 
 
 Evening 
 
 8.00 J*. .M. First performance of the Historical Pageant 
 of the Champiain Valley on Pageant Field, Plattsburgh bar- 
 racks, under the direction of Margaret Maclaren Eager, with 
 1,200 particiyjants, chorus of 400 voices and Doring's band of 
 Troy, X. y. (40 pieces). 
 
 ^Iacoaib Day 
 \\'('<hi<'.sday, iSeptemher \)tli 
 F or f noon 
 
 10.00 A. M. Military parade of First Brigade, U. S. A., 
 and of war strength company, Xew York Infantry, National 
 Guard. 
 
 Afternoon 
 
 fi.OO p. M. First daylight performance of Historical Pa- 
 geant of the Champlain Valley. 
 
 8.00 p. M. Parade of floats, etc., portraying progress of 
 agriculture and husbandry in the Champlain valley, under 
 auspices Pomona Grange of Clinton county, X. Y. 
 
 9.00 p. M. Fireworks display on island at mouth of Sara- 
 nac river after agricultural parade. Band concerts. 
 
[Senate, 
 
 Macdonough Day 
 
 Tliiirsdatf, September lOtli 
 Forenoon 
 
 9.^0 A. .M. to 1.00 1'. .M. Exercises ut Fort Moreau and 
 Riverside cemetery. Addresses by Col. Charles G. Morton, 
 U. S. A., at Fort Morean, and by Sir Charles P. Davidson 
 and Hon. Hamilton Wright Mabie in Riverside cemetery. 
 
 11.30 A. ^J. Twenty-sixth ammal meeting and rennion 
 Clinton County Union Veterans' Associati(m, Maccabee hall, 
 Margaret street, opposite Witherill hotel. 
 
 Evening 
 
 S.OO p. -M. Performance of Historical Pageant of the 
 Champlain V<illey. 
 
 Centennial Day 
 Friday, Sepfemher 11 /A 
 Forenoon 
 
 10.00 A. M. Final ])erformance, Pageant of the Champlain 
 Valley. 
 
 Afternoon 
 
 2.00 p. M. Pageant Field: Addresses by Hon. Joseplms 
 Daniels, Secretary of the Navy, and Governor Martin H. 
 Glynn of l^ew York. Historical address by Dr. John JNI. 
 Thomas, President of Middlebnry College. Historical poem, 
 by Percy Mackaye. 
 
 Eveiiinr/ 
 
 7.00 J'. .\i. Diim.er, Hotel Cham[)lain. with songs and 
 speeches. 
 
 S.OO p. M. "Ron Soir '■ parade; "military" maneuvers 
 by citizen volunteers, mock siege, shnm lintth^ and '' capture " 
 of Plattsburgh. 
 
 0.00 p. M. IkiikI c(mcert. 
 
Xo. «0] 7 
 
 The celebration, appropriate, adequate and successful in cverv 
 way and well within the limit as to cost set bv (ioveriior (Uynn, 
 having passed into history, the members of the Commission at 
 once set about the work of forniulatiuii- ])l;iiis for nii appro|)ri;itc, 
 permanent memorial. 
 
 HEARTY CO-OPERATION IN PLANNING PERMANENT 
 
 MEMORIAL 
 
 A preliminary investigation ])r()ught out the possibility of em- 
 bodying plans for a new city hall (for tlie construction of which 
 the late Loyal L. Smith had left the sum of $200,000 to the city 
 of Plattsburgh) with the plans for the monument commcniorating 
 the victory of the Americau forces in the batth of Plattsbui-gh in 
 one comprehensive plan which would greatly enhance the ini])r(\s- 
 siveness of each structure, and work was begun and patiently hut 
 persistently continued to complete success along these lines. The 
 people of Plattslmrgh, displaying the same s|)irit tliat had aided so 
 much in the success of the celebration and which has since helped 
 wonderfully towards the success of the military training camp 
 idea, voted to bond the city to the limit to ])urchase the magnifi- 
 cent site agreed upon for the city hall. This municij)al building 
 will be a model of good taste, a triumph of architecture, harmoniz- 
 ing with the monument which the State and nation are to erect 
 nearby. 
 
 The spaciou.s grounds which will surround the new city liall, 
 comprise the greater part of a very large city block, just north 
 of Trinity park, while the battle monument will be at the crest 
 of the slope extending in front of the city hall down to the Saranac 
 river, affording a fine view of the moniTment from every direction 
 — from the lake steamers, the railroad i)assenger trains, the 
 main-traveled automobile route, through the city and from the 
 trolley. The site of the proposed monument commands a perfect 
 view of the scene of the naval battle and is itself one of the points 
 where some of the sharpest fighting occurred between the land 
 forces. 
 
8 [SexVate, 
 
 Uaihraii Company Offers Aid and Private Citizens Donate Valu'- 
 
 able Land 
 
 After tluH cxcellout arrant^ement had been worked uut and 
 ai-reed upon it was proposed to your Commission that if the State 
 wouhl purchase all the land between River street and the Saranac 
 river, be«;inning at the foot of Court street and extending north- 
 erly to the right of way of the Delaware and Hudson railway, the 
 railway company would construct, at their own expense, an under- 
 j)ass under their track, Hon. Smith M. Weed and others would 
 deed to the State all the land between Cumberland avenue and 
 the Saranac river from the Delaware and Hudson right of way 
 to Champlain park on the shore of Lake Champlain at the mouth , 
 of the Saranac river, making one continuous public park and 
 parkway from the Clinton county courthouse on Margaret street 
 along- the westerly bank of the Saranac river and western shore 
 of Lake Champlain to a point beyond the Champlain monument 
 — a distance of nearly one-half mile, thus guaranteeing for all 
 time an unobstructed view of the monument from every direction 
 and a magnificent lake and river park as an inspiring permanent 
 setting for it. 
 
 To make the plan ideal, Mr. William H. Miner, of Chazy, 
 X. Y., moved by the spirit of enthusiastic co-operation which 
 had actuated all in helping to bring about this glorious result, 
 jjurchased the famous Delord mansion and grounds, comprising 
 some six acres located just north of this monument park and will 
 present it to the public for use as a historical museum in which 
 to preserve and exhibit relics of the battle and of pioneer days 
 in the Champlain valley. 
 
 Your Commission, after careful personal investigation on the 
 part of nearly every member, voted unanimously to purchase the 
 eleven parcels of land necessary to ensure the success of the plan. 
 We were compelled to resort to condemnation proceedings in ac- 
 quiring eight of the eleven parcels. 
 
 Thus by cordial and hearty co-operation, wise planning, care 
 and economy in the expenditure of the public funds, the State of 
 T^ew York is assured a commemoration of one of the great events 
 in its history immeasurably more impressive than was deemed pos- 
 sible when the appropriation was made by the Legislature of 1914, 
 
Xo. (JO I <) 
 
 Selecting cm Architect 
 
 After many coiiferonces with Gen. William 11. Black and Major 
 M. J. McDonoiifih of the U. S, Engineers Corps, representing the 
 War Department, and after a careful investigation of the situa- 
 tion, including a competitive exliibit of i)hotographs, paintings 
 and drawings of samples of wt)rk of twenty of the leading lirms 
 of architects in this country, the members of your Commission 
 and the representatives of the War Department were unanimous 
 in selecting Mr. John Ivussell Po})e of New York City as the 
 architect to design the monument. Mr. Pope was later on selected 
 to design the new city hall and he will also have charge of the 
 landscape work on the grounds surrounding both city hall and 
 monument. 
 
 The monimient will be 20 feet square at the base, 12 feet squai-e 
 at the top and 120 feet high, built of limestone or granite, sur- 
 mounted by a large bronze American eagle with outstretched 
 wangs, as though alighting after a long flight, conveying the 
 thought that this Republic which for a quarter of a century fol- 
 lowing the close of the Revolutionary war had been little more 
 than a group of separate, struggling states, had been finally welded 
 together by the war of 1812 (brought to a successful ending by the 
 battle of Plattsburgh), into a strong, determined nation — an in- 
 dissoluble union of states — the United States of America ! The 
 indomitable spirit of American pioneers — represented by the 
 freedom-loving eagle — which had impelled them to seek new 
 homes in a strange land beyond the seas, after struggling here in 
 America for three long decades or more, had now found perma- 
 nence, safety and peace. 
 
 The Eagle had alighted. 
 
 Econom ical Administration 
 N^ot only is no member of this Commission receiving any salary 
 or compensation in this coimection — there are no paid officials, 
 secretaries or clerks, not even a stenographer since December o 1 . 
 1914. 
 
10 [Sea'ate, 
 
 In view of the work done and the results obtained, we feel 
 entirely justified in recommending that a final appropriation of 
 $25,000 be made this year for the following purposes: 
 
 1. Expenses of Commissioners $2,000 00 
 
 2. Marking historic spots in connection with battle 
 
 of Plattsburgh, by suitable tablets 1,500 00 
 
 o. Filling in and grading grounds about monu- 
 ment, including retaining wall along river. . 20,000 00 
 4. Final dedicatory ceremonies, when it is hoped 
 to have addresses by President, Governor and 
 others ' 1,500 00 
 
 Total $25,000 00 
 
 This will make the total amount appropriated for the memorial 
 in honor of Macdonough's victory at Plattsburgh $150,000 — 
 just equalling the sum voted by this State for a similar memorial 
 in honor of Perry's victory at Put-in-Bay, Ohio, under chapter 
 190 of the Laws of 1913. 
 
 Financial Report 
 
 Report of moneys received, dis;bursed and on hand by the Platts- 
 burgh Centenary Commission from the date of its organization, 
 Septeni1)pr 17, 19in, to March 2-1, 1917: 
 
 Receipts 
 From State Treasurer, appropriation, cliapter 
 
 730, Laws of 1913 $5. (»()0 00 
 
 From State Treasurer, appropriation, chapter 
 
 95. Laws of 1914 12.i. 000 (M» 
 
 From Harrington Porter, refund of charges. ... 1 70 
 
 From X. Y. C. & H. R. R.. refund of charges 
 
 National Guard 10 48 
 
 — ■ $1:^0.012 18 
 
 Disbursements 
 For Administration: 
 Sahiries, Ass't Sec'y. l*uh. Director 
 
 and Stenographer $5, 202 85 
 
 Kxpenses of memhers and officers 
 
 of Commission 14, 183 68 
 
 $19,386 53 
 
 For Celebration: 
 
 Pageant, including band $20, 272 42 
 
 Poems and addresses, etc 460 00 
 
 National Guard 4, 715 27 
 
^N'o. 69] 11 
 
 Decorations $:{,.') 1 (J 7;{ 
 
 Badges, medals and souvenirs 2, 348 00 
 
 Photographs and moving pictures . . 450 00 
 
 Fireworks 1, 500 00 
 
 Hotel bill, Commissioners and guests 
 
 during celebration 5, 368 33 
 
 " Siege of Plattsburgh " parade 280 71 
 
 Vocal music, Mendelsohn Club of 
 
 Albany, expenses, sheet music, etc. 803 50 
 Agriculture Day exhibit and parade 3, 286 47 
 Labor Day ceremonies, parade and 
 
 sports 4, 997 37 
 
 .$47.!mS 8(1 
 
 For Permanent Memorial: 
 
 Land for site for monument $59, 753 44 
 
 Condemnation Commissioners' fees 
 
 and expenses 148 65 
 
 Attorneys' fees, costs, and expenses . 567 80 
 
 Stenographers' fees 145 38 
 
 Title searches 1, 671 64 
 
 Surveying 86 30 
 
 County Clerk's fees, recording 29 59 
 
 — ■ 62,402 80 
 
 $129,788 13 
 
 Balance on hand $224 05 
 
 Tlie foregoing is respectfully submitted. 
 
 Thomas F. Conway, Chairman, 
 
 Henky W. Hill, Vice-Chairman, 
 
 James A. Foley, Chairmari Executive Committee, 
 
 LoREN H. White, Treasurer, 
 
 Charles J. Vert, Secretary, 
 
 Franklin D. Roosevelt, 
 
 Henry Harmon Noble, 
 
 Irving I, Goldsmith, 
 
 Henry M. Sage, 
 
 James A. Emerson, 
 
 John F. Healy, 
 
 Rev. John P, Chidwick, 
 
 Salvatore a. Cotillo, 
 
 Howard D. Hadley, 
 
 John Dorst, Jr., 
 
 Alexander W. Fairbank, M. D., 
 
 Joseph H. Esquirol, 
 
 Frederick E. "Wadiiams. 
 
 Albany, N. Y., April 11, 1917. 
 
^ Caylord Bros. 
 
 < Makers 
 
 Syracuse, N . Y. 
 
 PftI.ttK.2l. IMS 
 
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