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VERPLANCK COLVIN ’ S ADIRONDACK SURVEY ~ its beginning at , 1872 - 1878 ~ NYSAPLS 59TH ANNUAL SURVEYORS CONFRENCE JAN. 2018 ALBANY CAPITAL CENTER ALBANY, N. Y.

Presented by: James W. Schaller 6324 Hawes Road, Altamont, N.Y. 12009 (518) 861‐7452 [email protected]

Relief map showing the Crown Point Adirondack, and Green Mountains Lighthouse flanking Lake Champlain

Dedication of the new Dudley Observatory Albany, August 28, 1856 Professor Edward Everett

“ ON THE USES OF ASTRONOMY ”

The Dudley Observatory Academy Park Albany, New York

Benjamin Gould “ The Scientific Council ”

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The newly appointed Superintendent of the ADIRONDACK SURVEY VERPLANCK COLVIN - 1872

Verplanck Colvin

from Colvin’s Report to the N. Y. S. Legislature for 1872 TRIANGULATION & ELEVATIONS BY BAROMETRIC READINGS SPECULATOR MTN. Burnt Mountain Holmes Hill Rift Hill

SPECULATOR MTN. TRIANGULATION detail from a 1872 Colvin Field Map

“…and connect it with the angles already measured ” ( Colvin, 1872 ) 1872

RIFT HILL

SPECULATOR MT ( from Colvin’s 1872 Report to the N. Y. State Legislature )

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and - Lake Champlain

was the PLACE !

1872

the -from LAKE CHAMPLAIN

LAKE 1609 CHAMPLAIN From the North came Samuel De Champlain July , 1609

Lake Champlain Woodcut c. 1830

BATTLE AT LAKE CHAMPLAIN CHAMPLAIN STATUE JULY 30, 1609 PLATTSBURGH, N. Y.

CHAMPLAIN STATUE ISLE LA MOTTE, VT.

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THE FRENCH & INDIAN WAR The “Black Watch ” at the siege of Fort Carillon ( Fort Ticonderoga ) 1758

THE WAR OF 1812 Battle of Plattsburgh Bay 1814 THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION Ethan Allen & the Green Mountain Boys the COLONIAL WARS in the capture Fort Ticonderoga CHAMPLAIN VALLEY 1775

LAND GRANT MAP ‐ made for New York Provincial Governor William Tryon ‐ 1779 Early Maps of Lake Champlain

1762 Map of Lake Champlain - for British Major General Jeffery Amherst

CHAMPLAIN CANAL 1823 connecting the to Lake Champlain

Commerce on Lake Champlain, mid -1800 ’s

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LAKE CHAMPLAIN LIGHTHOUSES 1825 “ The Lighthouse Establishment ” - U.S. Treasury Department 1852 “ The Lighthouse Board ” - U. S. Army Corps of Engineers

CROWN POINT LIGHT HOUSE

SPLIT ROCK MTN. LIGHTHOUSE 1870

U. S. COAST SURVEY of LAKE CHAMPLAIN

August – October, “For the purpose 1870 of starting the Survey of Lake Champlain…”

( portion of 1844 Tourist Map of Lake Champlain )

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“ …The reconnaissance was commenced on the 24th of August , and after a careful examination of the Lake shores …”

From Colvin Triangulation Diagram

1870

U.S. COAST SURVEY – Plattsburgh North & South Base Stations U.S.C.S. Sketch: Plattsburgh South Base (from Adirondack Survey Field Book)

PROFESSOR BENJAMIN PEIRCE Supt. U.S. Coast Survey, 1867-1874

U. S. C. S. Baseline 1870

Cumberland Head & Plattsburgh Bay New York

U. S. COAST SURVEY MAPS 1873

Burlington, Vermont

U. S. COAST SURVEY LAKE CHAMPLAIN LAKE CHART 1874

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ADIRONDACK SURVEY PRIMARY TRIANGLE NO. 1 1872 – 1873 ; 1876

“It was proposed to make Theodolite Stations on the summits of two of the prominent mountains on the west shore of Lake Champlain …” - V. Colvin , 1872

BARBERS POINT 1872 LIGHT HOUSE

CROWN POINT “About 8 Miles apart LIGHT HOUSE in distance”

DETAIL - 1800’s map of Town of Crown Point Essex County , N.Y.

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The first Mountain selected was the “ BALD MOUNTAIN of MORIAH ” Bald Peak Sta. No. 5

Crown Point BALD MOUNTAIN Lighthouse from the East

(Google Map 2‐D View) 1872 Bullwagga Mt.

( from: Colvin 1874 Bald Mountain of Moriah , Triangulation Map) or Blueberry Hill

1872

BALD PEAK Sta. No. 5

c. 1900 Topographic Map

Bald Mountain of Moriah CROWN aka - POINT Bald Peak & LIGHTHOUSE Blueberry Hill

“Ascended Bald Peak –axe men cleared any obstructing trees on the BALD PEAK sight lines…” (VC) Signal Station No. 5

BALD PEAK

“ STATION ON BALD PEAK ” ‐ from Colvin’s 1st Report , 1872

“ That Mountain proved more suitable for the first Primary Triangle ”

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BALD PEAK

View east ‐ toward Lake Champlain

View west from summit ‐ of distant Adirondack High Peaks

Drill Hole in Summit bedrock ( Remnant of Signal Station ‐ Bolt No. 5 ) ( Scenes from photos ‐ 1988 ) (Drill Hole: 1998 –Colvin Crew Recovery )

BALD PEAK ‐ today

Bald Peak ‐ over ruins of Fort St. Fredrick

Bald Peak ‐ showing the new Bridge over Lake Champlain, and the Champlain Memorial – ensconcing the original Bald Peak from Vermont shore, Crown Point Lighthouse in line with Barbers Point Lighthouse

“ HOSPITAL POINT ” SURVEY BASELINE LINE – of - SIGHT Impediment

Reconnaissance observations taken from Lighthouse walkway “But – word came that the Barbers Point Lighthouse was not visible directly from the Crown Point Lighthouse…” (VC)

( Colvin Sketch & Map )

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New Sub‐Stations (“eccentric” points) set; U.S.C.S. points tied into…

CROWN CROWN POINT POINT Lighthouse Lighthouse Sub –Stations ( A ) a & a’

BARBER’S POINT Lighthouse ( B ) & Sub ‐ Station b

U.S. COAST SURVEY “CROWN POINT ” Colvin Sketch 1872 NORTH & SOUTH BASE STATIONS

U. S. C. S. Station “CHEEVER ” U. S. C. S. Station “ SNAKE HILL ” .

BALD MTN. “ SNAKE MT. ” ( Snake Hill ) ( Colvin’s 1874 Triangulation Map ) ( U. S. C. S. Sketch )

U. S. COAST SURVEY CROWN POINT NORTH BASE U. S. C. S. Crown Point NORTH BASE ( U.S.C.S. sketch )

1872 - 1873

U.S.C.S. Crown Point NORTH BASE & SOUTH BASE BASELINE ( Colvin sketch ) CROWN POINT NORTH BASE (Bolt in top center ‐ chiseled stone monument) Inscribed: “ U.S.C.S. 1872 ” ( Colvin Crew recovery – April, 1998 )

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U. S. COAST SURVEY CROWN POINT SOUTH BASE

SOUTH BASE MONUMENT

( Adirondack Survey U.S.C.S. CROWN POINT sketches ) SOUTH BASE STATION ( U. S. Coast Survey sketches ) 1872 – 1873

Colvin’s Sketch: ADIRONDACK SURVEY -1873 Bald Peak Primary Triangle ( Primary Triangle No. 1 )

“ A Signal was built, and placed over the Bald Peak Station…” (Bolt No.5) (VC )

ADIRONDACK SURVEY SIGNAL TOWER & STAN HELIO

BALD PEAK and Lake Champlain

(Colvin sketches)

( Google Map 2‐D view ) “ Some malicious person had nearly destroyed the fine, large ‘ Stan -Helio ’ ” ‐ VC

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“ Perspective and sectional plan”

Primary Triangle No. 1 - 1872

BALD PEAK BARBERS POINT - CROWN POINT

1872 - 1873 BARBERS POINT LIGHT HOUSE U. S. C. S .

BALD PEAK ADK SURVEY

CROWN POINT Primary Triangle No. 1* LIGHT HOUSE U. S. C. S. * Sub –Stations ( “Eccentric Points” ) also used at Lighthouse locations

DETAILS from Verplanck Colvin’s Adirondack Survey Field Maps 1872 - 1873

Primary Triangle No. 1 Triangulation from Bald Peak

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Colvin sketch

BALD PEAK

BALD MT.

Triangulation west – from Bald Peak Station No. 5 1872 – 1873 ( Colvin Triangulation Map Adirondack Wilderness - west of Bald Peak 1874 )

BARBERS POINT LIGHT HOUSE

1876 Line of Sight impediment through forest “HOSPITAL POINT ”

8 ‐ Mile Crown Point Lighthouse Projected to ( views ‐ as seen today ) Line ‐ of ‐ Sight Barbers Point Lighthouse

Line of Sight

“Prepared for timber removal along Line –of –Sight…” (VC)

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“Axe‐men commenced to cut line…” (VC)

( from Colvin sketch of men clearing a Line ‐ of –Sight )

Intervening, and “Error due to Curvature of the Earth, obstructing Point of and Refraction of Light” Land, from North

“It immediately occurred to me, that in the considerable distance between our Stations …” (VC)

“It is rare, that a better example is obtained …” (VC)

Refraction Correction…

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U.S.C.S. Coordinated “Apex”, or “Centre” Barber’s Point Lighthouse “ B ”

Triangulated Baseline Lighthouse “B” to Angles turned from Crown Point Sub Station “b” Sub – Stations “ a ” , or “a ’ ”

BARBER’S POINT Angles turned to Crown Pt. Lighthouse “A” Sub –Station “ b ” and / or Sub ‐ Stations “a” , or “a’ ”

Sketch showing “Sub‐Stations” or , “Eccentric Points” used at Lighthouse locations

ADIRONDACK SURVEY PRIMARY TRIANGLE NO. 2 1872 -1873 ; 1876

Lake Champlain

the Adirondack Mountains from Lake Champlain

Lake transportation by Guide boat

( from a Colvin sketch )

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JUNIPER ISLAND 1872 LIGHT HOUSE

PRIMARY TRIANGLE No. 2

“ 11 Miles apart in distance ”

SPLIT ROCK MOUNTAIN LIGHT HOUSE

JUNIPER ISLAND LIGHTHOUSE 1872

SPLIT ROCK MTN. MT. DISCOVERY LIGHTHOUSE

RAVEN HILL

COBBLE HILL

175

COBBLE HILL SIGNAL TOWER STA. No. 175

( from Colvin Report , 1873 )

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RAVEN HILL SIGNAL STA. No. 7

DIAGRAM from Colvin’s Field Notes Raven Hill Signal Station 1873

MOUNT DISCOVERY SIGNAL STATION No. 6 1873 “ but ‐ none of these three Mount Discovery from the East Mountains proved acceptable…” -V C

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JUNIPER ISLAND LIGHT HOUSE

HURRICANE SPLIT ROCK MTN. MOUNTAIN LIGHT HOUSE

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HURRICANE MOUNTAIN 3694 ’ Survey Station Bolt No. 8 “ was 1873 climbed, it was perfect weather…” (VC )

ADIRONDACK HIGH PEAKS west ‐ from Hurricane Mountain LAKE CHAMPLAIN east ‐ from Hurricane Mountain

“ WE HAD FOUND THE STATION ! ” - V. Colvin from Hurricane Mountain - 1873

( Colvin Sketches )

HURRICANE MTN. 3694 ‘

HURRICANE MOUNTAIN

as Survey Station Bolt No. 8 WOULD HAVE APPEARED 8

Remnants of Survey Station Bolt No. 8 ( today )

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Mount Marcy –or – Mt. Algonquin -and - Tahawus ( “The Cloud Splitter” ) the McIntyre Range

COLVIN’S ( DETAIL ) PANORAMIC SKETCH ( from 1883 Report )

ADIRONDACKS FROM TOP OF MT. HURRICANE

Colvin’s Sketch: ADIRONDACK SURVEY 1873 “ Primary Triangle of MOUNT HURRICANE ” ( Primary Triangle # 2 )

“ PERSPECTIVE and SECTIONAL PLAN ”

LIGHTHOUSE DETAIL – Primary Triangle No. 2

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JUNIPER ISLAND LIGHT HOUSE U. S. C. S.

HURRICANE MT. SPLIT ROCK MT. - JUNIPER ISLAND

SPLIT ROCK MTN. LIGHT HOUSE HURRICANE MTN. U. S. C. S. ADK SURVEY

Primary Triangle No. 2 * * Sub –Stations ( “Eccentric” Points ) 1872 - 1873 also used at Lighthouse locations

Survey Party – Note large wooden Summit of Mt. Hurricane Theodolite carrying case ‐ doubling as 1876 “ Tripod ”

‐ from photographs in Colvin Reports

“Survey Party Leaving Summit of Mt. Hurricane, The Guides carrying the Grand Theodolite, and Telescope”

DETAILS from Verplanck Colvin’s Adirondack Survey FIELD MAPS 1872 -1873 PRIMARY TRIANGLE No. 2 HURRICANE MTN. TRIANGULATION & angles turned to Raven Hill, Cobble Hill, and the Elizabethtown Signal Station - from Colvin Field Book Azimuth & Meridian Line Station

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“TRIPOD SIGNAL WILLSBOROUGH ”

Juniper Island Lighthouse

Signal Station “Willsborough ” ( from an 1876 Colvin Field Book ) Bouquette River Pt.

Split Rock Mt. Lighthouse

portion of table from Colvin’s 1886 Report Boquet River Survey BASELINE

Split Rock Falls on the Boquet River

( detail from 1876 Adirondack Map by E.R. Wallace )

MT. SENTINEL

Colvin sketch HURRICANE MT.

Triangulation carried west from Hurricane Mountain Station No. 8 1872 – 1873 , 1876 Adirondack High Peaks Adirondack Survey Triangulation Map west ‐ from Hurricane Mountain 1874

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ADIRONDACK SURVEY PRIMARY TRIANGLE NO. 3 1878

LAKE CHAMPLAIN

“The Triangulation of this Survey JUNIPER is based on the ISLAND U.S. Coast Survey lines LIGHTHOUSE in the valley of Lake Champlain…” -V. Colvin , 1878

SPLIT ROCK MOUNTAIN LIGHTHOUSE

BARBERS POINT LIGHTHOUSE

CROWN POINT LIGHTHOUSE

“ CENTRE ” “ A ”

Crown Point Lighthouse

“ It was found impossible to occupy the “centre” of any of these Lighthouses with the Theodolite “

V. Colvin, 1878

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U. S. Coast Survey Baseline Progress Map Lake Champlain, 1870

“ I decided to select other Triangle sides of the Lake Surveys as new Baselines...”

- V. Colvin , 1878

Lake Champlain – east – from interior Adirondack Mountain peaks “The Triangulation would be carried from one Baseline ‐ back over the wilderness…” - V. Colvin , 1878

“ then tied into another accurately determined side …” - V. Colvin , 1878

( U. S. C. S. 1870 )

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Cumberland Head on Lake Champlain

“ The U. S. Coast Survey -V. Colvin , Baseline Stations …” 1878

Cover Letter from : U.S. Coast Survey Office Washington, D.C. August 12, 1878 ( Pages 1 to 64 ) “ Descriptions and Sketches of Trigonometrical Stations of the Coast & Geodetic Survey of the United States ‐ Vicinity of Lake Champlain, and of Lake George ‐ N.Y. + Vt.” for the : ADIRONDACK SURVEY

Isle La Motte U. S. C. S. 1878 Baseline Station Vermont Cumberland Head U. S. C. S. Baseline Station New York U. S. C. S. Cumberland Head ( Hagar ) “ about 8 miles apart in distance ” U. S. C. S. Cumberland Point

“Found the City of Cumberland Head Plattsburgh, Lighthouse Cumberland Head , New York

and Isle La Motte DETAIL : U. S. Coast Survey points…” Cumberland Head N . Y . - V. Colvin , 1878

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ISLE LA MOTTE “ LA MOTTE ” or “ THE HEAD “ U. S. COAST SURVEY B. L . Sta.

Colvin Triangulation sketch

( U. S. C. S. Baseline diagram and description )

( U. S. C. S. Pt. “ HAGAR ” Diagram, & Description )

U. S. Coast Survey Station “HAGAR ” (“ CUMBERLAND HEAD ”)

( From Colvin Triangulation Map )

ADIRONDACK SURVEY TRIANGULATION “Signals at Baseline”

“ The signals at the Termini of our new Base‐Line at Cumberland, and La Motte, are of the form shown in the annexed illustration. ”

- V. Colvin ,1878

From the Seventh Report , 1878 , Plate No. 2

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RAND HILL 1878 Rand Hill Signal Tower

Summit Plan: Rand Hill Signal Station Sta. Bolt # 34 ( From Colvin’s field notes ) ( From the 7th Report – 1878 )

Lake Champlain and Vermont to the east ‐ from Rand Hill

( views as seen today )

U. S. C. & G. S. “RAND HILL” 1942 ( Set In Colvin’s Bolt drill - hole ? ) View of Rand Hill ‐ from the east

SECONDARY LAKE CHAMPLAIN BASELINE TRIANGULATION 1878

CUMBERLAND HEAD LIGHTHOUSE

U.S. COAST SURVEY PLATTSBURGH NORTH & SOUTH BASE STATIONS ( from Colvin Triangulation Map ) (From Colvin’s Field Notes)

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Burlington Breakwater Lighthouse

SECONDARY LAKE CHAMPLAIN BASELINE TRIANGULATION 1878

Plattsburgh Breakwater Lighthouse

( Details from Colvin Triangulation map )

Secondary Lake Champlain Baseline Triangulation

Colchester Reef Light house

( Adirondack Survey Triangulation map ) 1878

for the ADIRONDACK SURVEY : U. S. Coast Survey of Lake Champlain Coordinate data, and distances for Plattsburgh & Crown Point North & South Base Stations, & Lighthouses 1878

“Logarithmic multiplier to convert metres into feet is…”

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ADIRONDACK SURVEY TRIANGULATION DIAGRAM LAKE CHAMPLAIN 1878

ISLE LA MOTTE RAND HILL U .S. C. S. CUMBERLAND HEAD - ISLE LA MOTTE Baseline Station

RAND HILL ADK SURVEY

CUMBERLAND HEAD Primary Triangle No. 3 U. S. C. S. Baseline Station

RAND HILL Sta. No. 34

LYON MTN . Sta. No. 25

Triangulation – west from Rand Hill Signal Station No. 34 1878

(1878 Colvin sketch & diagram)

Lyon Mountain to the west Signal Station No. 25

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Adirondack Survey SARANAC RIVER SURVEY BASE LINE 1878

Patent Map – used by Colvin - showing the Saranac River, the Plattsburgh North & South Base Stations …

1878 RAND HILL LYON MTN. No. 34 No. 25

Plattsburgh U.S.C.S. North & South Base Stations

NORWAY MTN. Saranac River No. 30

River Baseline tied into Mountain top Triangulation Stations

SILVER LAKE MTN. No. 28

CATAMOUNT MTN. 1878

WHITEFACE MTN. No. 2

MCKENZIE MTN. No. 31

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SARANAC RIVER SURVEY 1878

( Table from the Adirondack Survey Report for 1886 )

SARANAC RIVER

COLVIN SKETCH – 1878 “ HIGH FALLS OF THE SARANAC RIVER ”

U. S. C. S. Sta. THE THREE Isle La Motte, Vt. PRIMARY TRIANGLES (using the Coordinated Baselines between The Lighthouses, or B.L. Pt’s) Rand Hill 3 Primary Triangle No. 3 U. S. C. S. Sta. 1878 Cumberland Head ADIRONDACK MOUNTAINS Hurricane Juniper Island Mountain Lighthouse 2 Primary Triangle No. 2 Split Rock Mt. 1872 - 1873, 1876 Lighthouse

Barber’s Point Lighthouse Primary Triangle No. 1 Bald Peak 1 Crown Point 1872 - 1873, 1876 Lighthouse

With this view over Lake Champlain, from Isle La Motte – towards the northern Adirondack foothills, this segment on Verplanck Colvin’s Adirondack Survey, and it’s beginnings – draws to a close.

It’s 1878, with 22 more years left of Adirondack surveys & wilderness explorations for Supt. Colvin

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Color Portrait of Verplanck Colvin

( courtesy of the Adirondack Council 2017 )

~ Thanks ! -J.S.

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