All posts by Chris Leipfert

Bicentennials, Doris B Morton

Washington County Bicentennial Plans

The formal ceremony for the observance of the Bicentennial Anniversary of Washington County will be held April 2 at the Washington County Office Building in Fort Edward. The projected plan prepared by the Washington County Task Force Committee includes many interesting activities.

A new colorful county emblem has been designed and executed to be placed on a county flag and on other appropriate items. The emblem depicts the resources of the county – farming, mining, manufacturing, and forestry. The flag raising ceremony will be accompanied by a color guard. Assemblyman Neil Kelleher will present a resolution from the State Resolution followed by County resolutions accepting the emblem and the flag.

The keynote speaker will be Supervisor Jon Stevens who holds a keen interest in county history. A native Washington County tree will be planted by arborist George Callaway.

After these ceremonies, each of the seventeen supervisors will unveil a framed colored photograph from his town to be hung in the Supervisors Chambers. These have been chosen and prepared by the Preservation Council of Washington County.

A reprint of the Historic Resources of Washington County will be available. The original was published several years ago and is still in demand. A new edition of the Washington County map has been prepared with a picture of the first county courthouse on the cover. The Washington County Historical Society has presented a calendar with pictures of each of the towns and historic dates throughout the months. The BOCES faculty is preparing a county float that will be available for county and surrounding area parades.

Philatelists will be able to obtain commemorative stamps and cancellations in the lobby of the County Building and the Fort Edward Post Office that day. A booklet containing mini histories of the county and the seventeen towns prepared by the town historians will be on sale.

The first formal celebration ceremony commemorating the County Bicentennial promises to be interesting on April 2. It will be followed on July 21 by a “birthday” party on the County Fairgrounds.

Doris B. Morton, Town Historian – The Whitehall Independent – January 11, 1984

Bicentennials, Doris B Morton

Whitehall Festival 87 Logo

The pin containing Festival ‘87’s logo is the Row Galley WASHINGTON that was part of the first United States fleet that played an active part in the Battle of Valcour. It is the fifth ship chosen by the Festival for its activities during Festival week in July in Whitehall, Schooner LIBERTY, Schooner ROYAL SAVAGE, Sloop ENTERPRIZE, and Gundelo PHILADELPHIA.

In 1776 while the fleet was building in Skenesborough Harbor, Benedict Arnold, in charge of providing the ships, designed the row galley to replace the gundelo then being built. The row galley was larger to carry more men; it was heavier to carry more armament; it was easier to handle. Four such row galleys were built in the harbor WASHINGTON, CONGRESS, TRUMBULL, GATES. They were rigged in Ticonderoga and sent down the lake to join the rest of the fleet. All but one took part in the battle. The GATES was not  finished in time to reach Valcour Bay.

Since the British made a plan of this ship after its capture we know the dimensions: Hull, 80 feet; deck length, 72; keel length, 66; beam, 20; depth, 6; draft, 7; tonnage, BM 123. This design is in the national museum in Greenwich, England.
WASHINGTON was in the curved line of American ships stretched across Valcour Bay as the fleet met the British ships. That evening it followed the TRUMBULL as it led the American ships out of the Bay and fled toward Schuyler Island. The sails were badly ridden but after slight repairs ran guard, 13 October, at the rear of the fleeing ships that the British were fast overtaking. General David Waterbury asked permission to scuttle her but was refused. Shortly afterwards the enemy overtook her and her crew. They were later released and praised the kind treatment they received at the hands of the British.

The British repaired WASHINGTON and reached Crown Point with the British force. On 28 October 1776 with German General Riedesel aboard for St. John, she ran aground during a storm but was released by passing boats. There Riedesel left her for Three Rivers. She wintered at St. John.

The next year 1777 when General Burgoyne’s huge fleet started south toward Albany many small boats accompanied his fleet. Among them was Row Galley WASHINGTON with Gundelo JERSEY and Cutter LEE, which had also been captured by the British in the retreat from Valcour. She arrived at Fort Ticonderoga with troops and since the small boats accompanied General Burgoyne to Skenesborough it can be assumed that WASHINGTON was with them and two weeks later was sent back to Canada with the soldiers and officers effects as there were no horses to carry them south.

Row Galley WASHINGTON served the British until 1784 when she was allowed to deteriorate or was broken up in Canada. The Gundelo JERSEY and Schooner LIBERTY suffered the same fate.

Doris B. Morton, Town Historian – The Whitehall Times – January 15, 1987

Bands and Bandstands, Doris B Morton

(Title Unknown) John H. Polley

The Whitehall Drum Corps was reorganized under the direction of Drum Major John H. Polley who was fully determined to have a credit able organization. The performers would be put through a course of instructions necessary to perfect them in their work of furnishing good music.

The organ grinder was expected soon with his choice selection of good tunes.

Doris B. Morton, Town Historian – The Whitehall Times – May 4, 1978