10/26/2017. Dedication of the new Dudley Observatory Albany, New York August 28, 1856 Professor Edward Everett

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1 VERPLANCK COLVIN S ADIRONDACK SURVEY ~ its beginning at Lake Champlain, ~ NYSAPLS 59 TH ANNUAL SURVEYORS CONFRENCE JAN ALBANY CAPITAL CENTER ALBANY, N. Y. Presented by: James W. Schaller 6324 Hawes Road, Altamont, N.Y (518) jims2999@yahoo.com Crown Point Lighthouse Relief map showing the Adirondack, and Green Mountains flanking Lake Champlain Dedication of the new Dudley Observatory Albany, New York August 28, 1856 Professor Edward Everett ON THE USES OF ASTRONOMY The Dudley Observatory Academy Park Albany, New York Benjamin Gould The Scientific Council 1

2 The newly appointed Superintendent of the ADIRONDACK SURVEY VERPLANCK COLVIN 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 Colvin Field Map 1872 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 ) 2

3 and - Lake Champlain was the PLACE! 1872 the ADIRONDACK MOUNTAINS -from LAKE CHAMPLAIN LAKE 1609 CHAMPLAIN From the North came Samuel De Champlain July, 1609 Lake Champlain Woodcut c BATTLE AT LAKE CHAMPLAIN JULY 30, 1609 CHAMPLAIN STATUE PLATTSBURGH, N. Y. CHAMPLAIN STATUE ISLE LA MOTTE, VT. 3

4 THE FRENCH & INDIAN WAR The Black Watch at the siege of Fort Carillon ( Fort Ticonderoga ) 1758 THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION Ethan Allen & the Green Mountain Boys capture Fort Ticonderoga 1775 THE WAR OF 1812 Battle of Plattsburgh Bay 1814 the COLONIAL WARS in the CHAMPLAIN VALLEY 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 Hudson River to Lake Champlain Commerce on Lake Champlain, mid s 4

5 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 For the purpose of starting the Survey of Lake Champlain August October, 1870 ( portion of 1844 Tourist Map of Lake Champlain ) 5

6 The reconnaissance was commenced on the 24 th of August, and after a careful examination of the Lake shores From Colvin Triangulation Diagram 1870 U.S.C.S. Sketch: Plattsburgh South Base U.S. COAST SURVEY Plattsburgh North & South Base Stations (from Adirondack Survey Field Book) PROFESSOR BENJAMIN PEIRCE Supt. U.S. Coast Survey, 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

7 ADIRONDACK SURVEY PRIMARY TRIANGLE NO ; 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, BARBERS POINT LIGHT HOUSE About 8 Miles apart in distance CROWN POINT LIGHT HOUSE DETAIL s map of Town of Crown Point Essex County, N.Y. 7

8 The first Mountain selected was the BALD MOUNTAIN of MORIAH Bald Peak Sta. No. 5 BALD MOUNTAIN from the East (Google Map 2 D View) 1872 ( from: Colvin 1874 Triangulation Map) Bullwagga Mt. Crown Point Lighthouse Bald Mountain of Moriah, or Blueberry Hill 1872 BALD PEAK Sta. No. 5 c Topographic Map Bald Mountain of Moriah aka - Bald Peak & Blueberry Hill CROWN POINT LIGHTHOUSE BALD PEAK Signal Station No. 5 Ascended Bald Peak axe men cleared any obstructing trees on the sight lines (VC) BALD PEAK STATION ON BALD PEAK from Colvin s 1st Report, 1872 That Mountain proved more suitable for the first Primary Triangle 8

9 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 from Vermont shore, in line with Barbers Point Lighthouse Bald Peak showing the new Bridge over Lake Champlain, and the Champlain Memorial ensconcing the original Crown 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 ) 9

10 New Sub Stations ( eccentric points) set; U.S.C.S. points tied into CROWN POINT Lighthouse Sub Stations a & a CROWN POINT Lighthouse ( A ) BARBER S POINT Lighthouse ( B ) & Sub Station b U.S. COAST SURVEY CROWN POINT NORTH & SOUTH BASE STATIONS Colvin Sketch 1872 U. S. C. S. Station CHEEVER. U. S. C. S. Station SNAKE HILL BALD MTN. ( Colvin s 1874 Triangulation Map ) SNAKE MT. ( Snake Hill ) ( 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 ) 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 ( Colvin Crew recovery April, 1998 ) 10

11 U. S. COAST SURVEY CROWN POINT SOUTH BASE SOUTH BASE MONUMENT U.S.C.S. CROWN POINT SOUTH BASE STATION ( U. S. Coast Survey sketches ) ( Adirondack Survey sketches ) Colvin s Sketch: ADIRONDACK SURVEY 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 11

12 Perspective and sectional plan Primary Triangle No BALD PEAK BARBERS POINT - CROWN POINT BARBERS POINT LIGHT HOUSE U. S. C. S. BALD PEAK ADK SURVEY Primary Triangle No. 1* * Sub Stations ( Eccentric Points ) also used at Lighthouse locations CROWN POINT LIGHT HOUSE U. S. C. S. DETAILS from Verplanck Colvin s Adirondack Survey Field Maps Primary Triangle No. 1 Triangulation from Bald Peak 12

13 Colvin sketch BALD PEAK BALD MT. Adirondack Wilderness - west of Bald Peak Triangulation west from Bald Peak Station No ( Colvin Triangulation Map 1874 ) BARBERS POINT LIGHT HOUSE 1876 HOSPITAL POINT Line of Sight impediment through forest ( views as seen today ) 8 Mile Projected Line of Sight Crown Point Lighthouse to Barbers Point Lighthouse Line of Sight Prepared for timber removal along Line of Sight (VC) 13

14 Axe men commenced to cut line (VC) ( from Colvin sketch of men clearing a Line of Sight ) Intervening, and obstructing Point of Land, from North Error due to Curvature of the Earth, and Refraction of Light 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 14

15 U.S.C.S. Coordinated Apex, or Centre Barber s Point Lighthouse B Triangulated Baseline Lighthouse B to Sub Station b Angles turned from Crown Point Sub Stations a, or a BARBER S POINT Sub Station b Angles turned to Crown Pt. Lighthouse A and / or Sub Stations a, or a Sketch showing Sub Stations or, Eccentric Points used at Lighthouse locations ADIRONDACK SURVEY PRIMARY TRIANGLE NO ; 1876 Lake Champlain the Adirondack Mountains from Lake Champlain Lake transportation by Guide boat ( from a Colvin sketch ) 15

16 1872 JUNIPER ISLAND LIGHT HOUSE PRIMARY TRIANGLE No Miles apart in distance SPLIT ROCK MOUNTAIN LIGHT HOUSE 1872 JUNIPER ISLAND LIGHTHOUSE MT. DISCOVERY SPLIT ROCK MTN. LIGHTHOUSE COBBLE HILL RAVEN HILL 175 COBBLE HILL SIGNAL TOWER STA. No. 175 ( from Colvin Report, 1873 ) 16

17 7 RAVEN HILL SIGNAL STA. No. 7 DIAGRAM from Colvin s Field Notes 1873 Raven Hill Signal Station MOUNT DISCOVERY SIGNAL STATION No but none of these three Mountains proved acceptable Mount Discovery from the East -V C 6 JUNIPER ISLAND LIGHT HOUSE HURRICANE MOUNTAIN SPLIT ROCK MTN. LIGHT HOUSE 17

18 HURRICANE MOUNTAIN 3694 Survey Station Bolt No Hurricane Mountain was 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 ( Colvin Sketches ) HURRICANE MTN HURRICANE MOUNTAIN 8 as Survey Station Bolt No. 8 WOULD HAVE APPEARED Remnants of Survey Station Bolt No. 8 ( today ) 18

19 Mount Marcy or Mt. Algonquin -and- Tahawus ( The Cloud Splitter ) the McIntyre Range ( DETAIL ) COLVIN S 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 19

20 HURRICANE MT. SPLIT ROCK MT. - JUNIPER ISLAND JUNIPER ISLAND LIGHT HOUSE U. S. C. S. HURRICANE MTN. ADK SURVEY SPLIT ROCK MTN. LIGHT HOUSE U. S. C. S. Primary Triangle No. 2 * * Sub Stations ( Eccentric Points ) also used at Lighthouse locations Survey Party Summit of Mt. Hurricane 1876 Note large wooden Theodolite carrying case doubling as Tripod from photographs in Colvin Reports Survey Party Leaving Summit of Mt. Hurricane, The Guides carrying the Grand Theodolite, and Telescope from Colvin Field Book DETAILS from Verplanck Colvin s Adirondack Survey FIELD MAPS PRIMARY TRIANGLE No. 2 HURRICANE MTN. TRIANGULATION & angles turned to Raven Hill, Cobble Hill, and the Elizabethtown Signal Station - Azimuth & Meridian Line Station 20

21 TRIPOD SIGNAL WILLSBOROUGH Juniper Island Lighthouse ( from an 1876 Colvin Field Book ) Signal Station Willsborough 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 , 1876 Adirondack High Peaks west from Hurricane Mountain Adirondack Survey Triangulation Map

22 ADIRONDACK SURVEY PRIMARY TRIANGLE NO LAKE CHAMPLAIN The Triangulation of this Survey is based on the U.S. Coast Survey lines in the valley of Lake Champlain -V. Colvin, 1878 JUNIPER ISLAND LIGHTHOUSE 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,

23 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 ) 23

24 Cumberland Head on Lake Champlain The U. S. Coast Survey Baseline Stations -V. Colvin, 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 1878 Cumberland Head U. S. C. S. Baseline Station New York about 8 miles apart in distance Found the Cumberland Head, and Isle La Motte U. S. Coast Survey points - V. Colvin, 1878 Isle La Motte U. S. C. S. Baseline Station Vermont City of Plattsburgh, New York U. S. C. S. Cumberland Head ( Hagar ) U. S. C. S. Cumberland Point Cumberland Head Lighthouse DETAIL : Cumberland Head N. Y. 24

25 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 25

26 RAND HILL 1878 Rand Hill Signal Tower Summit Plan: Rand Hill Signal Station Sta. Bolt # 34 ( From Colvin s field notes ) ( From the 7 th 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 ( from Colvin Triangulation Map ) U.S. COAST SURVEY PLATTSBURGH NORTH & SOUTH BASE STATIONS (From Colvin s Field Notes) 26

27 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 27

28 ADIRONDACK SURVEY TRIANGULATION DIAGRAM LAKE CHAMPLAIN 1878 RAND HILL CUMBERLAND HEAD - ISLE LA MOTTE ISLE LA MOTTE U.S. C. S. Baseline Station RAND HILL ADK SURVEY Primary Triangle No. 3 CUMBERLAND HEAD U. S. C. S. Baseline Station RAND HILL Sta. No. 34 LYON MTN. Sta. No. 25 (1878 Colvin sketch & diagram) Lyon Mountain to the west Signal Station No. 25 Triangulation west from Rand Hill Signal Station No

29 Adirondack Survey SARANAC RIVER SURVEY BASE LINE 1878 Patent Map used by Colvin - showing the Saranac River, the Plattsburgh North & South Base Stations LYON MTN. No RAND HILL No. 34 Plattsburgh U.S.C.S. North & South Base Stations NORWAY MTN. No. 30 River Baseline tied into Mountain top Triangulation Stations Saranac River SILVER LAKE MTN. No CATAMOUNT MTN. WHITEFACE MTN. No. 2 MCKENZIE MTN. No

30 SARANAC RIVER SURVEY 1878 ( Table from the Adirondack Survey Report for 1886 ) SARANAC RIVER COLVIN SKETCH 1878 HIGH FALLS OF THE SARANAC RIVER Rand Hill ADIRONDACK MOUNTAINS Hurricane Mountain U. S. C. S. Sta. Isle La Motte, Vt. 3 U. S. C. S. Sta. Cumberland Head 2 Juniper Island Lighthouse Split Rock Mt. Lighthouse THE THREE PRIMARY TRIANGLES (using the Coordinated Baselines between The Lighthouses, or B.L. Pt s) Primary Triangle No Primary Triangle No , 1876 Bald Peak 1 Barber s Point Lighthouse Crown Point Lighthouse Primary Triangle No , 1876 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 30

31 Color Portrait of Verplanck Colvin ( courtesy of the Adirondack Council 2017 ) ~ Thanks! -J.S. 31