Assemblywoman Russell, speaking to a crowd that consisted largely of re-enactors dressed in clothing of the Native Americans and British troops that occupied the settlement in the 18th and early 19th century, was in Ogdensburg Sunday morning for the groundbreaking ceremony for the Abbe Picquet Interpretive Trail.
Barbara O'Keefe, president of the Fort de la Presentation Association, said Assemblywoman Russell had helped secure funding to move the project forward.
She said Assemblywoman Russell's assistance helped secure a Department of State project priority grant that will be used for the construction of a plaza at the site of the Abbe Picquet monument. The plaza will feature an 1812 Peace Garden, benches and heritage plantings from the original Van Rensselear mansion.
Assemblywoman Russell also secured an additional $10,000 in funding through the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, that will be used for a path connecting the plaza to the trail.
The assemblywoman said the association's work benefits both locals and tourists that will be drawn to the area as the fort project moves forward as well as for events like this past weekend's Founder's Day weekend activities that attracted re-enactors from Quebec, Ontario and the Northeastern United States.
"There are so many layers to the story of Ogdensburg. It's not just a place where we have had different battles. It's the story of human nature, the story of a strategic location. It's about what happened here, but it is about so much more," Assemblywoman Russell said.
She said the association board members, volunteers and re-enactors have played an important role over the past several years giving new life to the region's rich history, preserving the role Ogdensburg played in battles between French and British troops.
Assemblywoman Russell said she learns something new about the site during each visit to the site of Fort de la Presentation and her visits with board members.
"It's a story that we don't only cherish. It's a story that can bring people here so we can share our story with them," she added.
The Fort de la Presentation's master plan is to rebuilt the fort built by the French troops in 1749 and the Oswegatchie Indian village once located on the site along with an interpretive center.
"The Abbe Picquet Trail project is so much more than just putting in a trail. It is the culmination of years of ground work, and it allows us to move forward. It gives this historic land a purpose again, and will no longer be considered vacant land," Ms. O'Keefe said.
She noted since acquiring the property much has been accomplished over the past decade, including the removal of 10,000 tons of contaminated soil through an agreement with the state's Department of Environmental Conservation and Exxon.
The association worked with an agency to develop conceptual plans for the site, joined two parcels for construction purposes, moved the Abbe Picquet monument to the site, installed five interpretive signs and two cultural reviews.
"All of this while educating the public and Ogdensburg's and the St. Lawrence Valley's historic past," Ms. O'Keefe pointed out.
She said the trail project was made possible, in part, by a $350,000 grant from the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.
Ms. O'Keefe said funding from the St. Lawrence River Redevelopment Agency and major corporate sponsor SeaComm Federal Credit Union helped fill the gap.
Melissane P. Schrems, an associate professor of history at St. Lawrence University, said Abbe Francois Picquet came to the region to strengthen the French colony and convert the Iroqouis to Catholicism. The fort, originally known as Fort de la Presentation, was built in 1749.
She noted six years later the Oswegatchie Onondagas dominated a population of 3,000 indigenous French allies, a population 75 percent the population of 1755 Montreal.
Dr. Schrems said French and Indian allies left the settlement and went to nearby Fort Levis, site of the last North America battle of the French and Indian War in 1760.
She noted that same year the English claimed, rebuilt and renamed the property at the confluence of the St. Lawrence and Oswegatchie Rivers as Fort Oswegatchie.
It remained British property until 1796 when Jay's Treaty led to the fort becoming American property. The American settlers named the settlement Ogdensburg in honor of Samuel Ogden.
Dr. Schrems said the fort was reactivated during the War of 1812 and adopted an American version of it original name becoming Fort Presentation.
"It stood at the ready to protect and defend Ogdensburg's interests. This is the place where history happened. It is a birthplace, and its history a birthright. Let this trail be a pathway across space and through history," Dr. Schrems noted.
IN THE PHOTOS:
TOP PHOTO:
Assemblywoman Addie J. Russell, D-Theresa, gives her remarks during the groundbreaking ceremony for the Abbe Piquet Interpretation Trail that took place as part of the Founder's Day weekend events at the site of Fort de la Presentation in Ogdensburg. Standing behind Assemblywoman Russell are (l-r) re-enactors and Fort de la Presentation Association board members Tim Cryderman, Fred Hanss and Barbara O'Keefe.
BOTTOM PHOTOS:
Assemblywoman Addie J. Russell, D-Theresa, gives her remarks during the groundbreaking ceremony for the Abbe Piquet Interpretation Trail that took place as part of the Founder's Day weekend events at the site of Fort de la Presentation in Ogdensburg. Standing to the left of Assemblywoman Russell is Fort de la Presentation Association Vice President Tim Cryderman.
Assemblywoman Addie J. Russell is joined by city officials, re-enactors, members of the Fort de la Presentation Association Board of Directors and other supporters as the first shovels of dirt are moved
during the groundbreaking ceremony for the Abbe Piquet Interpretive Trail at Lighthouse Bay in Ogdensburg.
Fort de la Presentation Association Board Vice President Tim Cryderman (foreground) shows Assemblywoman Addie J. Russell the site of a planned interpretive trail at the Fort de la Presentation site on Lighthouse Bay in Ogdenburg.
John Eric Nelson, a re-enactor from Connecticut and speaker at this weekend's Founder's Day weekend, discusses the importance of the Lighthouse Bay site during military battles stretching from the 1750s through the War of 1812. Pictured are (clockwise): Mr. Nelson, St. Lawrence County Industrial Development Agency Chief Executive Director Patrick J. Kelly, SeaComm Chief Executive Officer Scott Wilson, Fort de la Presentation Vice President Timothy Cryderman and Assemblywoman Addie J. Russell.
Re-enactors Scott Wilson and Timothy Cryderman discuss future plans for the Fort de la Presentation project with Assemblywoman Addie J. Russell. Mr. Wilson is the chief executive officer at the SeaComm credit union. Mr. Cryderman is a vice president on the Fort de la Presentation Board of Directors.
Richard Salazar, a re-enactor, announces he will be donating 20 cords of wood for the construction of longhouse at the former site of Fort de la Presentation. He suggested other re-enactors will also likely to offer their support to help move the project forward.
Troops march to the site of the Abbé Picquet Obelisk at the site of Fort de la Presentation for the groundbreaking ceremony for an interpretive trail at the site.
Re-enactors representing British and French troops prepare for a naval battle at the confluence of the St. Lawrence and Oswegatchie rivers as part of the Founder's Week events in Ogdensburg.
