(no title)

In 1749, French Sulpician priest Abbé Picquet established Fort de La Presentation where the St. Lawrence and Oswegatchie Rivers meet at what is now Ogdensburg in Northern New York. By 1755 the settlement included 2,000 Iroquois loyal to France. It was abandoned in 1760 as British troops approached during the French and Indian War.

This watercolor shows Fort La Presentation exactly as it was on Aug. 16, 1760, when six British row galleys attacked the French ship L’Outaouaise (the Ottawa) near the fort. It was painted by Thomas Davies, who occupied one of the galleys during the battle.

VIDEOS

discover fort la presentation

HELP US BUILD A FORT

THE FRENCH & INDIAN WAR NEAR OGDENSBURG

__________________________________________________

Fort La Presentation Merchandise

What’s New…

Ogdensburg’s 275th Birthday to be Noted June 1

On Saturday, June 1, anyone is welcome to attend events at the site of Fort La Presentation on Van Rensselaer Point denoting Ogdensburg’s 275th birthday.
Yes, we know the city was incorporated as a village in 1817 and as a city in 1868. But what was to become City of Ogdensburg was populated long before. Ogdensburg was “born” on the first day of June 1 in 1749, when Abbe Francois Picquet celebrated the beginning of his mission to create a community where now stands Ogdensburg with a Solemn Mass at the site of Notre Dame Church.
The Fort La Presentation Association will celebrate the city’s birthday with an anniversary landing to denote Picquet’s arrival near where Fort La Presentation would be erected at 11:00 a.m. There will be a blessing and cake and ice cream served at noon. Thunderhawk Living History, both a reenactment group and a living history school will also be attending. Using their researched and historically correct presentation they depict how life was for people in the 1700s on the northeastern coast of the New World from the perspective of Native Americans, fur traders adopted into native society, the Highlanders, settlers and Rogers Rangers, who were the origin of what the Special Forces are today.
Picquet first stepped foot here Nov. 21, 1748, at the Feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, celebrated annually on Nov. 21. It commemorates the presentation of the Blessed Virgin as a child by her parents in the temple in Jerusalem. Satisfied that this is where he wished to establish his mission, Picquet returned to Montreal for the winter and to make plans.
On May 9, 1749, he left Montreal to return to La Presentation but amid much opposition. “Both French and Indians tried to dissuade him either through fear or false reasoning. But his indomitable character prevailed over all opposition and obstacles,” wrote the Rt. Rev. P.S. Garand in his 1927 “The History of the City of Ogdensburg,”
Picquet arrived with four Iroquois, a stone mason, a carpenter, a few French soldiers and the rest common laborers, in all, 30 persons. “They carried, in long canoes, all that was necessary to start a mission house and a fort and enough provisions to last for several months,” Garand wrote. “He only who has sailed down the 10 rapids that lie between Ogdensburg and Montreal, can fully appreciate the hardships which Picquet and his party must have encountered on their way to Soegatsi, having to row against those foaming waters with no other assistance except their own strength and energy.”
It took Picquet 21 days to reach La Presentation on May 30. As the feast of the Blessed Trinity that year fell two days later on Sunday, he waited until then to celebrate the opening of his mission with a Solemn Mass, “which was the first one said on that hallowed spot of earth where now stands Notre Dame Church,” wrote Garand.

………………………

Grant Will Extend Abbe Picquet Walking Trail

The Fort La Presentation Association has received support for the association’s ongoing efforts to further develop the Abbe Piquet Walking Trail. The Northern New York Community Foundation has awarded the association a grant, in the amount of $5,000 from the Dr. D. Susan Badenhausen Legacy Fund.
The funds will be used to further develop the walking trail to the furthest point of the association’s property. This extension will provide a 180-degree view of the St. Lawrence River. The point holds the remains of the once vital freight car ferry. The ferry system was in operation from the late 1800s to the 1970s. The ferry was essential for the development of the rail system that made Ogdensburg one of the busiest ports on the St. Lawrence River.
The improvements which have been accomplished on association property over the years are due in part to organizations which believe in our goals and are willing to support them. The association thanks the Northern New York Community Foundation for their contribution. We welcome new members of the association and you may do so at fort1749.org/become-a-member.

……………………..

Winners in the Snowshoe Biathlon

Winners in the 2024 St. Lawrence Valley Primitive Snowshoe Biathlon have been announced. They include:

Ladies Primitive Rifle: 1st. Jennifer Piccioni, Montreal, time -27.
Ladies Smoothbore: 1st. Amanda Fasken, Bath, Ontario, time +73
Mens Primitive Rifle: 1st. Matt Thomas, Hampton, NY, time -28; 2nd. Tim Nargi, Wanakena, NY, time -11; 3rd. Bill Granger, Hermon, NY, time -10
Mens Smoothbore: 1st. P.J. Miller, Plattsburgh, NY, time +10; 2nd. John Madower, Ottawa, Ontario, time +33.
Senior Mens Primitive: 1st. Eric Piccioni, Montreal, time -32; 2nd. Rich Hanss, East Rochester, NY, time -10; 3rd. Ray Haines, Warren, PA, time -6.
Senior Mens Smoothbore: 1st. Eric Piccioni, Montreal, time -31; 2nd. Lloyd Hargrave, Madrid, NY, time +3.

18th century maple sugaring held at the Fort site March 16.

Click for Images from the end of Van Rensselaer Point

New Bridge Now In Place

The new bridge connecting property on Van Rensselaer Point owned by the Fort La Presentation Association with a peninsula that was built in the early 1900s as a ferry dock to transfer New York Central railroad cars across the St. Lawrence River, was put in place Oct. 9. This photo shows the bridge in place as work continues the path leading to it. The construction bridge at left will be removed. The eight-foot-wide pedestrian bridge provides visitors access to the 300-foot-long peninsula and an incredible view of the river. The bridge was designed by Clarkson University student engineers and the work is being done by TJ Fiacco Construction. Click for video of footbridge.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………….