About Us

In 1749, a French and Iroquois alliance established a “mission fort” where the St. Lawrence and Oswegatchie rivers meet. It stood where the current U. S. City of Ogdensburg is located, on what is now the U. S./ Canadian border between New York State and the Province of Ontario. Named “Fort de la Présentation” by the Fort’s founder, the Catholic missionary Abbé Francois Picquet, it was one of only four forts constructed in New York during the French colonial period (1749-1760).

The Fort brought several cultures together – American, Canadian, Native American, French, and British – for worship, trade and protection. The strategic St. Lawrence Valley location made the Fort a valuable military asset in three wars, each time serving a different national interest – the French in the French and Indian War, the British in the American Revolution, and the Americans in the War of 1812.

The Fort is considered the founding settlement of the City of Ogdensburg, New York, which grew around the Fort in the post-Colonial years. In later years, the Fort was torn down and the site used for industry beginning in the 19th century. The property ultimately became a vacant
brownfield site, until the Fort La Présentation Association obtained and re-mediated the property.

The Fort La Présentation Association has been fortunate in acquiring approximately 28 acres that makes up a significant portion of the original site of the Fort. For years our 501 C 3 corporation has worked toward our goal of reconstructing this historic French mission fort. Research and development at the property continues with the cooperation of the New York State Office of Parks and Historic Preservation. Throughout the year the all-volunteer Association work on a number of events that continue to educate the public on the significant, multicultural history of the site.

A Timeline of the Fort La Présentation Association and Site Projects:

1986

Fort La Présentation Company incorporated by the Regents of The University of the State of New York

1987

Archaeological excavations at the Fort La Présentation site on Lighthouse Point by Garrett Cook of SUNY Potsdam revealed 18^th-century artifacts, but petroleum contamination that curtailed the dig

1988

Steven Marqusee, SUNY Potsdam, excavated the location identified as the northeastern corner of the fort

1990

“The French and Indian Settlement at Ogdensburg” Persis Boyesen The Quarterly
“The Dig on Lighthouse Point” Garrett Cook The Quarterly

1999

Fort La Présentation Company is registered as a 501 (c) (3) public charity and takes the mantle of the fort reconstruction project from the Ogdensburg Historical Commission
Agreement with Paul Carr and James Bernier to buy 18 acres for $100,000 on Lighthouse Point

2000

First annual Founder’s Day Weekend French and Indian War encampment held on Fort Association’s property on Lighthouse Point with fewer than two dozen re-enactors
Fort Association starts newsletter, now called Les Nouvelles du fort/The Fort News
City of Ogdensburg obtained a $50,000 grant for fort feasibility study
Established the Persis Yates Boyesen Award for outstanding contribution toward the historically accurate reconstruction and ongoing presence of Fort La Présentation
The first Annual Meeting and Award Ceremony
Established the David L. Dickinson Annual Volunteer Award for his outstanding commitment of time and effort dedicated to Fort La Présentation

2001

Fort Association reports petroleum contamination of Lighthouse Point property to New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC)
$5,000 grant thanks to Senator Wright/Assemblywoman Scozzafavo
$50,000 HUD grant for environmental remediation and architectural services thanks to Congressman McHugh

2002

ExxonMobil refuses to sign an agreement with DEC to investigate contamination uncovered by Atlantic Testing Laboratories
Acquired $100,000 HUD grant for environmental remediation and architectural services thanks to Congressman McHugh
Acquired from Paul Carr and James Bernier an additional four acres on Lighthouse Point
Bernier and Carr forgive debt, giving 22 acres free and clear to the Fort Association
City of Ogdensburg assesses property at $1 million

2003

Fort Association lobbying leads ExxonMobil to agree to sign Consent Order to clean the site
$50,000 ESD grant environmental cleanup and architectural issues thanks to Senator Wright

2004

Fort La Présentation Association officially designated to host New York State’s final French and Indian War commemoration in 2010. After lengthy discussions, DEC accepts ExxonMobil’s revised work plan
Fort Association goes online, www.fortlapresentation.net (now http://www.fort1749.org)
ExxonMobil ‘voluntarily’ reimburses Fort Association more than $31,000 in legal and technical fees; sets a NYS precedent
$67,000 HUD grant for environmental remediation and architectural services thanks to Congressman McHugh
Foit-Albert Associates hired to provide fort design and construction documents

2005

No remediation of site by ExxonMobil
Fort Association submitted a plan to clean property using the NYS Environmental Protection and Spill Compensation Fund
$50,000 DANC grant to develop a remedial plan, Senator Wright
ExxonMobil agrees to pay Fort Association more than $18,200.50 in legal and technical fees
“Faunal Analysis at Fort La Presentation” Allen, Kari L, Jessica Vavrasek and Rebecca Nelson, presented at the 45^th Annual Northeastern Anthropological Association Meetings
Phase 1A cultural resources investigation by Panamerican Consultants
Endowment fund established to ensure the heritage of the fort is carried forward
Historic research report by David Dickinson and Francois Gagnon, Archival researcher.

2006

Through lobbying by the Fort Association, DEC withdraws Consent Order and assumes cleanup of fort association property
Nature’s Way Environmental Consulting contracted to undertake site remediation
The All-American City judges declare the fort “showed good citizen participation and collaboration, and found it amazing that a volunteer group from the community took on Exxon and won.”
$3,000 David Dickinson Sponsorship
ExxonMobil agrees to pay Fort Association more than $72,405.75 in legal and technical fees
Foit-Albert conceptual plans, Phase #1 engineering schedule and cost estimates

2007

$10-million site remediation completed by DEC; 63,465 tons of contaminated soil removed from Fort Association and ExxonMobil properties
$50,000 Sweetgrass Foundation grant
Andrew L Kozlowski of the New York State Museum conducts ground penetrating radar surveys to delineate buried structural features of the fort
Aaron Gore of New York State Museum leads team in a phase-one excavation of fort’s archaeological remains where 18^th-century artifacts are found at floor level of northeast bastion
Phase II Cultural Resource Survey Report, Aaron Gore, MA, Division of Research and Collections New York State Museum.
First professional visitors’ survey at Founder’s Day Weekend confirms strengths and areas for improvement; recommendations implemented
Fort Association launched membership drive in Ogdensburg13669 zip code

2008

Other issues related to ExxonMobil remain to be resolved and discussions continue between the state and lawyers for various parties
Andrew L Kozlowski of the New York State Museum presented GPR Stratigraphy of Fort La Presentation: Successful Targeted Delineation in a Highly Impacted Cultural Site at the 21^st Annual Symposium on the Application of Geophysics to Engineering and Environmental Problems
“Archaeological Research at Fort La Presentation, Ogdensburg, New York” Aaron Gore and Andrew Kozlowski, New York State Museum
Fort Association sponsored weekend events in Ogdensburg and at Fort Drum commemorating Gaspard-Joseph Chaussegros de Léry’s 1756 raid from La Présentation to Fort Bull
First Strategic, business and interpretation plans drafted
Load bearing soil samples taken at proposed Fort reconstruction site on Lighthouse Point
Topographic survey of proposed Fort reconstruction site on Lighthouse Point
Fort Association launched membership in northern St. Lawrence County
$4,000 David Dickinson Sponsorship

2009

The State Preservation Board nominates Lighthouse Point, Fort La Présentation’s original site, for the state and federal registers
Fort Association initiates branding exercise with professional consultant
Professional fundraising campaign for Fort La Présentation developed. Board pledges $20,000.
Strategic plan professionally revised and amended
Fort Association launched membership drive among re-enactors
Fort association initiates first annual War of 1812 symposium. Professional survey confirms strengths and areas for improvement; recommendations implemented
Abbé Picquet Monument, honoring the fort’s founder Abbé François Picquet, returned to Lighthouse Point with the cooperation of the Swe-Kat-Si Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and Notre Dame Roman Catholic Church
Interpretive plaques telling the story of Fort La Présentation and Fort Lévis erected beside monument with the cooperation of the Great Lakes Seaway Trail Association and the NYS French and Indian War 250^th Anniversary Commemoration Commission.
Fort Association joined by Quebec Historical Corps to bring about largest Founder’s Day Weekend to date with 400 re-enactors and heritage interpreters
Dr. D. Peter MacLeod of the Canadian War Museum grants permission to print his unpublished papers in Les Nouvelles du fort/The Fort News
Initiate cross border Founder’s Day Weekend cooperation with Parks Canada and St Lawrence Shakespeare Festival in Prescott, Ontario
Other cooperative ventures discussed with the City of Brockville, Ontario

2010

Fort La Présentation Association hosted New York State’s final 250^th anniversary commemoration of the French and Indian War honoring soldiers, sailors, militia and native warriors who served at the Battle of the Thousand Islands and the siege of Fort Lévis in 1760.
Established Living History Educational Day for area 4^th and 7^th graders in partnership with St. Lawrence-Lewis BOCES
Developed Curriculum materials for 4^th and 7^th grade
10,000 grant from AT&T to develop a traveling Educational Kit to include Native and Colonial artifact reproductions, curriculum materials and Library.
Lighthouse Point is placed on the National Register of Historic Places
Professional Exist survey for the 2010 New York State French and Indian War 250^th Anniversary Commemoration signature event ($350,000-500,000 direct impact).
Kiwanis $5,000

2011

Robin Morris Bench
City of Ogdensburg $10,000 Marketing
SeaComm $5,000 Interpretive Center
Kiwanis $5,000 Interpretive Center
SLFCU $1,000 Interpretive Center

2012

Preserve America Community designation
PBS Path Through History subcommittee and tourism promotions
Conceptual plans for Abbe Picquet Trail
Losing Ground Saving War of 1812 Battlefields Documentary CNYPBS
NY Council for the Humanities $3,000 War of 1812 Sixth Heritage Talks
Aaron Gore Fort La Presentation Phase II Cultural Resource Survey Fort site
Letting the Ogdensburg Community Garden establish a public community garden on the Fort property.

2013

Revolutionary War, Native Village (member item DOS $10,000) and War of 1812 Panels (GLST)
Addie Russell $25,000 for Monument Plaza
Department of State Received OPRHP $352,650 grant for trail from NCREC/OPRHP
Established the first Northern NY Primitive Snowshoe Biathlon

2014

Title search of property to mid1800’s
2014 RVRA grant $40,000 for trail
Addie Russell $10,000 for Trail OPRHP
City of Ogdensburg $12,500 for Feasibility Study NCREC/DOS
NY Council for the Humanities $3,000 for Founder’s Weekend
Path Through History signage
Kiwanis $5,000 Interpretive Center

2015

Aaron Gore Fort La Presentation Phase III Cultural Resource Survey Fort site. Uncovered floor of one of the Bastions.
Established the Joseph Cosentino Memorial Award for Special Recognition, Commitment or self and Resources to the Fort de la Présentation Project

2017

$150,000.00 and $20,000 in legal fees and a release of liability for any remaining petroleum
The Association will use the correct official name of Light Point which is Van Rensselaer Point
Contamination remediation on the Fort La Présentation site, the original site of Fort de la Présentation and the former ExxonMobil Oil Terminal
Acquired the 4-acre Exxon Mobil Property plus $10,000 for expenses
NNYCF matching $10,000 grant for the Abbé Picquet Trail

2018

Abbé Picquet Trail and War of 1812 Peace Garden Dedication

2019

Increase programming to community – Carp Fishing Tournament, SLC Public Health, Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center, SLCA, NYS Path Through History.
Dedicated the Masonic monument
Outline of Fort de la Présentation based on original plans
Place a swinging bench on the Abbé Picquet Trail
NNYCF Matching $10,000 for Endowment Campaign
War of 1812 Peace Garden receives the Maple Leaf Award from the Ogdensburg Garden Club.
The Fort La Présentation Company (DBA Association) 990 Federal Tax return and Financial Statement are at the Ogdensburg Public Library and on our website at www.fort1749.org.
Received a REDI Grant for $1,230,250.00 to install shoreline stabilization and raise the trails on the Fort La Présentation Interpretive Trail
Tenth Living History Day for 4^th and 5^th graders
Twentieth Founder’s Weekend – French and Indian War Re-enactment and Living History Event
Twentieth Annual Meeting and Awards Ceremony
Seventh NNY Primitive Snowshoe Biathlon
Updated Strategic Plan based on Feasibility Study
The Abbé Picquet Trail was completed in December
Received a $1,295,000.00 REDI grant stabilize the St. Lawrence and Oswegatchie River shoreline and to portions of the Abbé Picquet Trail.

2020

Received a $10,000 grant to use toward the Association’s $64,750 REDI Grant match from the St. Lawrence County Industrial Development Agency.
Signed RFP with Clarkson Civil and Mechanical Engineering students to design a wooden and steel bridge to the railroad car ferry dock.
St. Lawrence County Legislature released $58,325.00 that will be used for a matching contribution on the REDI shoreline stabilization project to mitigate future flooding.

2021

Established a $20,000 Northern New York Community Foundation Endowment.
Groundbreaking for the REDI project.
Purchased the original site of Fort de La Présentation from Thomas Duffy
Received ownership of artifacts from archaeological digs held at the New York State Museum and SUNY Potsdam.
Final Bridge Design presentation by Clarkson Engineering students.
Successfully implemented the $ 1.2 million REDI project for shoreline erosion control and flood mitigation and finished ahead of schedule.
Constructed a new observation deck along St. Lawrence River shoreline of Van Rensselaer Point.
Installed etched glass panels providing a visual image of Fort La Presentation.
Eye-catching and informative redesign of the Fort La Presentation Association’s web site and quarterly newsletter, doubling traffic to the web site.
Dedication of the Pomeroy Legend and Lore signage honoring Abbe Piquet located on the fort property
Dedication of the Pomeroy Legend and Lore Signage at the Ogdensburg Cemetery honoring Sheriff Joseph York and his wife Lavinia, heroes of the February 1812 Battle of Ogdensburg.
Dedication of the refurbished headstones and plaque of Sheriff York and his wife at the Ogdensburg City Cemetery.
Worked with Forsyth’s Rifles Reenactor group and Representatives of town of DeKalb to dedicate a plaque and flag at the grave of General Benedict, commander of the St. Lawrence County militia during the War of 1812.
Cleared overgrown sections of the Fort Property to allow for future plantings and picnic areas.
The Persis Yates Boyesen Award for the year 2020 was awarded to Dennis McCarthy of the St. Lawrence River Historical Society. The Persis Yates Boyesen Award for the year 2021, was presented to The Clarkson University Civil and Mechanical Engineering Departments. The David L. Dickenson Volunteer Award for the year 2020 was presented to Craig Ballard, and The David L. Dickenson Volunteer Award for the year 2021 was presented to Kent Cryderman who gave time and effort to continued improvement on Fort property.
Community Star Party Event
Acknowledged volunteers who keep the property and flower beds is great condition.

2022

Using Zoom for board meetings, the board is able to include members from anywhere for a wider range of professional and technical skills to support the association.
We were the only nonprofit to receive a REDI grant in the Thousand Island Region. The first phase of the project finished ahead of schedule and under budget. The innovative living shoreline has been featured in the DEC’s “Conservationist” magazine and Save the River’s newsletter, highlighted at Sea Grant/DEC workshops and will be part of a PBS documentary in 2023. The new landscaping is spectacular. The observation deck is perfect for ship watching, weddings, and prom and graduation pictures.
With a 95/5 state grant the second phase of the project to be launched in the spring of 2023 will construct a bridge to traverse the cut though to the old train ferry dock with unused REDI funds. Graduating Clarkson University engineering students designed the bridge as a Senior Capstone Project. The Island is the farthest lookout point in the area with nearly unobstructed 360-degree views of the St. Lawrence River.
We received a $25,000 grant from the Grassroots Foundation to extend the Abbé Picquet Trail and construct a gazebo to the end of “Look-Out Point.” Clarkson University engineering students are updating our master site plan to account for the significant land enhancements completed since 2015.
With advice from the St. Lawrence Health Department, we kept the Abbe Picquet Trail open to provide free outdoor recreation to the public. The Trail is part of the St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce Trail System.
The association has achieved a long-time goal, acquisition of the original site of Fort La Présentation. Based on an archaeological dig the floor of the Fort’s Chapel was discovered along with 18th and 19th century artifacts. As a condition of the sale, we also received ownership of the artifacts at SUNY Potsdam and the NYS Museum in Albany.
At this year’s Le Siège du Fort de La Présentation, the first mass in 262 years was celebrated on the site of the original Sulpician chapel. A cross was placed to mark the location. In the spring of 2023, the property will be dedicated as the Newell Family Archaeological Park in recognition of their strong support of the Association’s efforts. Interpretive signage will also be placed at the Park thanks to Daughters of American Colonists.
Clarkson University Civil and Engineering students are doing ground penetrating Radar on the original site. The American Veterans Archaeological Recovery group has applied for a grant to do a three-year archaeological investigation to learn about our heritage.
The association now own 28 acres, and our all-volunteer crew does an amazing job of mowing, and tree and invasive species maintenance. They are opening more area to return to native species growth.

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