Beekmantown Bicentennial Plans for the Future

It’s been almost a year since terms such as COVID-19 and social distancing became part of everyday vocabulary. In January 2020, the Town of Beekmantown had started events to commemorate the Town’s Bicentennial. A most successful initial ceremony was held establishing the Beekmantown Hall of Fame which highlighted the contributions of the inaugural members to the community, region and beyond. The Bicentennial Committee had also planned a full series of talks over the course of the year. In February, Jackie Madison recounted “Stories of African-Americans in the Beekmantown Area”, which included evidence of several “stations” for the Underground Railroad that provided runaway slaves safe passage to Canada. Then came March, and everything was put on hold. After what seems to be an eternity, there is some optimism that larger groups might once again be able to gather and perhaps the speaker series can be resumed.

Plans include three separate presentations focusing on what is now Point Au Roche State Park. In the 1950s and 1960s, the beautiful stretch of naturally sandy waterfront known as St. Armand’s Beach drew thousands of people every summer. Not far from the beach, the Fantasy Kingdom theme park was built in the 1950s and became a family favorite. Alice Sample will present the fascinating story of these once popular spots that can still be detected if one looks closely. Another section of the State Park was once home to a military camp for teenagers. During World War I, when the Plattsburgh Idea (ROTC) was initiated at the Army Post, a similar training center was established for younger men. Dr. Rich Frost will describe this little known chapter of local history in his talk, “The Story of Junior Plattsburgh on Point Au Roche.” After the war, the need for such training centers slipped away. After changing hands a few times, the land and buildings were eventually purchased in the 1930s and transformed into the very popular summer camps Red Wing and Red Cloud. Mary Simmers will convey this part of the story in another session.

James Sears and Dan Mannix will relate the “History of Education in Beekmantown; From One-Room Schoolhouses to the Largest District in Clinton County.” In the late 1950s, over a dozen school districts consisting of one or two room schoolhouses were consolidated, and Beekmantown Central School was born. This talk will describe what it was like prior to centralization and the impact education will continue to have in the community.

As true of most areas of the North Country, farming has been a dominant part of our economy and culture. However, agri-business has change tremendously over the last two centuries, not only in what is produced, but also how the technology has changed. Dr. Rick Grant of the Miner Institute will present “The History of Farming in Beekmantown” and will recount this transition over the decades.

Located along the Lake Champlain warpath, early settlers participated in the American Revolution and the War of 1812. The call to protect the nation continued through the Civil War as well as the global conflicts of the 20th and 21st centuries. Carl Gonya will cover the contributions of the local citizens in “Beekmantown Serves Their Country in War.”

Other events being planned include cemetery tours, new monument dedications, the installment of interpretive panels, memorial ceremonies, the establishment of the permanent History of Beekmantown Gallery and Exhibit, and more. Depending on the timing, it is likely that the Beekmantown Bicentennial celebration will actually flow into 2022. Please watch for future announcements.

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