Macdonough Monument in Plattsburgh, NY-- Part 2: Unveiled By His Great Granddaughter

The Plattsburgh Sentinel had this to say about the proceedings:  "Macdonough Monument Is Unveiled Before Thousands.  Hero of the Battle of Lake Champlain is Given Fitting Memorial in Honor of Glorious Deed in Defense of Plattsburgh and the Young Nation." 

The Plattsburgh Centenary Commission printed a booklet to mark the occasion.  A Macdonough descendant expressed gratitude.

Thanks to an allotment appropriated by New York state during the centennial celebration and matched by the federal government, the dream of a monument honoring the Battle of Plattsburgh, first proposed in 1886, was realized.

The young girl unveiling the monument on August 18, 1926, was 11-year-old Isabelle Agnes Macdonough, great-granddaughter of Commodore Thomas Macdonough, hero of the September 11, 1814, naval battle.  Of interest, Isabelle returned on September 9, 2001, to cut a ceremonial ribbon  at the door with Mayor Dan Stewart to mark the 75th anniversary of the monument.

Newspaper articles leading up to the big day of the monument's unveiling, August 18, 1926, emphasized that there was no admission fee for it, but come early as the commission could not guarantee seating for everyone.

And, I'd Never Heard of This Monument Before.  Well, before I started this blog, I had never heard of Thomas MacDonough or the Battle of Plattsburgh (I only knew of the Battle  of Lake Champlain.)--Brock-Perry

USS Niagara-- Part 4: Raised Again in 1913 For Centennial of Battle of Lake Erie

For the centennial of the Battle of Lake Erie in 1913, the Niagara was again raised in April 1913.  It was found to be in good enough condition to be rebuilt.  But that was made difficult because of a lack of the original plans.

The restored USS Niagara was launched 7 June with a new bowsprit, rigging and reproduction cannons.

From mid-July to mid-September of that year, the Niagara was towed to various Great Lakes ports, including Chicago, Milwaukee, Detroit, Buffalo and Cleveland.  The USS Wolverine, the Navy's first iron-hulled warship towed it.

Ownership of the ship was transferred to the City of Erie in 1917.

It was docked and allowed to deteriorate.

--Brock-Perry