Clinton Community College - Praecursor Yearbook (Plattsburgh, NY)

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■ n ■ iVwA ■ n i rn THE HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF BLUFF POINT PROF FRANK DeSORBO The beautifully wooded Bluff Poirft, thtf present site of Clinton Community College, has great significance in the history of Clinton County. Bluff Point, being the highest point of elevation on the western shore of Lake Champlain north of Port Kent, was within the theater of various naval battles during the French and Indian War, the American Revolution, and the War of 1812. The present College building has an interesting and fascinating history. In the early 1870’s one of Plattsburgh’s wealthiest and prominent citizens, Smith M. Weed, bought the property on which the College is now located. Enchanted with the beautiful view from Bluff Point, Smith Weed, intended to build his residence there. He built roads on the property and erected an observation tower for himself and the citizens of Plattsburgh. Instrumental in the promotion of building of the railroad on the western shore of Lake Champlain, he sold Bluff Point to the Delaware and Hudson Railroad in 1888. It was agreed that the site was perfect for the “hotel of hotels.’’ On June 17, 1890, the Hotel Champlain, “the superb Adirondack and Lake Champlain Resort” was formally opened. The Hotel, a large five story white and grey wooden structure was built in the grand Victorian style. Three towers adorned the building. Two of the towers rose an additional two stories. The 500 room hotel with its elaborately decorated interior was surrounded by some 450 acres of beautiful parks, woodlands, cliff and lakeside walks, and picturesque bridle paths. Riding horses, tennis courts, and bowling alleys were provided for the guests. Golf, “the reigning sport” at the Hotel, was played on one of America’s best and now the third oldest golf course in America. The Hotel also provided its guests with a smaller nine hole pitch and putt. Below the Hotel lay a 500 foot beach called the “Beach of the Singing Sands,” a beach house and a boat house that accommodated 52 boats providing the guests with a variety of water sports. The Hotel Champlain was a success from the very beginning. It was frequented by many prominent people including Presidents William McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt, William Taft, and Franklin D. Roosevelt. On May 28, 1910, while preparations were being made for another season, the Pride of Champlain Valley burned to the ground. The cause of the fire was unknown. The Platt- sburgh Daily Press gave the following description of the fire: “The sight was one of desolation at daybreak. The grand and towering monument to business and railroad en- terorize had disappeared, and the landscape of Lake Champlain as seen from away north of Cumberland Head, south to and far beyond Burlington was changed as in the twinkling of an eye.” Although the main building lav in ashes, the owners of the Hotel continued to serve their guests by promoting “The Cottage Colony at Bluff Point.” The “Old Bungalow,” the oc- tagonal building that is facing the present main building today was converted into a restaurant. The eleven cottages, interspersed at various places around the Hotel grounds, were rented to various people desiring whole cottages or suites of rooms, for short and long periods during the summer. By August 1910, plans for a new Hotel were well on their way, and construction was finished by the summer of 1911. The new hotel, furnished in the style of Louis XVI was ad- vertised as being completely fire proof. The rooms, furnishings and service would be “on a scale equal to the higher class hotels of New York City” and would be the “peer of all American summer resorts.” It is known that the Hotel prospered until just before World War II. In the 1950’s the Hotel was sold to the Society of Jesus. The Jesuits converted the main building into a novitiate and college for Jesuit seminarians. It was call Belarmine College. The Jesuits remained at Bluff Point until 1967 when Bellarmine College was officially closed. However, the dawn of the new era began in September 1969 when Clinton Community College opened its doors for the first time admitting an entering class of one-hundred and eighty-nine full time students. 11 ■ i i ■ i i ■ i i

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ADMINISTRATION To The Class of 1976 More than two hundred years ago our forefathers stood on this bluff overlooking Lake Champlain and dreamed of what life might be in this beautiful area. Little did they know that two hundred years later the class of ’76 would stand on the very same bluff over- looking this beautiful Lake Champlain and know the cherished history of those years between 1776 and 1976. As you, the Bicentennial year class of ’76 the sixth graduating class of Clinton Community College progress to tomorrow we wish you continuing success. It is our hope, also, that as the years go by you will not only look back at your years at Clinton Community College as a collection of most cherished experiences among your fondest memories, but also look ahead as did our forefathers to what life can be tomorrow. Sincerely, Alfred B. Light -6-