It occurred to me as we were driving that someone needs to come up with a really creative use for all of the abandoned silos (dairy farms have all moved to the much less labor-intensive -- and safer -- trench method of making silage) dotting farm country.
We must have passed fifty or more of them today...
Our first glimpse of Lake Ontario --
Such a beautiful blue -- and BIG -- lake!
At Sackets Harbor, we visited the scene of a battle of yet another war -- the War of 1812. Since it has been two hundred years, this former naval town is full of reenactments and celebrations:
Following the outbreak of war between the United States and Great Britain in June 1812, Sackets Harbor became the center of American naval and military activity for the upper St. Lawrence Valley and Lake Ontario. The brig Oneida, with a company of marines, was already at the harbor to suppress smuggling between northern New York and Canada. Local woodlands provided ample timber, and a large fleet was constructed at the harbor's extensive shipyard. Barracks were also built for the thousands of soldiers, sailors, and mechanics who soon arrived to provide the manpower for the invasion and conquest of Canada.
In an attempt to destroy the American shipyard, a British-Canadian force launched an attack on May 29, 1813. At that time the majority of the American forces were across Lake Ontario attacking Fort George. The remaining Americans drove off the enemy, but their narrow victory was marred by a fire that destroyed their military stores. During the remainder of the war, Sackets Harbor was an active station where naval ships were constructed and supplied. In December 1814, the Treaty of Ghent officially ended the War of 1812, and the Lake Ontario fleet was placed in storage at Shiphouse Point.
At the far end of the former fort, we saw this tower --
We weren't sure if it was one of the Great Lakes' Lighthouses or perhaps part of a fort?
And then we found the sign!
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