Ogdensburg – Samuel Ogden’ Smugglers Paradise on the St. Lawrence
Would I recommend a visit to Ogdensburg? Not really but I will state that the city does hold some potential, albeit unrealized. In this post I will details what to do in Ogdensburg and highlight a few of the flaws that could be remedied to help the city find its footing.
Table of Contents
Geography
Located south of the St. Lawrence on the American Side of the Border from the Canadian town of Prescott and it fort, Ogdensburg has long held importance due to its strategic location. As a testament to this fact, The French built Fort de la Presentation here and the city was a flashpoint in the War of 1812.
The Oswegatchie river runs through the towns center, cutting it off from fort de la presentation, but also offering it great docking points for vessels.
A Brief History
First Nations and French Colonial Period
Occupied by the Iroquois as eastly as 1000 BC, their territory was visited bythe French over the course of the 16th century. A French mission, built by Abbé Picquet in 1749, was established at Fort de la Presentation as part of the fur trade. Many Iroquois settled in town with the French and converted to Catholicism. The settlement was one of the largest in New France at that time with over 3000 Iroquois in a time where Montreal only had 4000 resident.
During the Seven Years War (French and Indian War for those US readers), the French allies raided and fought against English encroachment on their territories. In 1760 Battle of the Thousand Islands was fought nearby and the French were renounced their territories east of the Mississippi River shortly thereafter. It was the end of an era
English Conquest and Early American Period
The English renamed the city to Fort Oswegatchie, after the native name for the river but allowed the Catholic Iroquois to practice their religion undisturbed. It was at this time part of Lower Canada or what we would call Quebec today.
Following the American Revolutionary War the settlement became part of United States territory, as per the terms of Jay’s Treaty along the St. Lawrence. Americans began to settle here in 1796 and drive the drove the local Oswegatchie Iroquois, former British allies out of the territory and into Canada (Mohawk Reserve today), renaming the town after a land developer called Samuel Ogden. An important man in this part of the state.
War of 1812 and Modern Period
Due to the military harassments of towns on Canadian side of the St. Lawrence and the river blockade, The British captured the city during the War of 1812. This actually pleased US merchants who did much of their trade with their Canadian neighbors. Ogdensburg had long been a den of Smugglers and its ties with Canada run deep to this day.
After the war little of note happens with the exception of the signing of the Ogdensburg Agreement between Canadian Prime Minister Mackenzie King and United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1940. This was an important mutual defense pact signed near the start of the Second World War.
The city’s population peaked in the 1930’s to the 60’s with about 16 000 residents but has subsequently shapely declined to around 10 000 people. This, along with the growth of other mid sized cities, may explain the loss of Ogdensburg’s long chain of minor league baseball teams.
Fun Fact!
Ogdensburg was an affiliate two MLB teams. The first was the Philadelphia Phillies (1940) and New York Giants (1948).
What to do in Ogdensburg
Fort de la Presentation and the Lighthouse
Along the water, just west of the Oswegatchie River you will find a large park once home to the famed French fort. It is long gone but a monument and a rebuilt outline of the building have been erection on site.
On the water you will be able to see downtown from afar including an old stone building now home to the US Border Services.
At the end of the park’s peninsula stands an old stone lighthouse but unfortunately it is private property. This really shows the lack of planning and leadership offered by the city leaders. This should have been part of the public space but instead this beautiful park is split by an asphalt road used to service this one house. Talk about short term thinking!
Ford Family Tomb, Riverfront and the Maple Trail
Along the Oswegatchie River you will find the Maple city trail, a bike/pedestrian path that takes you along the river. Look out for the history plaque that details the town’s history of smuggling. On the west side of the river, on a prominent spot on the river bend, you will find the Ford Family Tomb. Built by Nathan Ford, an early pioneer of Ogdensburg, his tomb has an interesting and tagic story of neglect. Please click here to learn more.
Frederic Remington Art Museum and the Downtown
Downtown Ogdensburg should have been a highlight of my visit but unfortunately, the city’s heavy decline could be felt here. The lack of residents, endless parking lots and empty storefront made the core felt depopulated and the car centric avenues made the city feel more suburban and empty then it should have in comparison with the cutesy town of Prescott across the river.
However there are a few peculiar delights. These include the Frederic Remington Art Museum, strangely enough it is a museum of wild west paintings and sculptures, it could belong on atlas obscura! Across the way is the old public library and a memorial sculped by Sally J. Farnham, a noted cemetary and memorial artist born in the city.
The most beautiful building and the one that holds the most potential for the future core of the town is the city hall, a beautiful stone building topped by a clocktower.
Conclusion
As previously mentioned, this is not a city worth spending a night in but it does has a few attractions if you are passing through. There is not really much to say about this city.
