May 1
The first and second weeks in May are the great "home weeks" for the birds.  Then it is that the welcome tide of song and bright plumage comes surging back over our North Atlantic States in one mighty wave. -James Buckham.

1690 An agreement was concluded between the provinces of Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New York by which each was to furnish its quota of troop for an expedition against Canada.

1776 Gen. Thomas arrived and took command of the troops which, since the death of Montgomery, had remained encamped about three miles up the river.  Smallpox soon devastated the ranks which now numbered 3,000 but only 900 fit for duty.  Gen. Thomas soon retuned to the mouth of the Richelieu.

1809 Works on the Arsenal (site No. 37 Broad Street) commenced.  The building was finished August, 1810.

1834 Essex County Academy established in Westport with Asahel Lyon, Platt Rogers Halstead and Benajah P. Douglass as incorporators.

1836 At a meeting of the Catholic congregation at their regular place of worship - the "red store," on Cumberland avenue, the church was incorporated under the name of First Roman catholic Church of the town of Plattsburgh.

1845 Was completed the labor of stockading twelve acres, at Clinton Prison, commenced in snow five feet deep under the direction of the first agent, Ransom Cook of Saratoga Springs, a son-in-law of Robert Ayers.

1882 Bill introduced in Congress by Gen. John Hammond providing for the removal of Plattsburgh Barracks to Rouses Point.  Exchange of the Northern N. Y. Telephone Co. in operation with 25 subscribers.

1898 At the battle of Manila Bay, Captain George B. Ransom, U. S. N. (son of Capt. Harry Sawyer Ransom, severely wounded at Drury's Bluff, in 1864) was Chief Engineer of the U. S. S. "Concord" and for his "eminent and conspicuous conduct" in that battle was given a medal by Congress.

 Today In the Champlain Valley History