Lake Champlain’s open water has long been used as a method of transportation, but in winter’s past, the Lake also played the important role of ice highway. Learn more at the Isle La Motte Historical Society Annual Meeting on Friday, July 17 at 7 p.m. The meeting will take place at the Fisk Farm on Isle La Motte’s West Shore Road.

Dr. Susan M. Ouellette, Professor of History at Saint Michael’s College, notes that in modern times, aside from ice fishermen and the occasional wind sledder, the frozen expanse of the lake acts more as a barrier than an opportunity for greater use. In earlier times, however, especially in the 18th and 19th centuries, the ice was greeted with enthusiasm and provided an alternative for enhanced travel, including stage coaches, teamster wagons, and all forms of draw sleds. In fact, many people specifically waited for that time to avoid paying for ferrying costs.

Dr. Ouellette spends her summers on Lake Champlain, in Alburgh, Vermont, and her teaching and research topics range from early America to the Civil War. Her enthusiasm for local history has translated into a number of published scholarly articles and book chapters on the Lake Champlain region.

The meeting is open to the public, and we hope you’ll come enjoy this beautiful setting as you learn more about the important role Lake Champlain played in transportation history.

Feb 3, 2025, 10 AM to 11 PM

Feb 5, 2025, 5:30 to 7 PM

Feb 6, 2025, 7 to 8:30 PM