On the surface, geodetic marker PID “PG2506”, Designation “Monument 653” doesn’t raise much interest. Having been successful in the last two years in recovering markers unwitnessed by the USPS that were monumented in 1858 and 1853, this new marker had me excited about topping my own record.
The International Boundary Commission installed this concrete post in 1845 along the US/Canadian border in the town of Champlain, New York. Checking the NGS database, it has remained unwitnessed by anybody since it was installed, which makes this marker both unique and 159 years old.
Coming across the border from Montreal, Canada, I actually had datasheets for four such markers and was excited about the ability of finding so many old markers. Part of the excitement included knowing it would take just minutes to find these markers, as compared to the drill holes from the 1850’s that I previously mentioned that took considerable time and effort in locating (see the article here). I know this, because last year I recovered a number of similar border markers along the Canadian border at Blaine, Washington, but they were significantly newer as compared to the markers at Champlain. At the border crossing, my excitement begins to quickly diminish. The US Customs complex is a dozen lanes wide, with buildings, fences, and vehicles everywhere. Being the positive guy that I am, I grab my USPS Cooperative Charting ID badge, my datasheets and map, and head into the Customs office. Talking with agents and a supervisor, I quickly find out that this entire section of the border is under camera surveillance, has sensors, and the US Border Patrol would be all over me if I begin walking across the field into the woods. Without wanting to hassle with the Border Patrol (which may not have been a big deal), it’s time to go to plan “B”, which was pursuing “PG2506”. This single border marker was located well east of the main border crossing, and adjacent to what appeared to be a small road that used to cross into Canada, so it’s time to begin the search.
Driving slowly down Hwy 9, we wind our way through the village of Champlain. Crossing over a small, fast moving river, I think about how much fun I’d have catching a rainbow trout or two. It’s a beautiful summer day, with temperatures in the upper 60’s and the peacefulness of these small towns seems to want to take you back in time. In a few minutes we’re following the map down a dead end road and see a rusty gate at the end of the road, obviously marking the border. Before coming to a stop, I see the concrete post, clearly worn and weathered from 159 winters, but also in reasonably good shape. A few photographs later, the job is complete, and now it’s time to head off to Lake Placid, New York, to pick up geodetic marker “PG0924 – Lake Placid”. This bronze marker was placed on the wall of the Olympic Arena in 1935, following the first of the two Winter Olympics that were hosted there.
This day marked another day of success with the Cooperative Charting program, and this 159-year-old recovery stands as my oldest recovery and potentially the oldest, with the longest unwitnessed time span, of any marker ever recovered by the United States Power Squadron. The bar has once again been raised and I’ll begin the process of seeing if an even older marker is out there waiting to be recovered by the USPS!
View the text of the PG2506 datasheet
D/Lt Chris H. Nelsen
Lake Charles Power Squadron
District 21