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Frequent visitors to America's Historic Lakes
know we refer often to one Roger Harwood. It is true that Roger is a
close, personal friend of this writer. Yet that is not why Roger so often
graces the pages of this site. It is, quite frankly, because Crab Island's
self-appointed caretaker gets things done. Usually, that's because Roger
is willing to do them himself.
 Roger
decided a decade ago that Crab Island needed maintenance. Someone had to
mow the grass, clear the poison ivy, repair the fence. When he couldn't
get New York State officials to shoulder this responsibility, Roger began
regular trips to the island to do the work himself.
When Roger decided the island would benefit
from public scrutiny, he contacted this writer and asked him to tell the
story. The Secrets of Crab Island resulted. Today, Crab Island is the
focal point of a series of
hearings by New York officials to solicit public input for deciding
how to properly maintain this historic place.
Roger Harwood at Crab Island
July 4, 2003
In the summer of 2003, Roger decided that the Crab
Island plaques should come out of hiding in the state warehouse at Peebles
Island. Crab Island is still not protected or maintained well enough for
the plaques to be restored to the monument. Yet, these plaques tell a
story that deserves to be made known. He contacted John Krueger; Executive Director of the
Clinton County
Historical Association and Museum and asked him to request the plaques be
returned to Plattsburgh for display at the museum. The NY State Office of
Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation agreed to loan the plaques.
Finding a suitable means for showing the large, heavy, plaques posed quite
a challenge. A challenge, but not an insurmountable problem. Roger
is a retired Industrial Arts teacher. He designed and built a display in
the form of the monument. Today visitors to the North Country can
view these beautiful, historic objects in the lovely and appropriate
setting of the CCHA Museum at Court Street in Plattsburgh.
It is this writer's hope
that someday the plaques will be restored to their rightful place on the
Crab Island Monument. That time is not yet. Even a cursory examination of
the bronze markers will reveal scars from bullets, scratches and the
inscribed names of assorted vandals. It would be foolhardy to return the
plaques so they can be abused again. Today they are safe, they are
visible, and they are attractively displayed in a wonderful facility that
does a marvelous job of highlighting the region's rich history.
Someday, they'll be back on
the island. I'd be willing to bet that Roger will be involved in their
return. Here's why...
Roger Harwood gets things done.
 
The Clinton County Historical Association
and Museum is located at
48 Court Street in historic Plattsburgh, NY. Their phone number is
(518) 561-0340. More information about CCHA is available at their
web site or
here.
On November 11, 2002, Crab Island was featured
in a WPTZ/Lake Champlain Basin Program Champlain 2000 story. You
can view the full news video
here.
Click
here to see a WPTZ editorial regarding the need
for better stewardship of Crab Island.
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