Every Monday we share a vintage image on the Essex on Lake Champlain Facebook page and invite our viewers to play some Vintage Essex Trivia. The image above was shared with us by Todd Goff (thanks again!). It is an 1874 woodcut print. A woodcut is an image created when an artist carves a scene onto a block of wood and then it is dipped in ink and pressed to paper to create the image. Click here to learn more. The details in this image are marvelous!
Do you recognize the location? If not, you can see that it is titled “Split Rock, Lake Champlain.” Split Rock Lighthouse rises above everything into the sky. As noted, the stone tower depicted in the image replaced an earlier tower (1827) in 1867. Also take note of the boats on the lake. Can you make out what they are?
Here’s what the community had to say:
Greater Adirondack Ghost and Tour Company (Plattsburgh, NY): That’s a very nice engraving. Appears to be 19th Century? Split Rock light is clearly visible and the boat in the foreground appears to be a steamer traveling north up the Lake. You can clearly see the paddle boxes, the walking beam, and what appear to be two funnels. It’s possible that this is a steam powered tow boat pulling a string of barges or, most likely, canal boats in its wake. A beautiful image.
Todd Goff: a hint….in 1867 a stone lighthouse replaced the 1837s structure…obtained from With Pipe and Book in Lake Placid.
Greater Adirondack Ghost and Tour Company (Plattsburgh, NY): Todd Goff – Here’s a guess; did this come out of one of Seneca Ray Stoddard‘s guidebooks? “Adirondacks Illustrated?”
Dianne Lansing: That looks like a pretty big boat to be going through the split. Was the water higher in those days?
Lorraine Townsend Faherty: Looks like Currier and Ives
What else can you tell us about the image? What do you think of it? Here’s a more blown up version that you can click to enlarge even more:
Share Your Essex Artifacts
If you want to share your old photos of Essex (or brochures; postcards; menus; tickets; any artifact) on the blog please email us at editor [AT] essexonlakechamplain [DOT] com.
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