History of Cliff Haven including Catholic Summer School
Timeline:
 | 11,000 years ago: Lake Champlain was formed. |
| 1609: Samuel de Champlain sails south into Lake Champlain |
| 1880 - 1890: Plattsburgh's population increases by 50% to 8,400. |
| 1890: Hotel Champlain opens. |
| 1892: Catholic Summer School opens in New London, Connecticut. |
| 1892: Smith Weed opens Plattsburgh Theatre with seating for 1,000 (Clinton & Marion Streets). |
| 1892: Judge John B. Riley and Smith M. Weed obtain option on Armstrong Farm from D&H Railroad for permanent site of Catholic Summer School. |
| 1893: Catholic Summer School comes to Plattsburgh for its second session, lasting three weeks. Classes are offered at Normal School and Plattsburgh Theatre. |
| 1896 Catholic Summer School makes its permanent home in Cliff Haven. |
| 1909, July 7 President Taft with representatives of France, Great Britain and Canada attend reception at Catholic Summer School celebrating Tercentenary of Lake Champlain |
| 1941 Catholic Summer School ceases operations. |
| 1956: Cliff Haven Estates opens model home |
| 1958 Cliff Haven Homeowners Assoc. formed |
Cliff Haven's Rich History
| Early history. Very early: For hundreds of millions of years, the Champlain Valley was submerged under a vast tropical sea, surrounded by towering mountains. Then came the Ice Age. Read more... |
| The first settlers: 8,000 - 11,000 years ago, in a very different region than what we know today, Paleo-Indians arrived. Two Native American tribal groups eventually settled each side of the lake with bloody conflict breaking out between them. When the white man arrived in 1609, he took advantage of their enmity to seek control of the region. Soon Lake Champlain was the scene of long-fought wars between the French and the English as the struggle for control raged on. |
| October 12, 1759 Incident at Cliff Haven: During one episode of the battle for control of Lake Champlain, a superior British fleet chased a trio of French sloop-like vessels called xebecs. Realizing the futility of their situation, the French scuttled their vessels just off Cliff Haven, tossing cannon and other armaments overboard, and making landfall to retreat north on foot. 209 years later, three young divers from Cliff Haven uncovered an amazing historical treasure. Read more... |
| Catholic Summer School: A century ago, Cliff Haven was home to the Catholic Summer School. From 1896 until the start of World War II, a "refined Catholic life" was offered which included lectures and recreation for thousands of attendees. Read more... |
| Cliff Haven Estates: In 1955, developers under the name of Cliff Haven Estates, capitalized on a growing demand for housing spurred on by the development of Plattsburgh Air Force Base. Read more... |
© 2005 Cliff Haven Homeowners Assoc.
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