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The Secrets of Crab Island
By James P. Millard
 Just outside of Plattsburgh, NY,
south of Cumberland Bay and north of famous Valcour Island there sits a small,
heavily wooded limestone isle. Fairly unremarkable in appearance, it has
all that one would expect to find on one of the many islands in this deep
and lovely lake- rocky shores covered with shale, mixed forests of
conifers, maples and oaks, and great bunches of poison ivy growing
profusely in the few open patches between shore and forest.
(Click for map)  Yet,
tiny Crab Island is different from many of its better-known
sister islands.
One of the keys to its difference lies in the small clearing
on the northwestern shore- here one can find a tall granite
obelisk, surrounded by a rusting fence. The monument does not
tell why it stands- the bronze plaques that once adorned its
sides are gone. The mighty granite eagles adorning each face
have had their heads broken off by vandals. The large granite
blocks have gaping holes where mortar once held them together.
Continuing
our walk along the western shore, we notice an opening in the
woods. To our right, leading down to
the shore, is a large concrete ramp. It stops
just short of the water's edge. Returning to our path, we notice
a large stone chimney entangled in thick brush and trees. Closer
observation shows the chimney culminates in a large fireplace
set within the foundation of what was some sort of building.
From the looks of this, it may very well have been a substantial
structure.
 
Might this be one of Crab Island's secrets?
A
little further south one can find a small shed, not much bigger
than an outhouse- the sole surviving building on Crab Island.
Beyond
this shed, there is a clearing with other signs of human activity.
It is obvious someone has worked here on the island clearing
the thick brush and poison ivy. Within this recently cleared
area, the careful observer will notice a concrete pad, encircling
a dark patch that appears to be soil. This pad is, in
turn, surrounded by other, less prominent concrete sections.
Each has a severed steel cable attached to it. Here we find
the island holds yet another of its secrets.
Continuing down the Trillium and Jack-in-the-Pulpit
bordered path we finally reach the southwestern shore.
The shore is littered with sharp and jagged rock- shale and limestone- harboring
more mystery.
Crab Island has many tales to tell. The monument, ramshackle
shed, the concrete pads in the clearing, and even the rocks on the shore are clues to its secrets.
These
are the Secrets of Crab Island...
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On November 11, 2002, Crab Island was
featured in a WPTZ/Lake Champlain Basin Program Champlain 2000 story.
The video is no longer available online. However, you can still access the
LCBP feature story on the web
here.
Click
here to see a WPTZ editorial regarding
the need for better stewardship of Crab Island.
Visiting Crab
Island...
Crab Island is publicly owned land- the property of the people
of New York. It is also a very special, unique place that merits
respect and consideration. Keep in mind the island is covered with
Poison Ivy. It is also the home of protected fauna and flora. Look,
but do not touch. Metal detectors and digging are strictly
prohibited on the island.
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