All Things Named Champlain

French Explorer's Moniker Still Carries Weight 400 Years Later

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Champlain College campus photo. (photo by Stephen Mease)

BURLINGTON, VT (06/12/2009)(readMedia)-- Samuel de Champlain, who wasn't at all shy about naming an entire lake after himself when he arrived in 1609, might be surprised 400 years later to discover just how far that simple act has taken his family's name. Before Champlain's arrival, the vast body of water was called "Bitawbagok" by the early Abenaki inhabitants who has lived in the region for generations.

Next to the 120-mile long lake itself - the sixth largest fresh water lake in the U.S. - the region between the shore and the broad upsweep of land leading to Vermont's Green Mountains is known today as the Champlain Valley region. The scenic islands of Grand Isle, South and North Hero and Isle La Motte are collectively described as the Champlain Islands.

A Google search for Champlain brings up nearly 6.5 million listings to the computer screen. A bit more focus is found in the most recent FairPoint Communications Burlington-Middlebury White Pages with a full page of tiny font listings beginning with "Champlain ARC" and ending with "Champlain Yacht Underwriters, Inc. Though, it is difficult to find anyone with the last name of Champlain in the listings.

Many are familiar with landmark buildings like the Champlain Mill, a former woolen mill on the banks of the Winooski River or the Champlain Bridge connecting Addison with Crown Point, NY. The state's largest annual event - Champlain Valley Fair in Essex Junction - used Champlain's familiar portrait as its logo for many years.

At least three U.S. Navy ships have carried his name, including most recently the USS Lake Champlain, a guided missile cruiser. The "Champlain" is also one of the modern Lake Champlain Ferries carrying passengers and cars across the broad lake daily.

Of course, there was the ill-fated luxury steamship "Champlain" that ran aground on the rocks off Westport, NY in July 1875 when the captain was high on morphine to alleviate the pain from gout.

Even the elusive Vermont cousin of the Loch Ness Monster, took on a variation of the name when searchers dubbed it "Champ." A friendlier and greener version of Champ is the popular mascot for the Lake Monsters Baseball team in Burlington.

The French explorer's name helps sell fine chocolates, chiropractic services, bowling lanes, parking lots, self storage centers, apiaries, insulation, antiques, printing and more. It's the name of a chain of convenience stores, hair salons, moving companies, health care centers, country clubs and schools.

But it wasn't until nearly 350 years had passed since Champlain and his Native American guides entered the northern waters of the lake that the Burlington Business College was renamed Champlain College and moved uptown to the historic Hill Section of Burlington in 1958. Today, college students from around the world enjoy a world-class view of Lake Champlain from many vantage points on campus.

Thanks to the support of Dr. John W. Heisse Jr., and vision of President David F. Finney, the connection between the French explorer and the college that proudly bears his name will be strengthened when a new statue of Samuel de Champlain by Vermont sculptor Jim Sardonis is unveiled July 2 at 5:30 p.m. as the four-day international symposium focusing on Champlain's legacy begins at Champlain College.

- Stephen Mease, News Director, Champlain College

Downloadable Photo Album of Champlain-related pictures for use with this article:

http://picasaweb.google.com/ChamplainCollegePhotos/ChamplainSymposium?feat=directlink

For more information about the Champlain Symposium, www.champlainquadricentennial.com

Press coverage of the Symposium and the Champlain statue unveiling is encouraged. To make arrangements, please contact Stephen Mease, smease@champlain.edu or call (802) 865-6432.