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The loft on lake champlain

July 30, 2020

During a very active week of learning the curious art of cordwood masonry at Earthwood Building School in West Chazy, New York, we had the pleasure of returning to a quiet and restful loft on nearby Point au Fer with a stunning view and access to the rocky shores of Lake Champlain. Homeowners Joe and Pam built their waterfront log cabin themselves, a process we now very much respect and appreciate after being humbled by cordwood building master and educator, Rob Roy, for five days.

Not only is the loft clean and comfortable and right on the water, but the entire area has a fascinating history.

Point au Fer was once a battleground and military post during the French and Indian War. After the British Army took control of the formerly French-occupied area in 1763, they completed construction on a fort known as the “White House” in 1774. An American force took control of the fort briefly in 1775, losing it again in the Battle of Valcour in 1776. Around that same time, over 160 American soldiers became sick with smallpox and died, their bodies buried in mass graves right along the shore. The fort remained an important post until it was burned by a French refugee in 1805.

The burial mounds containing those Americans still remain today and are designated by a historical marker. And considering the several decades worth of conflict that took place here, who knows how many lives were truly lost among the British, French, Native Americans, and Americans who fought here and how many of those bodies were left behind.

As we told Pam and Joe, we heard a curious few bumps in the night. And although we’re pretty sure it was just the wind, you should come see for yourself.

If you’re traveling to the region, we highly recommend staying at Pam and Joe’s loft, which can be found on Airbnb as the Lakehouse Loft Apartment. And if you love discovering unique vacation rentals, check out our picks for Amazing Off-Grid Places to Stay.

Photographs and text by Elaine Skylar Neal / Travels and Curiosities

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