This morning Doreen got us caught up on laundry while I worked "admin" stuff - phone calls, make reservations, spreadsheet updates, planning what we have remaining to see here, planning the next travel routes, etc etc. That admin stuff is never ending. I usually try to call our next couple stops to confirm reservations are intact. I also made one of the last two remaining reservations for this trip - Arnold Air Force Base in Tullahoma TN. I was in the Air Force for over 42 years and never knew we had an Arnold AFB!
This afternoon we planned to visit the LeRay Mansion here on post, the 10th Mountain Division & Fort Drum Museum just off post, and the commissary to replenish the fridge and pantry before we head east to Vermont on Thursday. Then tomorrow we will drive into Watertown to Walgreens and pick up a couple prescriptions, fuel the truck and then return back here to do our normal pre-departure tasks. This has been a great stop. Relaxing and enjoyable, the way we like it!
So here we have the LeRay Mansion, right here on Fort Drum. Kind of odd to have a mansion on a military post, but I said the same thing about the herds of Elk at the Richmond VA Defense Logistics Agency base too! The first mansion at this location was built in 1806-1808 and burned in 1822. This mansion was constructed in 1826-1827 and was the home of James LeRay de Chaumont, a prominent landowner and early developer of this county. It is one of the oldest mansions in northern New York. President James Monroe and other dignitaries visited the mansion. There have been several owners since Mr Chaumont sold it in 1840 but the U.S. Army has maintained the mansion since they acquired it in 1941.
We started our self-guided tour on the inside of the mansion and it is beautiful and fully functional. Today, the LeRay Mansion is used as housing for visitors to the Fort Drum Military Installation, "who continue to maintain and preserve the property and its historical importance."
Fully functional and modern kitchen
These two pictures are not duplicates, but pictures of opposing parlors, nearly identical. Each room has it's own fireplace which provided heat and ambiance.
Just past the modern kitchen on the first floor is a sign leading to a spiral staircase that leads to a basement which contains store-rooms, pantries, kitchens and a wine cellar. Doreen started counting stairs like we were in a lighthouse! The wine cellar floor is stone. There are wine casks still in the room and the aroma is evident.
Upstairs the rooms are still labeled for the children that occupied them. And again, this is a functional guest house, so visitors use the beds, etc.
A wooden rocking deer toy
Outside there are several out-buildings, all meticulously maintained. A few pictures:
Slave/servant quarters. As the story goes, when slavery was outlawed, they were given the choice of going free or staying on for pay, and they stayed.
The chapel / ice house / privy. The walls are very thick from when it was originally an ice house.
Land Office / Carriage House / Garage. The original owner sold tracts of land and managed the business from here. Later it was used for vehicles.
The building was highly modified over the years. It might have also been a stables.
Again, it is amazing these structure have not only survived bit have been preserved and are still functional after all these years,
We departed the mansion campus, exited the post and drove a short distance to the 10th Mountain Division & Fort Drum Museum.
Inside the museum the displays tell the story of Fort Drum and the unit that calls it home. History is described as far back as when this land was inhabited by Native Americans.
The US Army has resided in Jefferson County NY since 809 when the first troops arrived in Sackets harbor. There has been a military reservation at this spot since 1908. Originally it was called Pine Camp. It was changed to Camp Drum in 1952 after the death of Lt Gen High A Drum, It became Fort Drum , a permanent installation in 1974. In 1985 it became home to America's only Mountain Division, the 10th Mountain Division.
The post is huge - 108,733 acres. Regular Army, National Guard, Army Reserve, Air Force, marine Corps and Canadian allies all train here. They have about 4000 garrison forces that provide administrative and logistical support day to day. Annually training is provided to over 38,000 troops.
Sacket's Harbor is straight west of here on Lake Ontario
The US Army has resided in Jefferson County NY since 809 when the first troops arrived in Sackets harbor for the War of 1812. There has been a military reservation at this spot since 1908. Originally from 1908-1951 it was called Pine Camp. From 1951-1974 it was called Camp Drum after the death of Lt Gen High A Drum, It became Fort Drum , a permanent installation in 1974. In 1985 it became home to America's only Mountain Division, the 10th Mountain Division.
The museum has various weaponry and uniforms on display from the early 1900's through Iraq and Afghanistan.
1904 Maxim Machine Gun - US Army's first standard machine gun, 30-06 caliber.
M1919A4 .30 Caliber Machine Gun
Pine Camp 1935
So here is something I learned today! For the Army, the difference between and Camp and a Fort is the length a unit will occupy the location. Camps are seen as temporary while Forts are seen as long-term locations with permanently assigned units. Now you know!
Units assigned to the 10th Mountain Division and Ft Drum
Explosive Ordinance Disposal robot equipment
More EOD information
Iraq display
I took a bunch more pictures but we will call that good. If you are ever in this area this museum is a must see. Very well done and very informative.
On the way back to the campground we stopped at the commissary and bought groceries and then came back to the RV and grilled some steaks with sweet corm and new potatoes!
Tomorrow we will wrap things up and prepare to depart Thursday morning.
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