A beautiful resort town along Lake Ontario with many attractions, including music concerts, comedy club, arts, history and good food

By Sandra Scott

Today picturesque Sackets Harbor is a serene town that hugs the shore of Lake Ontario, which belies its tumultuous past. Following the outbreak of the War of 1812 between the United States and Great Britain, Sackets Harbor became the center of American naval and military activity in the upper St. Lawrence Valley and Lake Ontario.

Standing on the porch of the Commandant’s House looking out over what was once the battlefield it was hard to envision what the peaceful, green expanse looked like during the summer of 1813.

There were two long log barracks that housed 1,000 soldiers each and all the equipment needed to supply 2,000 soldiers. During the War of 1812, Sackets Harbor was an active station where naval ships were constructed and supplied. With easy access to timber, the area developed into an extensive shipyard.

A major battle occurred on May 29, 1813, when the British attempted to destroy the American shipyard. At that time the majority of the American forces was across Lake Ontario attacking Fort George. The remaining Americans drove off the enemy, but a fire that destroyed their military stores marred their narrow victory. In 1814, the 9,600-pound great rope, made famous in the book of the same name by the late historian Rosemary Nesbitt, was transported by lake and then overland on the shoulders of local volunteers from Oswego to Sackets Harbor. It was needed as an anchor rope for the newly launched frigate, The Superior. In the Ice House a video, “The Lion and Eagle,” depicts the conflict.

The Commandant’s House shows the lifestyle of the 1860s. Interestingly, few of the artifacts actually belonged to the occupants, Josiah Tattnall and his family. Tattnall sided with the Confederacy during the Civil War. Considered a traitor, his possessions were auctioned off to buy uniforms for local soldiers.
Regardless, there are many period things to see from the horsehair chairs to the tin-lined pantry. Living history programs, costumed interpreters, and the colonial garden help add to the understanding of the 1800s.

Sackets Harbor Battlefield is designated as one the top 10 War of 1812 historic sites where history comes alive at the annual reenactments.

Next to the battle site is the Pickering-Beach Museum. The long rambling 1817 house was home to families that were important in the development of the area. It offers more insight to the era.

Sackets Harbor played a part in every war up to and including World War II.

Madison Barracks is today a historic residential community on the site of Fort Volunteer, which was later named Fort Pike in honor of General Zebulon Pike, of Pike’s Peak fame.

Pike was killed during an attack on York, today known as Toronto; his body was brought back to Sackets Harbor for burial. Through the years the barracks served as a frontier post, military depot, hospital and training center for both civilians and the military.

The first stop in Sackets Harbor should be the Seaway Trail Discovery Center with detailed information on Sackets Harbor along with all the other sites along the 504 miles of the Seaway Trail. Housed in what was once a hotel, visitors learn about history, the area’s economic development, and coastal recreation along with local wildlife. The hotel was a gathering place during its heyday. Chat with the animatronic Ulysses S. Grant who was stationed in Sackets Harbor at Madison Barracks before his Presidency.

Another animatronic display is the ladylike cow comfy in her alcove stall adjoining the kitchen room. She explains life on a dairy farm and how important she is to the local economy.

Just minutes from the village visit Old McDonald’s Farm where during the tour of the cow barn LaWanda, the guide, explains, “Here girls rule and boys drool.”

The working farm has 700 cows. They are milked three times a day making it a 24-hour process. The farm provides fun and learning for the whole family. Did you know that rabbits can come in 150 coat colors but have only five different eye colors? And, how many eggs does the average chicken lay each year? The answer is 20 dozen. What does the owner of a farm get for a birthday present? A llama, of course, so the first llama does not get lonesome — and the camel needs company, too. The Robbins family has transformed their 1200-acre farm into a visitor-friendly working farm with over 1,000 animals and farm tours, featuring their Wizard of Oz Hayride along with a variety of seasonal events. Truly an agricultural adventure for all ages.

The arts are flourishing in Sackets Harbor. The Samuel F. Hooker House Arts Center is housed in the 1808 Hooker House, home of an early and prosperous merchant.

Besides showcasing work by local artists and special exhibits they have two large studio spaces where they offer classes and workshops. Nearby a private gallery displays and sells the work of Lawrence C. Barone with a focus on the Upstate New York landscape. Year round the Lake Ontario Playhouse is home to stand-up comedy from the national circuit and during the summer there are professional theatrical performances.

A three-hour motor coach group tour and walking tours are available from the Sackets Harbor Visitor’s Center housed in the 1802 Augustus Sackett Mansion. The tours highlight the village’s history, architectural landmarks, the importance of Sackets Harbor’s past, and the growth of the village in the last 30 years.

During the summer there are weekly Sunday waterfront concerts.

Stay at one of the many quaint B&Bs or Ontario Place Hotel, which offers accommodations with the option for a private chef. It is also home to the Sackets Harbor Brewing Company.

Today Sackets Harbor is a beautiful resort town with many attractions not the least of which is boating. Enjoy history, dining out, art galleries, and shopping for unique crafts, artwork, or antiques.
For more information check www.sacketsharborny.com or call 315-646-2321.