Champlain in Clinton County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Bill Earl Park

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 19, 2024

1. Bill Earl Park Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

[English] If you were in the neighborhood 100 years ago, you’d be certain to run into Bill Earl. The son of John Earl, who owned a sawmill at the end of River Street, Bill was an industrious person from an early age. In the late-1800s, he worked for his father at the mill. Bill also earned money hauling sand in his boat from Lake Champlain to the Sheridan Iron Works. By 1906, Bill operated a small bicycle repair shop near his riverside home.

The bicycle shop quickly became a popular place. Bill would repair children's bikes for free and lead them on cycling trips around the area. He rented pleasure boats and owned a small paddlewheel boat that cruised the Great Chazy River. Bill was known to take children to visit Lake Champlain's islands in the summer months. While Bill never had children of his own, many of the local boys and girls referred to him as “Uncle Bill.”

Bill Earl died on May 15, 1943, at the age of 76. At his funeral in the nearby funeral home, hundreds of children passed his casket to pay their respects. Bill was buried in Glenwood Cemetery near his family members. A lengthy obituary

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was written by the “Sons of Honest Bill” and recalled many fond memories of him. This park is named in honor of Bill Earl to honor his years of dedication to the children of Champlain.

[Français] Si vous aviez vécu ici il y a 100 ans, vous auriez certainement croisé Bill Earl. Fils de John Earl, le propriétaire d'une scierie au bout de River Street, Bill s'est montré industrieux dès son plus jeune âge. Vers la fin des années 1800, alors qu'il travaillait pour son père à la scierie, Bill gagnait aussi de l'argent en transportant du sable dans son bateau entre le lac Champlain et l'atelier de ferronnerie Sheridan. En 1906, Bill avait un petit atelier de réparation de bicyclettes près de sa maison au bord de l'eau.

Cet atelier est vite devenu un endroit très populaire. Bill y réparait gratuitement les vélos des enfants, qu'il emmenait en excursion à bicyclette à travers la région. Il rouait aussi des bateaux de plaisance et possédait un petit bateau à aubes qui croisait sur la rivière Great Chazy. Il arrivait aussi à Bill d'emmener des enfants visiter les îles du lac Champlain durant les mois d'été. Il n'a jamais eu d'enfants à lui, mais nombre de garçons et filles de la région l'appelaient « oncle Bill ».

Bill Earl est mort le 15 mai 1943 a l'âge de 76 ans. Lors de la veillée funéraire dans un salon mortuaire non loin d'ici,

Marker detail: Bill Earl image. Click for full size.

2. Marker detail: Bill Earl

Bill Earl, standing next to the door and holding a wrench, poses for a photo with some of his young friends. • • • Bill Earl, debout près de la porte et tenant une clé à la main, pose avec quelques jeunes amis.

des centaines d'enfants sont venus lui rendre un dernier hommage. Bill a été enterré au cimetière de Glenwood auprès d'autres membres de sa famille. Une longue nécrologie a été composée par les « Sons ot Honest Bill » (les fils de Bill l'Honnête) remémorant de nombreux bons souvenirs en sa compagnie. Ce parc est dédié à Bill Earl en l'honneur de son dévouement envers les enfants de Champlain.

Erected by Champlain Valley National Heritage Partnership.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Parks & Recreational Areas • Waterways & Vessels.

Location. 44° 59.097′ N, 73° 26.597′ W. Marker is in Champlain, New York, in Clinton County. It is on River Street 0.2 miles east of Elm Street, on the right when traveling east. The marker is located in Bill Earl Park, overlooking the Great Chazy River. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Champlain NY 12919, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Upstate New York,

in the Adirondacks & North Country,

and in the Champlain Valley.

It is also in the American Northeast

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Great North Woods,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France,

New Netherland,

and one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: The Shipwrights of Champlain / La construction navale á Champlain (within shouting distance of this marker); Pliny Moore House (approx. 0.2 miles away); St. Mary's Academy (approx. 0.2 miles away); First School (approx.

Marker detail: River Street image. Click for full size.

3. Marker detail: River Street

The land surrounding River Street has been used for many different purposes over the past 200 years. Prior to 1829, it was a lush riverside pasture for Judge Pliny Moore's cows. By the mid-1800s, the riverbank included a store, marble shop, warehouse, and boat yard. Many homes lined River Street by the early 1900s, but mid-20th century flooding took its toll. Today, the land is used mostly for recreation. • • • Le voisinage de River Street a connu différents usages au cours des 200 dernières années. Avant 1829, c'était un pâturage verdoyant pour le bétail du juge Pliny Moore. Vers le milieu des années 1800, les berges accueillaient un magasin, une marbrerie, un entrepôt et un petit chantier naval. Au début des années 1900, River Street était bordée d'habitations, mais les inondations du milieu du 20e siècle y ont fait de nombreux dégâts. Aujourd'hui, River Street a surtout une vocation récréative.

¼ mile away); Site of Burying Yard (approx. 0.4 miles away); Judge Pliny Moore (approx. half a mile away); Jehudi Ashmun (approx. 0.7 miles away); Site of Delaware and Hudson Railroad Station (approx. 3.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Champlain.

Marker detail: Bill Earl’s Paddlewheel image. Click for full size.

4. Marker detail: Bill Earl’s Paddlewheel

A young crew navigating the Great Chazy River on Bill Earl’s Paddlewheel. The building in the background is the Samuel de Champlain History Center. • • • Un jeune équipage à bord du bateau à aubes de Bill Earl sur la rivière Great Chazy. L'édifice en arrière-plan est le Centre d’histoire Samuel de Champlain.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 19, 2024

5. Bill Earl Park Marker

Looking south; the Great Chazy River is in the background.

Bill Earl Memorial image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 19, 2024

6. Bill Earl Memorial

(located near the historical marker)
Dedicated August 15, 2015
To The Memory Of
William “Bill” Earl
1867-1943
”Thoughts of Bill take us back to our childhood days. It was Bill who gave us our first boat ride on the river, and Bill who taught us to ride a bike. Around Bill’s dinner table, no matter how many were present there was always a place for you and me. He was a friend of everyone, particularly the children.”
”The Sons of Honest Bill”

Credits. This page was last revised on March 20, 2025. It was originally submitted on March 16, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 145 times since then and 28 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on March 19, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on March 20, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.