Comments on: Frenchman’s Island of Oneida Lake

By: Lauren

Lauren — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 16:39:15 +0000

It’s in german, but Sophie von La Roche wrote a book called Erscheinungen am See Oneida. The narrorator encounters this young couple and they tell their story and how they built their home and lived on the secluded island on the lake Oneida for four years. They had to swim over to the Indian colony when the lady, Emilie Des Wattines was pregnent and realized she couldn’t have the baby alone. The man’s name in the story is Carl Des Wattines. La Roche is from Germany and never travelled to the United States but got all her infromation for the novel from her son. He must have heard this legend or it must be true?

By: Hazel Stewart

Hazel Stewart — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 19:25:26 +0000

Just reading the book, Letters from America, by Alexis de Tocqueville. On pages 128-133, De Tocqueville is writing a letter to his sister about history of Oneida Lake and the Frenchman who brought his bride to America and settled there…interesting.

By: William

William — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 19:56:16 +0000

Didn’t get to kayak out to Frenchman’s this past summer. Really missed it. I did have an opportunity to speak with a member of the Fort Brewerton Historical Society. She was of the belief that the baby born to Monsieur & Madame Desvatine was buried on the island. If that’s the case, please tread the island with care and some degree of respect. In the late 1800s and early 1900s the island was a popular stop for locals. Steamboats made regular excursions to the island. That’s the reason for the dock that is still there. And I read somewhere that there was at least 1 hotel that was built upon it. Frenchman’s Island is an ‘undeveloped’ NYS park and open to the public. There are no amenities. No bathrooms, no camping. Enjoy and have a Merry Christmas.

By: Jim

Jim — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 18:55:59 +0000

I now live on Oneida lake for the past year and have taken my family to Frenchmans Island several times, we find somthing new about it each time we go. There seems to be an old foundation in the far southeast corner of the Island, someone told us it was an old hotel do you have any info on this. It seems to be large enough for maybe a bed and breakfast. We also take a bag with us to pick up what some people leave behind.

By: Daniel

Daniel — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 07:51:18 +0000

I live on Oneida Lake and I have been to Frenchman’s Island many times. Its a really neat place, there is a trail that leads from a state dock there to the light house on the north eastern edge of the island. Along the trail there is a huge crater, from what I am not sure. The state ended up putting up posted signs around the island though and I haven’t been back. I have heard rumors though that it is now a state park and open again to the public.