PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. (WCAX) – New funding is available to help researchers reinspect a Revolutionary War-era gunboat at the bottom of Lake Champlain.
New York’s State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation awarded $12,000 to the Clinton County Historical Association for the reinspection of the boat called Spitfire.
Researchers will head back out to inspect the wreck this summer and will be led by Art Cohn, an underwater archaeologist. He says there are concerns over invasives like zebra and quagga mussels impacting the boat’s integrity and that the grant puts them one step closer to their long-term goal of preserving the Spitfire.
“Our job is to make sure we are making thoughtful, coherent, engineering, solid suggestions that to be put in motion and that enhance the preservation of this boat and make it accessible for this generation and future generations,” Cohn said.
He says if the spitfire is raised it would take 15 years and cost upwards of $40 million.
