[7] In 1665, the French began building a series of forts along the Richelieu River to protect New France from the Iroquois.

Four companies of the Carignan-Salières Regiment were sent from Quebec City to extend these forts further south, under Captain Pierre La Motte.

In 1668, the bishop of Quebec, François de Laval, came to Isle La Motte to baptise a number of Iroquois to Christianity.

[13] In the mid-1800s, orchards, vineyards, and dairy farms flourished on the island, which was then connected to the mainland by ferry during the warmer months and by foot or wagon over the ice in winter.

[14] In 1878, the town was incorporated for the sole purpose of building a bridge to Alburgh that was completed in 1882.

[15] Fisk Farm was the site at which the Vermont Fish and Game League was addressed in August 1897 by President William McKinley and in September 1901 by Vice President Theodore Roosevelt, who had learned of the shooting of McKinley, who later died.

[16] Reef builders during this period in earth history were principally bryozoa, stromatolites, stromatoporoids, sponges, and algae.

It is so dark in appearance that it was marketed in the 18th and 19th century as "black marble" and was used for the construction of the U.S. Capitol building and the National Gallery of Art.