Greenport Historical Society Presentation by Conrad Hanson :
Why is Alfred Buried Here?
DATE: Thursday, May 15 at 7 PM
After a brief business meeting, Conrad Hanson will present the evening’s program on the fabulously wealthy Alfred Corning Clark. Alfred was an international arts patron, real estate developer and philanthropist who passed away in 1896 at the relatively young age of fifty-two. His family possessed one of the 19th century’s great fortunes thanks to the Singer Sewing Machine. Their name was, and continues to be, strongly linked with various locales over time — including Cooperstown, where they maintained their summer residence; as well as New York City, where their real estate holdings included the fabled Dakota Apartment Building. Interestingly, his widow and sons chose not to bury him in either of those places. Instead they purchased a cemetery plot in Hudson, a town where he had no active connections, and had him interred there. Even more curious, none of them followed suit when their times came, leaving him the sole occupant of the large plot, far from his family and their descendants. This talk will take a look at the man, the Clark family’s history, their enduring legacy, and their surprising connection to the Hudson Valley and Columbia County.
Conrad Hanson is a local nonprofit consultant, writer and real estate agent. A resident of Hudson Valley for nearly twenty years, he is fascinated by the rich history and untold stories of the region. His writings on architecture, history, gardens and travel can be found on his website www.schoolfieldcountryhouse.com.
LOCATION: Greenport Community Center, Town Hall Drive, Hudson NY (last building on the left); opposite the Greenport Town Hall.
FREE open to the public. Refreshments will be available after the talk.
Website: www.greenporthistoricalny.org Email: info@greenporthistoricalny.org