Lunch & Learn for October 2015


Please note:  October's program will take place on the first Friday of the month rather than the usual second Friday. 

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Lunch & Learn

Co-sponsored by Friends of the Folsom Library

and the Rensselaer Retirees Forum

Friday, October 2, 2015

12:00 noon to 1:00 pm

Folsom Library Fischbach Room

Free!

Everyone is welcome!  

Bring your lunch or purchase one at the Library Cafe.

Dessert will be provided.

“Albany Rural Cemetery

in the Civil War”

Weaving a tapestry of military interest, genealogical research and local history, local historian Mark Bodnar will be your tour guide on this virtual tour of the graves of Civil War personages interred in Albany Rural Cemetery.  The lecture starts with a brief history of the Cemetery. Then begins a series of vignettes of numerous people from the Albany area that were influential in the Civil War effort: statesmen such as Sen. Ira Harris; industrialists such as Henry Burden and John Flack Winslow; clergy such as Rev. Rufus W. Clark; physicians such as Dr. John Swinburne. The presentation contains photographic images of the subject as well as their monuments in the Cemetery.  Also included are local publishers and authors and, of course, the stories of numerous soldiers from privates to generals.  Buried in Albany Rural are six Civil War Medal of Honor recipients, three Confederate soldiers, and a Civil War general that became President of the United States. (His grave is pictured above.  Can you guess who is interred there?)

About the speaker:

For over 20 years, Mark Bodnar has been identifying and cataloguing the soldiers and sailors from the Civil War that are buried in Albany Rural Cemetery, located in the Village of Menands, Town of Colonie.  Mark was the primary researcher for “People of Albany: The Civil War” (Peter J. Hess, 2008).  In 2013, Mark was interviewed by Times Union reporter and author Paul Grondahl for his recent book, The Exalted Acres: Unlocking the Secrets of Albany Rural Cemetery (The Hearst Corporation, 2013.)

During this time Mark, recognized the military exploits of men and women interred in St. Agnes Cemetery, adjacent to Albany Rural Cemetery. These men of valor and women of devotion served in a variety of conflicts in which America was engaged.  Expanding his research from Albany Rural and the Civil War, Mark began investigating the lives and deeds of these heroic local figures buried in St. Agnes Cemetery and put together a program, “A Soldier from Every War.” 

Mark Bodnar is the President of the Historical Society of the Town of Colonie (2012–2016).  He is also President of The Civil War Buffs (2004 – present), a local group of Civil War enthusiasts.  Mark resides in Loudonville with his wife of 40 years, Carol.  They have two lovely daughters and the two most beautiful granddaughters imaginable.

Adrienne Birchler
Coordinator
Friends of the Folsom Library