Tri-State Meetings Return on Zoom!

Kevin Olsen is the Instrumentation Specialist on the Chemistry and Biochemistry Department’s support staff at Montclair State University. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from Plymouth State University in Plymouth, New Hampshire and a Master’s degree in chemistry from Montclair State University. He completed his Environmental Management PhD at Montclair State in the spring of 2014.

His most recent book is Rails to Sterling Forest, published by the Garbely Publishing Company in 2020. Rails to Sterling Forest tells the complex history of the Erie Railroad's Greenwood Lake Branch. It began as part of a complex scheme to create a new truck line between Lake Ontario and New York. When that did not happen, the railroad grew into a prosperous 50-mile branch line that served the iron mines of Ringwood, the resorts on the shore of Greenwood Lake, the growing suburbs of northern New Jersey, and numerous on-line industries. Today portions of the original railroad are operated by New Jersey Transit. There are several ongoing rails-to-trails efforts that will open this railroad for a new generation to enjoy.

As an historian Kevin has published a number of papers related to chemical history and New Jersey’s maritime history. His work has appeared in the American Neptune, The Encyclopedia of New Jersey, and the Highlander. He is the author of A Great Conveniency, Maritime History of the Hackensack River, Passaic River, and Newark Bay. His papers on chemical history have appeared in the Bulletin for the History of Chemistry.

When not enjoying railroads and model railroads, he enjoys skiing, sailing, great books, good beer, and playing very bad golf.

The membership portion of the meeting begins on Zoom at 7:00 PM. Click here to register in advance for the webinar. Attendees will need to register in advance for the webinar. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. The presentation will continue on Zoom and be simulcast on our Facebook page after. All are welcome to attend!