Short-Line Man - The Story of George A. Clark
Presented by Richard J. King
UPDATE (4/19/2022): The date of the meeting has been pushed back to 6/16/2022.
UPDATE (4/12/2022): In-person and virtual options available. For the June meeting, Tri-State will offer the opportunity to attend in-person at the restored Lake Hopatcong Station of the Lackawanna Railroad at 125 Landing Road, Landing, NJ, hosted by the Lake Hopatcong Foundation. The presentation will also be broadcast on Zoom and Facebook Live.
George A. Clark
Author, historian, and Tri-State President Richie King joins us for the June 2022 meeting. King has spent years researching the Rahway Valley Railroad, a small neighborhood short-line that operated in Union County, New Jersey during the last century. The railroad enjoyed a long and colorful history of hauling freight to the numerous consignees along its 11.8-mile route. However, perhaps the most interesting part of the railroad’s story is that of its long-time President & General Manager: George A. Clark.
King will present an in-depth look at George A. Clark, a complicated man known for his unique brand of opinion, profanity, and sarcasm - as well as his generosity, work ethic, and level of attention to just about everyone and everything. The presentation will follow Clark’s life from his birth in Rochester, NY, through his formative years in Oregon, to his nearly fifty year career with the Rahway Valley. We’ll also see some of Clark’s most pungent literary creations, his famous calendars, and some of the many letters he received from railfans. King will also touch upon the lives of Clark’s father and son, who also served as President and General Manager of the railroad. The show is sure to be a crowd pleaser, elicit a laugh or two, and demonstrate just what it took to run a one-horse railroad.
For those attending in-person, the membership portion of the meeting will begin at the Lake Hopatcong Station at 7:00 PM.
For those attending virtually, click here to register in advance for the webinar. Virtual 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 portion will also be simulcast on our Facebook page.
Attendance is free! All are welcome to attend!