Newspaper reports cited upwards of 75,000 people assembled in pouring rain in the streets surrounding the Old Dutch Church for Clinton’s reinterment on May 30, 1908. The city’s population at the time was about 26,000. Clinton was buried beneath his monument in his triple-lined casket encased in concrete.
Thank Ed Ford
According to county historian Anne Gordon, Ford, 94, this month, was the driving force behind this year’s Clinton celebration.
“None of this would have happened without Ed Ford. He just pushed and pushed,” she said. “Ed told us it would be a disgrace for the community and the country if we didn’t do this.”
According to Gordon, bands, color guards and other marching units will assemble at Academy Green at 11 a.m. on the 20th. The group will march to the church via Clinton Avenue and Main Street where at noon Old Dutch Pastor Kenneth Walsh will deliver an invocation at the grave site. Speakers, led by Lt. Gov. Thomas Duffy (to be confirmed) will include U.S. Rep. Maurice Hinchey, Assemblyman Kevin Cahill, County Executive Mike Hein, Mayor Shayne Gallo and legislature Chairwoman Terry Bernardo. A combined 19-gun salute will be led by the musket-loading Fifth Armory Continental Regiment from New York City, followed by Joyce-Schirick VFW and Kingston Post 150 American Legion.
John Kaminski, author of the 1993 “Clinton: Yeoman Politician of New York,” a definitive Clinton biography, will speak to the subject at the Ulster County Courthouse at 1:30.
The DAR House on Crown Street and Green will host participants following Kaminski’s address.
On Saturday, tours of places in the Stockade area that were significant to Clinton will begin from the Persen House at John and Crown Streets beginning at noon.
James Msdison’s VP not James Monroe’s VP.
Madison
Whoops – don’t know how we missed that one. Thanks!