On Wednesday, August 20, at 7 pm, the Grafton Historical Society will present local Civil War historian Mark Bodnar, who will present the details of the prominent Harris and Rathbone families of Albany and unfold this story of love, misfortune and tragedy. This is a sad, ghastly, yet true story of two local people who witnessed the first presidential assassination in our country. This 45 minute Power Point® lecture is filled with images of the people, places and documents of that era. You won’t want to miss this educational and factual account of Clara Harris and Henry Reed Rathbone. The event will take place at the Grafton Town Hall.
After the program, please join us for a special summer treat of strawberry shortcake and cold drinks.
Mark Bodnar was born in Troy and raised in Watervliet. He received his primary education in Watervliet, and graduated from Catholic Central High School and Hudson Valley Community College in Troy. His interest in the Civil War began in grammar school and was re-ignited in the late 1980s. Since that time Bodnar has become highly involved in Civil War research and education local to the Albany area.
Bodnar’s niche in Civil War studies is focused on individual, local soldiers and what they did during the war, predominantly those buried in Albany Rural Cemetery. As a result of his many years of research at Albany Rural, he is considered the leading authority on Civil War soldiers and prominent civilians from the Civil War period buried in that cemetery.
Bodnar was the primary contributor and leading consultant of the book of Civil War soldiers buried in Albany Rural Cemetery, currently in its second printing. Mark was also a contributor to the recent book published by the Times Union newspaper, These Exalted Acres: Unlocking the Secrets of Albany Rural Cemetery by Paul Grondahl in 2013.
Bodnar is currently in his second and final term as President of the Historical Society of the Town of Colonie. He is also the founder and President of The Civil War Buffs Dinner Club and is the Vice Chairman of the New York State Civil War Sesquicentennial Committee.