Alvah Crocker: From the Rugged Hand of Poverty to Visionary Leader

Cliff Schexnayder, author of Builders of the Hoosac Tunnel, presents why Alvah Crocker is an example of what today is termed a “lifelong learner.” Because of his lonely travels on bad roads to sell his paper he understood the importance of transportation. But during those travels he was observant of nature and the opportunities it provided. From personal experience he learned the physics of water to provide energy for mills and to destroy mills. As a visionary for progress he sought out and associated with similar hard working individuals. These relationships of mutual support benefited all and resulted in – a railroad across northern Massachusetts to New York and the creation of Turners Falls Company. Find out more about these two examples and Crocker’s early life, with plenty of time for Q & A.