Ossining in Westchester County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Gen. Edwin A. McAlpin (1848-1917)

Military, Business and Civic Leader

— Dale Cemetery Heritage Trail —

Gen. Edwin A. McAlpin (1848-1917) Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, September 29, 2024

1. Gen. Edwin A. McAlpin (1848-1917) Marker

Inscription. Son of tobacco tycoon and philanthropist David H. McAlpin, Edwin Augustus had an early interest in the military but was too young to serve in the Civil War. He enlisted in 1869 as a private in Company E, New York 7th Regiment and rose through the ranks to the position of Colonel in New York's 71st before being appointed Adjutant General of the New York National Guard in 1895 by New York Governor Morton.

McAlpin's life in Sing Sing (Ossining) began with his 1870 marriage to Annie Brandreth, daughter of Benjamin Brandreth. Together they raised five sons in a sprawling 27-room, 10-bath home with a commanding view of the Hudson that they called Hillside, purchased in 1883. In 1909 a large bonfire on their lawn was part of a chain of 30 such beacons from Manhattan to Troy, New York, that marked the close of the Hudson-Fulton Celebration. The estate was sold to Victoria Home in 1928.

General McAlpin eventually inherited the family business and the site of the largest hotel in the world, Hotel McAlpin, at 34th Street and Broadway in Manhattan. The general worked and played hard. He served on many corporate

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boards and was active in professional and athletic clubs, including the Ossining Yacht Club. He also was president of the American Boy Scouts, an early scouting organization formed at the same time as Boy Scouts of America. His involvement in politics included serving as president of both the state and national Republican Leagues and mounting an unsuccessful run for Congress in 1884. He had a leadership role in many Ossining organizations and served as village trustee (1886-1898), president (1889) and postmaster (1890- 1891) of Sing Sing.

Erected by Dale Cemetery. (Marker Number 10.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Government & Politics • Industry & Commerce • Military. A significant historical year for this entry is 1870.

Location. 41° 10.347′ N, 73° 51.258′ W. Marker is in Ossining, New York, in Westchester County. It can be reached from the intersection of Havell Street and Jenkins Court. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 104 Havell St, Ossining NY 10562, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, September 29, 2024

2. Gen. Edwin A. McAlpin (1848-1917) Marker

is in the Hudson Valley

and in the New York City Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American Northeast,

in the Mid-Atlantic,

and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Netherland

and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Benjamin Brandreth (1809-1880) (here, next to this marker); Eleanor B. Wunderlich (1925-2008) (a few steps from this marker); The Heuss Family (within shouting distance of this marker); The Foshay Family (within shouting distance of this marker); George Brandreth Borup (1885-1912) (within shouting distance of this marker); Dr. George Jackson Fisher (1825-1893) (within shouting distance of this marker); Frances Brandreth Kane (1858-1938) (within shouting distance of this marker); Dr. Franz Boas (1858-1942) (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Ossining.

More about this marker. Marker is in Section

Gen. Edwin A. McAlpin image. Click for full size.

History of the 71st Regiment, N.G., N.Y; The Veterans Assoc. (1919) via Google Books (Public Domain), circa 1885

3. Gen. Edwin A. McAlpin

McAlpin, then a Colonel, when he assumed command of the New York 71st Regiment, New York National Guard in 1885.

F of Dale Cemetery.

Also see . . . Edwin A. McAlpin. Wikipedia entry on the military leader, businessman and philanthropist. (Submitted on October 20, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

L. Alman & Co.; from Successful American magazine, June 1903; via Google Books (Public Domain), circa 1903

4. Gen. Edwin A. McAlpin

Among his varied business interests were a Canadian tobacco producer, a gaslight company, hotel and banks in New York, and a distilled water company.

Hotel McAlpin image. Click for full size.

Detroit Publishing Co., via Library of Congress Press and Photographs Division (Public Domain), 1910/20

5. Hotel McAlpin

The 25-story building had 1,500 guest rooms when it was completed in 1912, making it the world's largest hotel at the time. It was operated as a hotel until 1976, and was later converted into an apartment building with 690 units. It is now known as Herald Towers.

Credits. This page was last revised on October 22, 2024. It was originally submitted on October 20, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 337 times since then and 88 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on October 20, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.