CANTON – The St. Lawrence County Historical Association (SLCHA) Board of Directors has hired a Carthage man to serve as its new executive director.

Robert Clarke replaces John Kovach, who returned to Memphis, Tenn., in December due to family illness.

“I am really excited and humbled to be at SLCHA. I’ve had a true love and appreciation for history since I was young, so this is a dream come true,” said Clarke.

Clarke’s other interests include regional history, women’s history, history education and preservation, military conflicts, and political milestones.

A veteran of the U.S. Army, Clarke enlisted after graduating from Carthage Central School in 2001. Shortly after 9/11, he was deployed to Afghanistan with the 10th Mountain Division, serving with the 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment. After his Army discharge, he worked for Carthage Area Hospital for 16 years, starting as a phlebotomy technician in the lab, then became the Training & Education Coordinator in the Human Resources department.

It was during his time at the hospital that Clarke decided to follow his passion for history and enrolled in college to earn his degree. He received a B.S. from SUNY Empire in Historical Studies, with a major concentration in American History and a minor in Public History in spring 2021.

“The work experience I attained over the last 20 years will help me to run the museum efficiently. I look forward to working with staff, historians, and history-related organizations in the St. Lawrence County region and those from our neighboring counties. So much of our region’s history is tied together in many ways,” he stated.

Clarke currently resides in Carthage with his wife Beth, three daughters Olivia, Alice, and Paige, and their dog Ripley.

Clarke welcomes visitors to the SLCHA at the Silas Wright House in Canton. In addition to Tuesdays to Fridays, Clarke will be available at the museum every other Saturday beginning Jan. 15.

SLCHA is open to the public and free to tour Tuesday-Thursday, Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

For more information, visit our website at www.slcha.org.