History of the Area
Potsdam History
The earliest history of Potsdam unfolded shortly after the American Revolution when the St. Regis Mohawk Indians blazed the first known trails along the banks of the Racquette River and built hunting camps at the site of the present village. In 1802, David Clarkson and his brother-in-law, Garret Van Horne, bought the eastern four-fifths of the town. The purchase marked the beginning of the Clarkson family influence in Potsdam. In 1803, Clarkson assigned Benjamin Raymond as land agent to sell parcels to settlers who would develop the territory. Land sales increased the village rapidly in the next few years, with many new settlers traveling west from New England. Under Raymond's guiding influence, Potsdam became the first settlement along the Racquette River and the 7th town in St. Lawrence County. The first Post Office opened in 1807, and the roads were laid out to the surrounding communities. In 1809, the first bridges were constructed over the Racquette River. The village was incorporated in 1831.

In addition to agriculture and lumbering, an early industrial activity was the quarrying of sandstone along the river. The first commercial use of sandstone was a store built in 1821 at the corner of Elm and Market Street, which is now Little Italy, a pizzeria. The building was constructed as an experiment to see if Potsdam sandstone was durable for such use. Proving to be a success, the stone was used in the Parliament Buildings in Ottawa, Ontario, as well as in buildings in New York City and many local structures.

From the beginning, education has been a vital and prominent industry in Potsdam. The first one-room schoolhouses were established in 1810. St. Lawrence Academy, the forerunner of the State University College at Potsdam, was founded in 1816. Its teacher's education department has graduated some of the North Country's finest educators. Clarkson University was founded in 1896, as a memorial to Potsdam sandstoner Thomas S. Clarkson III.

About Clarkson
Clarkson is an independent, nationally ranked research university offering comprehensive programs in business, engineering, science, liberal arts, health sciences, and physical therapy. For more information visit our About Clarkson page.

Clarkson Mission
Clarkson University is an independent, nationally recognized technological university whose faculty of teacher-scholars aspires to offer superior instruction and engage in high-quality research and scholarship in engineering, business, science, health, and liberal arts.

Our primary mission is to educate talented and motivated men and women to become successful professionals through quality precollegiate, undergraduate, graduate, and professional continuing education programs, with particular emphasis on the undergraduate experience.

Our community and campus settings enhance the quality of student life and afford students access to and interaction with their faculty.

We value the diversity of our University community, and we strive to attune ourselves and our programs to our global, pluralistic society.

We share the belief that humane economic and social development derive from the expansion, diffusion, and application of knowledge.

Clarkson History
Clarkson University was founded in 1896, in memory of Thomas S. Clarkson, a northern New York resident characterized by both his varied successful business operations and by his deep concern for humanity. When he died as a result of an accident in his sandstone quarry, his sisters, Elizabeth, Frederica, and Lavinia established a memorial to his name by building and endowing an institution that would embody his philosophy. Clarkson's motto, "A Workman That Needeth Not to be Ashamed," is taken from Thomas S. Clarkson's favorite biblical verse, II Timothy 2:15. Clarkson's colors, green and gold, were selected because the goldenrod was Thomas S. Clarkson's favorite flower. The seal of the University is based on the Clarkson family coat of arms, which may be seen in the stained glass window on the second story of the Holcroft House.

The first classes at the Thomas S. Clarkson Memorial School of Technology were held on September 2, 1896, for 17 young men and women. In 1913, the charter was amended, and the name was changed to the Thomas S. Clarkson Memorial College of Technology. Steady growth and development resulted in the New York State Board of Regents designating Clarkson a University on February 24, 1984.