Appleton Park Flower Bed Is Memorial To Love
Alice Conkey Reid Died In 1891
Posted: 10:38 am CST February 14, 2009
APPLETON, Wis. -- A memorial to love is living on this Valentine's Day.
READ: Check Out Valentine's Day Special Section
When Wisconsin's weather warms this spring, a horticulturist will arrange 100 blood-leaf Iresine in a flower bed at Alicia Park to spell a name: "Alice."It's a memorial to Alice Conkey Reid, whose husband donated their former retreat to the city.Alice Conkey Reid came from a prominent Appleton family. She graduated from Lawrence and Vassar colleges and taught mathematics at Northwestern University before taking up journalism.She married Alexander Reid, part-owner of The Appleton Post newspaper and city postmaster. President Benjamin Harrison named him consul to Ireland in 1889.Alice Conkey Reid died in 1891 at age 42 after a buggy crash in Ireland, and her husband was devastated.More than 100 years later, his memorial to her lives on.
READ: Check Out Valentine's Day Special Section
When Wisconsin's weather warms this spring, a horticulturist will arrange 100 blood-leaf Iresine in a flower bed at Alicia Park to spell a name: "Alice."It's a memorial to Alice Conkey Reid, whose husband donated their former retreat to the city.Alice Conkey Reid came from a prominent Appleton family. She graduated from Lawrence and Vassar colleges and taught mathematics at Northwestern University before taking up journalism.She married Alexander Reid, part-owner of The Appleton Post newspaper and city postmaster. President Benjamin Harrison named him consul to Ireland in 1889.Alice Conkey Reid died in 1891 at age 42 after a buggy crash in Ireland, and her husband was devastated.More than 100 years later, his memorial to her lives on. Copyright 2012 by Channel 3000. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
