MUSCATINE, Iowa — An informational meeting on a proposed Alexander Clark Local Historic District has been scheduled by the Muscatine Historic Prese-rvation Commission for  6:30 p.m. Thursday, July 23,  in the second-floor meeting room at the Musser Public Library.

All interested residents, especially those within the proposed district, are invited to attend.

According to a news release from the Commis-sion, the proposed district would extend along Third Street and include the south halves of Blocks 54 and 55; and the north halves of Blocks 34 and 35 between Iowa and Pine Streets. Portions of the proposed district are already included within the West Hill and Downtown National Historic Districts.

Under Muscatine’s historic preservation ordinance, the Commission can study and recommend to the City Council the adoption of ordinances designating local and other historic districts.

Thursday’s meeting is intended to gauge public support and interest in developing a recommendation for the Council.

Prior to the meeting

the Commission will conduct a business meeting at 5:15 p.m.

For more information about the proposed district, contact Jim Rudisill at the Muscatine City Hall,

264-1550 ext. 134.

About Clark

Alexander Clark was once Muscatine’s most prominent black citizen. He was born on Feb. 25, 1826 in Pennsylvania and arrived in Muscatine in 1842, where he became a successful businessman, lawyer, editor and speaker. In 1890 he was appointed by President Benjamin Harrison to be the minister and consul general to Liberia. He died there on May 31, 1891 and was buried in Greenwood Cemetery.

Clark’s son was the first black to graduate from the University of Iowa Law School and Clark was the second. A landmark school desegregation case, which he filed on behalf of his daughter Susan, was settled in their favor by the Iowa Supreme Court in 1868.