Part 10/12:
Marie Conklin passed away in 1919 at just 48 years old, leaving Roland devastated. Without her, the estate lost much of its former vibrancy. As their children grew and social priorities shifted, the Conklin family withdrew from Rosemarie Farm. In 1920, Roland arranged to transfer the property to the Brooklyn Catholic Diocese, which converted it into Daughters of Mary Lodge, a training center for priests.
Meanwhile, Conklin’s entrepreneurial pursuits persisted. He was involved in early electric vehicle manufacturing, founding the Roland Electric Car Company in 1913, and continued philanthropic efforts, including donating a famous Alpha Murr monument to the University of Illinois in 1919.