Alfred P Fritcher was born in Canajoharie, New York the son of Adam and Esther Fritcher. He served as a postal clerk in Canajoharie. In 1863 he was registered for the Civil War draft. By 1870 he was married to Margaret Fritcher. He was the owner and operator of the Fritcher Opera House and Union Hotel located on River Street where the present Fort Plain Post Office and Haslett Park are located. The opera house was built in 1878 and was the scene for many plays, song festivals, concerts and meetings of local fraternal organizations. The hotel and opera house were destroyed by fire of suspicious origin in 1911. The fire originated in the Williams & Tanner storehouse and spread to the opera house. A cigar store and a laundry were also destroyed in the fire.