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Clarke House
Photographer: Allen C. Browne
Taken: November 5, 2012
Caption: Clarke House
Additional Description: “The Henry B. Clarke family built their house in the Greek Revival style in 1836 near what is now 1625 S. Michigan Avenue. In 1872 the house was sold and moved to 4526 S.Wabash.lt was relocated to its present site In 1977 and restored by the city of Chicago. Today it is known as the oldest house in Chicago.

The Clarkes purchased 20 acres of land on the shore of Lake Michigan in June 1835. Mr. Clarke was a part owner in the hardware firm of Jones, King and Company served as a director of the Illinois State Bank, and augmented his income by hunting and selling game.

Henry Clarke died in the cholera epidemic of 1849. His widow, Caroline Palmer, subdivided the property in the early I 850s, and made substantial improvements to the house. It was sold to John Chrimes in 1872, and to the St. Paul Church of God in Christ in 1941. In 1977, it was acquired by the city of Chicago.

The Clarke House was restored and opened to the public In 1982, and is furnished In the period of 1836-1860 by the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in the State of Illinois. It is designated a Chicago Landmark and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.” -- sign at Prairie Avenue Museums.
Submitted: November 25, 2016, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland.
Database Locator Identification Number: p370451
File Size: 0.581 Megabytes

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