Orange Park is a small town settled in Northeast Florida and at one point it had a population of only 250 until the Clarke family came to stay. The Clarke Family shared their home to anyone in the community with open arms. Their house was the place to be. The Clarke’s home is where many things began and then grew into something more. This house was the place where many Orange Park townies lives were shaped. This home and the Clarke family’s big impact on the town is what makes it memorable to this day to any person living in Orange Park.
The first generation Clarke family did not originally come from Northeast Florida but they came from Bury, England. In 1855, The Clarke’s immigrated to Albany, New York. The son, William Clarke, after being …show more content…
He had architectural plans for the house to be like a two-story barn. The exterior of the house is all wood-paneling covered in a navy blue paint. Every wall had windows because it would help keep a breeze flowing throughout the home. Then there is a porch that wraps around from the front door and then it cuts off by the door that enters into the dining room. The interior of the house was laid out to be an open-floor plan with high-interior ceilings. Inside of the home, the staircase is the first thing to come into view then to left is where the living room and fireplace is located and then pans out to the right where the dining room is located. Also, on the first floor, there is a kitchen that had a Black Dutch oven and a barn sink that looked out to the backyard. There are no doors, all of the rooms are connected with each other. Wood Flooring went throughout the entire first floor and second floor. However, the original wood paneling had to be replaced on the first floor and the second floors walkway during the early 2000s. On the second floor, it housed three rooms, one for Carrie and William, one for William Edward, and the third room was William Francis’s office. The two bedrooms each had their own bathroom and downstairs in the kitchen there was a bathroom as well. This bathroom was mainly meant for the pecan grove workers. …show more content…
and Mrs. Clarke took “a strong interest in their local neighborhood” and took on a huge role in their community. Bill Clarke was a committed town council member in Jacksonville and soon enough became a council member in the town of Orange Park. He was valued as a member for being a very business savvy man. During the 1920s, Bill became the mayor of Orange Park. As mayor, he was admired and appreciated and was able to save many townies from financial issues. Carrie Clarke was another great advocate in the community. Her home was where the first Baptist Church took roots and grew. Every Sunday morning on her front porch she had Sunday School classes for all ages. Carrie decided to expand her porch ministry into a church for the whole town. So, she went out searching for a sanctuary building and found one up for bidding and bought it for only one dollar. Besides her church movement she was an avid member of the Orange Park Women’s club and was the president of this club three to four times in her life. Carrie was also a supportive member of the Orange Park Garden Club. Her home was where most of these club meetings were held along with Mr. Clarke’s town council meetings. Their involvement in the community made the Clarke family a special addition to this little
The first generation Clarke family did not originally come from Northeast Florida but they came from Bury, England. In 1855, The Clarke’s immigrated to Albany, New York. The son, William Clarke, after being …show more content…
He had architectural plans for the house to be like a two-story barn. The exterior of the house is all wood-paneling covered in a navy blue paint. Every wall had windows because it would help keep a breeze flowing throughout the home. Then there is a porch that wraps around from the front door and then it cuts off by the door that enters into the dining room. The interior of the house was laid out to be an open-floor plan with high-interior ceilings. Inside of the home, the staircase is the first thing to come into view then to left is where the living room and fireplace is located and then pans out to the right where the dining room is located. Also, on the first floor, there is a kitchen that had a Black Dutch oven and a barn sink that looked out to the backyard. There are no doors, all of the rooms are connected with each other. Wood Flooring went throughout the entire first floor and second floor. However, the original wood paneling had to be replaced on the first floor and the second floors walkway during the early 2000s. On the second floor, it housed three rooms, one for Carrie and William, one for William Edward, and the third room was William Francis’s office. The two bedrooms each had their own bathroom and downstairs in the kitchen there was a bathroom as well. This bathroom was mainly meant for the pecan grove workers. …show more content…
and Mrs. Clarke took “a strong interest in their local neighborhood” and took on a huge role in their community. Bill Clarke was a committed town council member in Jacksonville and soon enough became a council member in the town of Orange Park. He was valued as a member for being a very business savvy man. During the 1920s, Bill became the mayor of Orange Park. As mayor, he was admired and appreciated and was able to save many townies from financial issues. Carrie Clarke was another great advocate in the community. Her home was where the first Baptist Church took roots and grew. Every Sunday morning on her front porch she had Sunday School classes for all ages. Carrie decided to expand her porch ministry into a church for the whole town. So, she went out searching for a sanctuary building and found one up for bidding and bought it for only one dollar. Besides her church movement she was an avid member of the Orange Park Women’s club and was the president of this club three to four times in her life. Carrie was also a supportive member of the Orange Park Garden Club. Her home was where most of these club meetings were held along with Mr. Clarke’s town council meetings. Their involvement in the community made the Clarke family a special addition to this little