Fred W. Clarke & Edwin B. Clarke, Architects
Partners:
Frederick W. Clarke, Omaha, Nebraska
Edwin B. Clarke, Omaha, Nebraska
Edwin B. Clarke was born in New York City in 1868. His brother Frederick Woodruff Clarke was born December 12, 1869 in New Orleans. Their parents were Edwin and Leoline (nee Basancon) Clarke. The family resided in Quincy, Illinois by 1880, where Edwin and Frederick were both listed as students in 1889 and as architects from the early through mid-1890s. In 1897 Frederick was referred to as "a Chicago architect, recently in the employ of Henry Ives Cobb," while his brother Edwin B. Clarke was an architect in the Holabird & Roche office.[1][a] The U. S. Census of 1900 listed both brothers as architects, Edwin in Chicago and Frederick in Omaha, Nebraska. In 1903 both were back in Quincy, Illinois, but apparently this stay was brief, with Frederick returning to Omaha and Edwin to Chicago. They entered into a joint practice in Omaha in 1915 which continued until around 1926, producing several major buildings, including the Hotel McCloud in York, Nebraska, and Omaha Technical High School. Edwin relocated to Beverly Hills in the late 1920s and then to Albuquerque by 1932; Frederick remained in Omaha until 1934, then settled in Santa Monica, California.
This page is a contribution to the publication, Place Makers of Nebraska: The Architects. See the format and contents page for more information on the compilation and page organization.
Contents
Compiled Nebraska Directory Listings
Omaha, Nebraska, 1915-1926
Educational & Professional Associations
1915-1926: Fred W. Clark & Edwin B. Clarke, partners & architects, Omaha, Nebraska.[10]
Other Associations
ca. 1920-1921: William V. Kernan mentioned that he "worked on plans" for Omaha Tech High School.[12]
Buildings & Projects
New Clifton Hill School (1916-1917), Omaha, Nebraska.[3][6][10](DO09:0334-002)
Hotel McCloud, initially called "The York" (1916-1918), SE corner Grant Ave & E 5th, York, Nebraska.[5][7][8][b] (YK10-510)
Citizens State Bank (1920-1921), Creston, Nebraska.[4] (PT03-003)
Technical High School (1921), 3215 Cuming St, Omaha, Nebraska.[2][3][9][11][c] (DO09:0216-045)
Sherman Elementary School (1926), 5618 N. 14th Ave, Omaha, Nebraska.[3] (DO09:0151-001)
Notes
a. F. W. Clarke and his older brother Edwin B. Clarke were listed as architects (living with their father) in Quincy, Illinois city directories from 1891-1896 and again in 1903. 1901 is the first listing for F. W. Clark in the Omaha city directories; then both brothers appear in the Omaha directory of 1904. From 1904-1934 F. W. was in Omaha; E. B. did not return until 1915.
b. In a competition held in York, Nebraska, fifteen architects submitted designs for the community's planned, $100,000 hotel. Fred W. and Edwin B. Clarke won the commission, over Berlinghof & Davis and Fiske & Meginnis of Lincoln; and Lloyd D. Willis and Everett Dodds of Omaha.[5]
c. Stone carving by Jacob Maag. See "Historic Facade to be Restored," Omaha World Herald (November 1, 1992), 3F.; and "Craftsmen of America," Blueprints (Fall 1983), 4.
References
1. "Clarke in Gallic Toils. Chicago Architect Captured by French Soldiery," Chicago Tribune (July 19, 1897), 12.
2. Landmarks, Inc., An Inventory of Historic Omaha Buildings (Omaha: City of Omaha, and Landmarks Heritage Preservation Commission, 1980), 111.
3. City of Omaha Planning Department, Landmarks Heritage Preservation Commission, Database, Query on Architects, May 20, 2002; courtesy of Lynn Meyer, Preservation Planner.
4. “Opening of Creston’s New Modern Bank Building,” The Creston Statesman (February 4, 1921), 1; “New Bank Building Formally Opened,” The Creston Statesman (February 18, 1921), 1, 3; and American Terra Cotta and Ceramic Company Records, Northwestern Architectural Archives, University of Minnesota, Manuscript Division.
5. "Omaha Architects Win Prizes in Unusual York Competition," Omaha (Nebraska) Evening World-Herald (October 6, 1916), 14.
6. "School Building, Omaha, Neb.," Omaha (Nebraska) Evening Bee (November 13, 1916), 7.
7. "York's $200,000 Hotel," Omaha (Nebraska) World-Herald (November 11, 1917), 7.
8. "Hotel McCloud," The New Teller (York, Nebraska) (December 18, 1918), 11 (illustrated).
9. “Architects in Nebraska to be Covered in Our Survey,” WPA Writers Project, RG515, subj. 611.
10. "Clarke Associated with Brother," Omaha (Nebraska) Daily Bee (March 10, 1916), 7.
11. "Architects' Fee For New School May Set Record--Contract Provides Payment of More Than $100,000 If Building Costs $2,000,000," Omaha (Nebraska) Daily Bee (August 7, 1921), 8-A.
12. "Here's Some News About Prominent Omaha Folks Now Making Their Homes in California," Omaha (Nebraska) Daily News (July 26, 1923), 7.
Page Citation
D. Murphy & E. F. Zimmer, “Fred W. Clarke & Edwin B. Clarke, Architects,” in David Murphy, Edward F. Zimmer, and Lynn Meyer, comps. Place Makers of Nebraska: The Architects. Lincoln: Nebraska State Historical Society, December 22, 2022. http://www.e-nebraskahistory.org/index.php?title=Place_Makers_of_Nebraska:_The_Architects Accessed, April 20, 2024.
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