Frederick Woodruff Clarke (1869-1960), Architect
Frederick Woodruff Clarke was born December 12, 1869 in New Orleans to Edwin and Leonline (nee Basancon) Clarke. The family resided in Quincy, Illinois by 1880, where Frederick and his older brother Edwin 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][b] Frederick was an architect in Omaha, Nebraska in 1901 when he married Mrs. Olive (nee Weller) Davenport.[12] In Nebraska, he was involved in numerous architectural projects around Omaha--especially public schools--and in York. For roughly a decade the Clarke brothers practiced together in Omaha. F. W. Clarke relocated to Santa Monica, California in the mid-1930s and died there in 1960.[6][7][11]
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, 1901-1917, 1931-1934
Educational & Professional Associations
1890-1896: architect, Quincy, Illinois (in partnership with Ernest M. Wood in 1894).[a]
1897: architect, Chicago, Illinois ("recently in the employ of Henry Ives Cobb").[1][b]
1901-1915: architect, Omaha, Nebraska.[a]
1916-1926: architect and partner, Fred W. Clarke & Edwin B. Clarke, Architects, Omaha, Nebraska.
1927-1934: architect, Omaha, Nebraska.
Other Associations
1907: employed M. R. Nippell, architect.
1914: employed William M. Nevotti, draftsman.
Buildings & Projects
F. W. Clarke house (1903), 2120 Wirt, Omaha, Nebraska.[3:179][5] (DO09:0140-049)
Building (1904), 3524 Lafayette Ave, Omaha, Nebraska.[5] (DO09:0218-014)
House (1904), 2204 Wirt St, Omaha, Nebraska.[5] (DO09:0140-047)
Hygria-Farmers-Harding Creamery Bldg (1904, 1915, 1925-1926), 802-12 Harney, Omaha, Nebraska.[4] (D009:0068-006)
D. C. Eldridge house (1905), 1709 Park Ave, Omaha, Nebraska.[3:160][5] (DO09:0201-011)
Apartment (1906), 817 Park Ave., Omaha, Nebraska.[5] (DO09:0205-101)
Building (1906), 821-823 Park Ave., Omaha, Nebraska.[5] (DO09:0205-102)
House (1906), 3648 Lafayette Ave., Omaha, Nebraska.[5] (DO09:0327-006)
Fairmont Creamery Building (1906), 1201 Jones St., Omaha, Nebraska.[5][15] (DO09:0121-074)
Vinton School (1906-1908), 2120 Deer Park Blvd, Omaha, Nebraska.[5][14] (DO09:0108-009)
UPRR Division Office & Commissary Bldg (1907), Omaha, Nebraska.[2]
Building (1907), 3419-23 Dewey Ave., Omaha, Nebraska.[5] (DO09:0208-040)
Marion E. Carpenter house (1907), 502 N. 38th St., Omaha, Nebraska.[5] (DO09:0323-010)
Two-story double brick dwelling for T. J. O'Brien (1907), 16th & Harney, Omaha, Nebraska.[16]
Flat (1908), 314 S. 27th Ave., Omaha, Nebraska.[5] (DO09:0209-025)
Flat (1908), 318 S. 27th Ave., Omaha, Nebraska.[5] (DO09:0209-026)
Rosehill Elementary School (1908), 5605 Corby St., Omaha, Nebraska.[5] (DO09:0446-005)
Forest school (1908), Omaha, Nebraska.[17]
First Church of Christ Scientist (1909), 565 S. 24th St., Omaha, Nebraska.[3:171][5] (DO09:0122-003)
Rosewater School (1909-1910), 3810 S 13th, Omaha, Nebraska.[5] (DO09:0105-001)
Brick residence for F. Christian (1910), 40th & California, Omaha, Nebraska.[18]
Richardson (New Idea) Building (1910), 908 Jackson St., Omaha, Nebraska.[4][5] (DO09:0121-063)
C. Van Alstine house (1913), 3511 Woolworth Ave, Omaha, Nebraska.[3:182][5] (DO09:0202-032)
Clifton Hill Elementary School (1917), 2811 N. 45th St., Omaha, Nebraska.[5] (DO09:0334-002)
Hotel McCloud (1918), SE corner Grant Ave & E 5th, York, Nebraska.[10][c] (YK10-510)
Kitchen Addition to McCloud Hotel (1918), York, Nebraska.[9]
House (1929), 5415 Nicholas St., Omaha, Nebraska.[5] (DO09:0438-183)
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 1905-1915 F. W. was in Omaha; E. B. does not return until 1916.
b. A long and colorful article in the Chicago Tribune of 1897 provided an account (courtesy of his brother Edwin) of Frederick's adventures in France. While walking and sketching in the town of Besancon, Fred was detained near a fortress, searched, and questioned by French troops as a suspected Prussian spy. He was released after a long day "...mentally resolving, he says, not to sketch again in the vicinity of a French Fort."[1] Frederick and Edwin's mother's maiden name (and Edwin's middle name) was "Besancon," perhaps a reason for Fred's stopover in that particular town, which still retains an extensive system of ancient fortifications.[13]
c. Another source ([8]) states that this was a kitchen addition, 1918.
d. An Omaha Bee article of 1910 praised a greater variety in brick colors, textures, and jointing. Among the architects whose residences are mentioned are Thomas R. Kimball, F. A. Henninger, Fisher & Lawrie, John McDonald, and Lloyd D. Willis, along with F. W. Clarke.[18]
References
1. "Clarke in Gallic Toils. Chicago Architect Captured by French Soldiery," Chicago Tribune (July 19, 1897), 12.
2. March 1, 1907; Drawings on file at Nebraska State Historical Society.
3. Landmarks, Inc., An Inventory of Historic Omaha Buildings (Omaha: City of Omaha, and Landmarks Heritage Preservation Commission, 1980).
4. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
5. City of Omaha Planning Department, Landmarks Heritage Preservation Commission, Database, Query on Architects, May 20, 2002; courtesy of Lynn Meyer, Preservation Planner.
6. 1910 United States Census, s.v. “Frederick Clarke,” Omaha, Douglas County, Nebraska, accessed through HeritageQuestOnline.com.
7. 1920 United States Census, s.v. “Frederick W. Clarke,” Omaha, Douglas County, Nebraska, accessed through HeritageQuestOnline.com.
8. Catherine Westergaard, email to Nebraska State Historical Society reference services, January 11, 2012, mentions a High School of Commerce (1919), a kitchen addition to the York Hotel (1918), and the Nampa Depot in Idaho as buildings attributed to Clarke.
9. "The American Contractor" (March 23, 1918), 60. (This is a fireproof building of brick, terracotta, and concrete; four stories with a basement, measuring 89 by 139 feet.), accessed through Google Books on January 12, 2012, http://books.google.com/books?id=UCJYAAAAYAAJ&pg=RA10-PA64&lpg=RA10-PA64&dq=f+w+clarke,+architect,+york+hotel,+nebraska&source=bl&ots=-QV--qNAlx&sig=yQZ--Gvu9ph8VGJ7unfHB-6P9QU&hl=en&sa=X&ei=whYPT97eOov9iQLF9M3fDQ&sqi=2&ved=0CB4Q6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=f%20w%20clarke%2C%20architect%2C%20york%20hotel%2C%20nebraska&f=false
10. Original drawings in possession of DEVCO, Nancy Arter Gade, Lincoln, Nebraska.
11. Ancestry.com. U.S., Find a Grave Index, 1600s-Current, s.v. "Frederick W. Clarke," [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012.
12. Ancestry.com. Nebraska, U.S., Select County Marriage Records, 1855-1908, s.v. "Frederick W. Clarke," [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2017.
13. "Besancon," in Wikipedia--the Free Encyclopedia, accessed on-line December 21, 2022.
14. "Vinton, the Model School--New Building is to Be Pattern in Point of Mechanical Construction," Omaha (Nebraska) Daily Bee (July 3, 1906), 5.
15. "Latenser Has Two Temples--Chosen Architect for the Masons and Jewish Synagogue New Buildings," Omaha (Nebraska) Daily Bee (February 24, 1906), 11.
16. "O'Brien to Build," Omaha (Nebraska) Daily News (June 2, 1907), 21.
17. "Mixup Over School Work--Concrete Architect Hired After Regulars Are Employed," Omaha (Nebraska) Daily Bee (July 16, 1908), 2.'
18. "Artistic Brick in Vogue--Change in Style is Now Being Used by the Architects in Handsome Residences," Omaha (Nebraska) Daily Bee (May 8, 1910), 39.
Page Citation
D. Murphy & E. F. Zimmer, “Frederick W. Clarke (ca. 1870- ), Architect,” in David Murphy, Edward F. Zimmer, and Lynn Meyer, comps. Place Makers of Nebraska: The Architects. Lincoln: Nebraska State Historical Society, December 21, 2022. http://www.e-nebraskahistory.org/index.php?title=Place_Makers_of_Nebraska:_The_Architects Accessed, May 24, 2017.
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