“Ardent Democrat” read Henry B. Clarke’s note. But let’s step back in time to 1836. Imagine Chicago as a small town. Its population was just about 200 when it was organized in 1833.
Just three years later Henry B. Clarke arrived from New York. He brought his wife Caroline Palmer Clarke and their family. Clarke was a hardware man. He quickly found success. He sold hardware and building supplies. Within a year he built a house. It stands today as the oldest surviving house within Chicago’s city limits.
This is the Henry B. Clarke House. It is also known as the Clarke-Ford House. It’s a prime example of Greek Revival architecture. The Henry B. Clarke House offers a glimpse into pre-Civil War city life.
Originally, the Henry B. Clarke House sat on 20 acres. This land was located near Michigan Avenue and 16th Street. Clarke’s choice to build south of the river was bold. He became the first wealthy Chicagoan to do so.
The Panic of 1837 hit Clarke hard. He faced severe financial difficulties. This delayed the completion of the house’s south rooms. Clarke used the surrounding land for farming and hunting to make ends meet.
The Henry B. Clarke House design may have been inspired by William B. Ogden’s home. Its grand staircase entrance sits beneath a pediment. Four substantial columns support it. The wooden clapboard siding is whitewashed. This gives it the look of marble. The house boasts a timber frame. This provides shape and durability.
Clarke died in 1849 from cholera. His wife Caroline lived until 1860. During this time, it was called “Widow Clarke’s House”. Caroline sold most of the land. She kept only three acres. She used the money to support her family. She also renovated the house. Caroline added a back portico with Doric columns. This mirrored the original portico. It faced the newly gaslit Michigan Avenue. She also added an Italianate cupola. She finished the dining room and front parlor.
In 1871, John Chrimes bought the Henry B. Clarke House. He moved it further south to 45th Street and Wabash Avenue. During the move workers discovered a packet of papers. Clarke had buried these when building the house. Inside was a memorial to President Martin van Buren. It recommended Clarke for a job. There were also tax receipts and newspapers. A statement in Clarke’s handwriting read “I, Henry B. Clarke, am an ardent Democrat.”
In the 20th century, the St. Paul Church of God in Christ acquired the Henry B. Clarke House. Bishop Louis Henry Ford led the church. He and his wife Margaret lived here. It served as their parsonage and community hall. Bishop Ford spearheaded efforts to preserve the house.
In 1977, the City of Chicago purchased the Henry B. Clarke House. They moved it to its current location. This move involved lifting the house over the L tracks. On a cold December night, the hydraulic equipment froze. The house sat near the El tracks for two weeks.
The Chicago City Council renamed the house in 2022. It became the Henry B. and Caroline Clarke/Bishop Louis Henry and Margaret Ford House. This recognized the Fords’ role in preserving it.
Today, the Henry B. Clarke House operates as a historic house museum. The Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events runs it. The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America in the State of Illinois provides the furnishings. It gives us all a window into Chicago’s past. It stands as a testament to resilience. It honors the people who shaped its history.