Washington Co. > Homes and Buildings > Clark Homes on the Old Stage Rd.

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Map link and Source List follows narrative.

Clark Homes map
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    1. James Clark and Isabella Breckenridge house:

    For more information on this home see: James and Isabella Clark home

    2. John B. Clark and Mary Beattie house:

    In 1812 John B. Clark purchased 140 acres of land from his parents James and Isabella Clark for $200. The tract sat adjacent to, and south of the Stage Rd. (current Rt 11) as it wound across Washington County. John built a log house on this property which was noted on an 1821 map of the area (see map link below). In 1858 John and Mary Clark executed a document leaving this land to their sons John Breckenridge Clark and James Clark. James moved his family to Smyth Co. however John Breckenridge Clark stayed in the family home with his father, not marrying until the older man's death in early 1869. "Brack" Clark, as he was known, and his wife Dollie raised 10 children in the home before selling it to Charles A. Clark (his first cousin, once removed) in 1894. At some point the original logs were covered by boards, and the original house appears to have been enlarged.

    The two images on the left were made from different copies of the same photo. The top one belonged to Ernest Clark, who identified the home across the front of the photo. The lower photo belonged to Mildred (Clark) Faris. Both Ernest and Mildred were grandchildren of Charles A. Clark. The name of the person who annotated the back of the lower photo is not known, but he or she had specific knowledge of the home's location, its construction, and the individuals in the photo, including a handyman who was not a family member. The annotation notes that the house was built about 1818. The annotation was written after 1909-1910 but prior to Charles' death in 1931.

    John B. Clark and Mary Beattie Clark home
    Back of photo with identification

    3. Charles A. Clark and Florence Rosenbalm house:

    Charles Clark and his two youngest sons, Claude and Ray, were skilled carpenters. Around 1909-1910 they built a new family home fronting the Old Stage Rd., about 300 feet from the old John B. Clark home. An old slave cabin sat between the two buildings. Charles and Florence, with their son Ray and his wife Lulu, lived in the new home together for many years. Later Charles and Florence's grandson Garland Clark made it his home.
    Charles A/later Ray Clark home circa 1969
    former Charles Clark/Ray Clark home as it looks today

    4. Walter "Benjamin" Clark and Lena Copenhaver house:

    A second new home was built around 1912, just a little further east along the Old Stage Rd. Ben Clark built the home for his growing family, using materials from his father's home in the process. This would suggest the old John B. Clark/John Breckenridge Clark/Charles Clark home may have been dismantled about this time. Walter and Lena's sons Garland and Ernest (and Ernest's wife Lucy) shared the new home as well. Later Ernest grew holly trees on the property for which he became quite well known in the community. The front of the home, which Ben had originally designed after his father's home, was remodeled several times to reflect the porch style of the day.
    Ben Clark home 1940s
    former Ben Clark home as it looks today

    5. Claude Clark and Maude Hutton house:

    Claude, who like his brother Ray was an excellent carpenter as well as a farmer, built a home "around the corner" on what is now known as Prices Bridge Rd. The home burned in the 1970s.
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    Related Map

    Glade Spring area - 1821 and 1890 (homes identified by owner/family)

    General Sources Used on this Page

    1. [S1047] Washington Co., Virginia Deed Book 5: 109.
    2. [S1045] Washington Co., Virginia Deed Book 24: 146.
    3. [S2826] Washington Co., Virginia, Deed Book 51: 433.
    4. [S2827] "Brief Summary Form", (1992), Ernest Clark house, file: 095-233, Department of Historic Resources, Richmond, Virginia. Ernest Clark - grandson of Charles A. Clark - was interviewed for the report.
    5. [S16] Personal knowledge of James B. Faris, Kingsport, TN, grandson of Ben W. Clark and Lena Copenhaver Clark. Jim also shared photos from his personal collection.