Anderson–Clark Farmstead facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Anderson–Clark Farmstead
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2010 photo
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 Location in Utah
Location in the United States
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| Location | 378 W. Clark St., Grantsville, Utah |
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| Area | 3.2 acres (1.3 ha) |
| Built | 1880-1944 |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival |
| MPS | Grantsville, Utah MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 05001627 |
| Added to NRHP | February 3, 2006 |
The Anderson–Clark Farmstead is a special historic place in Grantsville, Utah. It's also known as the J. Reuben Clark Farm. This farm was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2006. It includes 13 important old buildings on about 3.2 acres of land.
The farm is important for a few reasons. It shows how farming helped Grantsville grow. It also tells the story of the Anderson and Clark families. Plus, it has many unique farm buildings. The main farmhouse was built in 1941. The other 12 farm buildings were built between 1880 and 1944.
Some people might be surprised to learn that the J. Reuben Clark Historic Farm was first owned by James McBride. He was the person who started Grantsville, Utah.
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The Anderson Family
Later, in the 1880s, Charles L. and Ellen O. Anderson bought the farm. They were immigrants from Sweden. In 1914, J. Reuben Clark, Jr. bought the farm from Ellen Anderson. Most people now know it as the "Clark Farm." The farm is part of a historic area in Grantsville.
Charles L. Anderson's Story
Charles Anderson came to America from Sweden in 1862. He was a teenager then. His family had been wealthy in Sweden but arrived in Utah with nothing. A man from Grantsville helped them settle there. They lived in a part of Grantsville nicknamed "Swedenberg."
When Charles was 19, he helped bring people to Utah. He drove teams of animals across the Missouri River. In 1866, he returned to Grantsville. He married Ellen Okelberry, who was also a Swedish immigrant.
They bought over 600 acres from James McBride. This land included where the Clark Historic Farm is today. Between 1890 and 1900, they built a great farm. It had a two-story adobe home, two big barns, a wagon house, and a granary. They also built corrals, shelters, and a root cellar.
Charles became one of the richest men in Tooele County. He made money from mining and his large sheep herds. He was very kind and helped many children go to school. In 1878, he served a two-year mission in Sweden. He was also mayor of Grantsville twice. He served on the city council and the State Board of Education. He was a State Representative for two terms.
Ellen's health became weak. In 1900, they moved to southern California. Charles died there in 1909. His body was brought back to Grantsville for burial. Ellen sold the farm to J. Reuben Clark, Jr. in 1914. The Anderson's two-story home burned down in 1917.
The Clark Family
J. Reuben Clark, Jr.'s Life
J. Reuben Clark's father, Joshua R. Clark, came to Utah after serving in the Civil War. He became a member of the Mormon faith. He moved to Grantsville to teach school. There, he met and married Mary Louisa Woolley. She was born in a wagon as her family crossed the plains. J. Reuben Clark, Jr. was born on Samuel Woolley's farm.
As a child, J. Reuben Clark, called "Rube," helped on the family farm. He milked cows, harvested crops, and fed animals. His mother taught him to read and write. At age 10, Rube finally went to school. He went to the Old Adobe Schoolhouse and the Grantsville Academy. He loved school so much that he repeated 8th grade three times. This was the highest level offered then.
He was lucky to have James E. Talmage as a mentor. Talmage gave him a job so he could attend the University of Utah. Rube graduated as the top student. In 1898, he married Luacine Savage. He later went to Columbia Law School. Then, he started his important career in Washington D.C. Talmage said Clark was "the greatest mind to ever leave Utah."
Clark's Love for the Farm
Even though he lived far from Grantsville, he always loved his hometown. In 1914, while in Washington D.C., he bought the Grantsville farm. For many years, his brother "Ted" ran the farm. Rube sent his family to the farm by train for summers. But his city-raised family didn't like the bugs and smells of farm life.
Rube, however, never stopped loving farm life. After he became an important leader in his church, he lived in Salt Lake City. But he often visited his farm on weekends. He especially loved visiting after his wife died. In 1941, he built the red brick home that stands there today. He spent many weekends in his basement office. He likely wrote some of his famous speeches there.
In 1947, the first Tooele County Junior Livestock Show was held at the Clark farm. For many years, young people brought their animals there. President Clark was known for his prize-winning cattle.
In 1951, President Clark bought and fixed up the Old Adobe Schoolhouse. He used his own money for this. Then, he gave it back to the people of Grantsville. When he died in 1961, his farm went to his children. They later sold it.
The Clark Historic Farm Today
The barns on the farm show amazing craftsmanship. Early Grantsville settlers built them with hand-cut beams. They used a method called mortise and tenon construction. This means they used wooden pegs instead of nails. Even after almost 125 years, the buildings are strong and straight. Many people who grew up in Grantsville worked on the Clark Farm. They changed sprinklers, cared for animals, or harvested crops.
Grantsville City bought the farm in 2005. They wanted it to be a heritage attraction. Now, it's a popular place for community events. These include Baby Animal Days and a Memorial Day breakfast. Kids can attend Historic Farm Camps. There are also concerts, plays, and farmers' markets. The Utah Honey Harvest Festival and Live Nativity are held there too.
In 2005, another granary was moved to the Clark Farm. In 2010, some sheds and corrals were torn down. New city leaders wanted to change the land into a cemetery. A group called "Friends of Clark Historic Farm" started in 2013. They work to save the farm as it is. They also organize heritage activities and raise money for repairs. Since May 2013, over 13,000 people have visited the farm. Many groups come together at events. This helps the community and local businesses.
The Clark Historic Farm shows the farming history of Grantsville. It stands for the rewards of hard work and effort.
