click zoom to display a high-res image
Property Location
Property Features
Razed sometime between 2004 and 2012.
2004- "This two story wood frame house has clapboard siding, is a front gabled structure with a one story ell addition. The house is simple, with simple window surrounds, east facing door, stone foundation, original 2 over 2 double hung windows. The exterior of the house remains fairly intact, as the most recent addition, on the south side of the house, was constructed in about 1929, however, the interior of the house has been significantly altered with dropped ceilings and modern wood paneling.
Outbuildings on the property include a poured concrete chicken coop, a small wood frame chicken coop, a small shed, and an outhouse. Further from the house is another poured concrete shed, and two smaller frame sheds, all in poor condition.
The Clark house was constructed in 1885 by Thomas W. Clark, after the original house burned down, apparently on the foundation of the previous house. Thomas Clark's father, Nathan Clark, purchased the original farm and farmhouse from Evilan Blodgett in 1855. The Blodgetts were the first homesteaders on the property, and reportedly ran a roadside inn next to Cedar Creek just north of the ·current farmhouse. During the time that the Blodgetts owned the property, the road which became known as Hwy 10 was built on the east side of the house. Today, part of that road is used as a recreational bicycle path. After logging in Marathon County created more flooding of the small creek, the Blodgetts apparently moved the house up on the terrace. Blodgett's family, according to Clark family lore, died of smallpox, and Mr. Blodgett sold the farm shortly thereafter. The Blodgett burial site (47BMr142) is reportedly somewhere on or near the house site. Nathan Clark sold the farm to his son Thomas W. Clark in 1869. Thomas Clark had been in Company E of the 18th Wisconsin Voluntary Infantry during the Civil War, and had returned home after internment at a southern POW camp. Thomas sold the farm to his son, Rodney A Clark in 1904. Rodney Clark sold the farm to his son, David Clark in the early 1960s. David Clark sold the farm, including the house, to a developer by the name of Creske in circa 1970, with the agreement that Clark and his wife would have a life-lease on the house. The barn, which once stood south of the house, fell in the early 1990s due to heavy snow on the roof, and was shortly thereafter burned. David's wife had died, and he was living with his sister, Ester, until January 2004, when he passed away. Ester is currently in the process of moving out of the house, to give it up to the developer, who plans to demolish the house and any remaining outbuildings.
According to Ester Clark, the Clilrk family, starting with Thomas, primarily farmed and kept dairy cattle (registered Holsteins), milking 20 to 25 cattle at any given time. They kept the acreage for forage/feed for the cattle, and grew primarily corn, oats and hay."
-"Bus 51/CTH XX at Cedar Creek, Rothschild", WisDOT#6999-10-71, Prepared by Barabara Kooiman, Mississippi Valley Archaelogy Center, (2004).
National And State Register Of Historic Places Listings
Architecture & History Inventory
The Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory (AHI) is a digital source of information on historic buildings, structures, and objects that have been surveyed by the State Historic Preservation Office in Wisconsin. Each property has a digital record providing basic information about the property and images.
Questions?
Wondering about if your property is eligible or notice some information on this property needs to be updated, reach out today!
Email UsAttribution
For a credit line: Wisconsin Historical Society, Creator, Title, Unique Identifier.
The Unique Identifier can be found at the top or bottom of the page for each item. The name of a downloaded file is NOT the unique identifier.
For bibliographic citations please consult the UW-Madison Libraries Citation Research Guide to ensure compliance with appropriate style guidelines.
Access Property Records
Some properties have more materials (correspondence, clippings, historical information, etc.) not in the digital record. If a 'Site File' exists, it's noted in the 'Additional Comments' field. Contact us for an appointment to view these materials.



