Carrie Clarke Day Celebration Orange Park, FL (March, 2005)

Welcome to the Second annual Carrie Clarke Day Celebration.  It's a small annual festival celebrating the life of one of Orange Park's founding families.  For more information about the Clarkes, read the Clark Homestead by John W. Bowles of the Orange Park Historic Society.

Some of the day's events included a small, static display of Civil War military hardware (unfortunately, I didn't get any photos) sponsered by Jacksonville's Museum of Southern History, an antique automobile display by the Jacksonville Antique Auto Club, musical performances by several local artists, tours of the Clark Homestead, and a guest appearance by Walter Clarke, grandson of William and Carrie Clarke.

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Of course, as a "band" parent, the highlight of the day was a performance by the "Orange Park Junior High Jazz Band."  It never ceases to amaze me, the amount of talent these kids have.  Most have been playing their instruments less then two years, and yet, their level of performance is quite amazing.  And so, without further ado, I present the Orange Park Junior High Jazz Band... Charlie Rankin, Director.

Woodwinds Tenor Sax - Eric Rogers Tenor Sax - Adam Hensley Tenor Sax - Carolyn Morgan Alto Sax - Catie Schwartz Alto Sax - Steven Mendoza Alto Sax - Kara Thomas Bari Sax - Philip Tower

Brass Trumpet - Julia Butler Trumpet - Paul Delpizzo Trumpet - Charles Hubbard Trumpet - Karen Marti Trombone - Ryan Knutson Trombone - Erica Rubin Trombone - Daniel Santiago Trombone - Tyler Sason

Rhythm / Piano Bass - Doug Daugherty Bass - Marah Hansen Piano - Victoria Beard Drums - Chris Gross Percussion - Daniel Godfrey

Here are some photos of the great old cars from the display sponsered by the Jacksonville Antique Auto Club.

Toward the close of the American Civil War, one William Clarke immigrated to America from Bury-St. Edmonds, England.  After arriving in New York, William enlisted in the Union Army, a quick way of earning money.  Following a short enlistment, and with the end of the war, William moved to Jacksonville, and established a plumbing and mechanical business.  Interestingly, Mr. Clarke also built wooden caskets for many people that died during several yellow fever epidemics in Jacksonville.

Even though not much is recorded about William Clarke, we do know he was married and had one son.  Mr. Clarke was concerned about his son and decided to purchase a place where he could hunt, fish, ride horses, and engage in other wholesome activities.  As a result, he purchased a tract of land here in Orange Park.  As time passed, Mr. Clarke gathered livestock on the property, including a cow that was used to provide fresh milk.  It is said there were dogs and cats, chickens and ducks, and unusual animals such as goats, parrots, and even baby skunks.  William Clarke's namesake Bill, grew up in this setting and with these surroundings.

Young Bill attended school in both Orange Park and Jacksonville.  He traveled back and forth on board the old "May Garner," a small river boat well known in local history.  The Clarke's tried their hand at raising several differrnt crops, including oranges, grapefruits, plumbs, grapes, and even persimmons.  However, eventually they found that pecan trees were about the only "cash crop" that would survive the periodic hard freezes.  "Clarke pecans" proved to be very tasty and were sold both far and near.  Bill also took up boxing at the Jacksonville YMCA.  Bill's father was shocked to read one morning that Bill had won a boxing match at the Beach and had even won $5.00!

Several years passed and William Clarke decided to build a nice home on the property.  The house was built with high interior ceilings with two bedrooms upstairs, each with its own bathroom.  Mrs. Clarke took an active interest in local affairs and was instrumental in the organization of the First Baptist Chruch, Woman's Club, the Baptist Children's Home, and other benevolent endeavors in Orange Park.  Consequently, Mr. Clarke became active in local politics and served on the Town Council and as Mayor in the late 1920s.

That one son, Bill, continued his education and attended Stetson University where he met Georgia Self, whom later he would marry.  Young Bill became a Doctor of Chiropractic and praticed a short time.  Following the death of his father, he took over his father's long established plumbing and mechanical business and ran it until shortly before his death.  After 94 years of successful operation, their plumbing and mechanical business came to an end.  Mrs. Georgia S. Clarke continued to live on the property with one of her sons, Walter, until the Town purchased the remaining 15 acres in 1991. Both Bill and Georgia Clarke are buried across the street from Clarke House Park in the Town owned Magnolia Cemetery.

John W. Bowles
Orange Park Town Manager
December 3, 1993
Revised December 29, 2002