Name/Title
R. B. Clark House | 21 Water Street, Eastport, Maine | J7-0A4-04 | District #1Entry/Object ID
001Description
This two story Italianate style wood frame house was built for R.B. Clark in 1888 on the same foundation of his former home that stood on the same site, but was burned to the ground by the Great Fire of October 14, 1886. It is a variation of a four square house design that began to become common in Eastport at the time. A.W. Clark was the master builder. A newspaper description of Clark’s new house states: “The main house is 26x36 ft. with an L 22x28 ft. It is to be two stories with hip roof, and a piazza along the west end.” The piazza or porch wraps around the north and west sides of the house with a main entrance to the house at the end of the north side of the porch and into the ell addition.
• From Eastport Sentinel, April 11, 1888, p.;,c.2: “R.B. Clark Esq. has about decided to build a dwelling house on the site of his former fine residence on the east side of Water St., at the foot of Shackford St. The location is a most sightly one, giving a grand view of the harbor and surrounding islands.”
• From Eastport Sentinel, May 16, 1888, p.3,c.1: “Work has been commenced upon the stone and brick basement of a dwelling for R.B. Clark Esq. The building will be built upon the foundations of his former sightly residence on Water St., foot of Shackford St. It will be a two story house of neat design. Mr. A.W. Clark is the master builder.”
• From Eastport Sentinel, June 6, 1888, p.3,c.3: “The frame for R.B. Clark’s new house is up and the work is advancing rapidly under the direction of A.W. Clark master builder. The main house is 26x36 ft. with an L 22x28 ft. It is to be two stories with hip roof, and a piazza along the west end.”
• From Eastport Sentinel, October 24, 1888, p.3,c.1: “CHANGE OF RESIDENCE.—Mr. Henry Kilby moved this week from the Aymar house on Shackford street to the Stevens house on Boynton St. W.H. McLarren has closed his house on Shackford St. for the winter and will occupy his mother’s house on Washington St. R.B. Clark, Esq., moved into his new house on Water St. last week. Dr. Cleveland has rented Mrs. Addie Jackson’s house, next above the Quoddy, and expects to move into it next week. Hiram Ross has rented the dwelling over Miss A.M. Davis’s millinery store and is now occupying the same. Capt. Thomas Hilyard has moved into the house owned and formerly occupied by his brother, Capt. William Hilyard. Wm. H. Colwell has moved into the house owned by B.F. Kilby, next south of the latter’s residence, and G.W. Capen changed his residence yesterday from the Noyes house to the Asa Bucknam place, which he has leased. Daniel Evans will occupy the Noyes house in a short time. These removals have all taken place within a week, and it isn’t much of a season for moving either.”
