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The George Clark House

Published by on October 18, 2020

LOST MANSFIELD # 10: THE GEORGE CLARK HOUSE, MANSFIELD HOLLOW. For several decades this was the homestead and farm of the George Clark family.

George Clark house Mansfield Hollow
The George Clark homestead in 1912. The young girl in the photograph is Mae Clark.

The house was one of several on Bassetts Bridge Road that were demolished when the Mansfield Hollow Dam was constructed. The house stood behind the dike, approximately where the entrance to the Mansfield Hollow State Park is now located.

Mansfield Hollow Park entrance
The entrance to the Mansfield Hollow State Park where the Clark house once stood. The dike can be seen in the background. All houses on the land behind the dike, including the Clark’s place, were removed. Although there is occasional flooding along a small section of Bassetts Bridge Road, the water has never reached this area.

In 1968, Mae (Clark) Bradley wrote with some bitterness about her family’s loss: “Flood control dam and dikes took us out of home … and the old home place [George Clark’s] was put into a park along with our homeland. We spent 37 happy years here. The government put it into a park and the river was put into a lake (some change). Hardly think it was necessary for flood control. It’s 20 years later as I pen this in 1968 and no signs of needing it.”

George Clark house, Mansfield Hollow
This photograph of the Clark’s house, outbuildings, and extensive garden was taken in 1944. Note the scarecrow guarding the garden on the right.
Mansfield Hollow Park
The parking lot at the entrance to the park now occupies the former site of the Clark family’s homestead.

This series is made possible by a Capacity Building Grant from The Last Green Valley, Inc.

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