Northwest Indiana, also known as The Region, has been around for a long time. Many towns and cities have existed since its inception, but there is one that I want to focus on today: Crown Point. Did you know Crown Point is considered one of, if not the, oldest city in Northwest Indiana? (6) It has a rich history, and before we discuss The Wellington A. Clark House, I wanted to give my readers a brief background on the town where this historical site exists.
The history of Crown Point, Indiana
Although the city was incorporated as an independent municipality in 1868, the area had its first settlers in 1834 (5). Solon Robinson, along with his family, established the area on October 31st, 1834, and in 1837, Lake County was incorporated into the state of Indiana (5). Within the same year, Robinson funded the building of a new courthouse in Crown Point, and in 1878, more construction began on an even bigger courthouse, which is now known as the “Grand Old Lady” (5). It is positioned in the center of town, and we will dive further into the history of the courthouse in a different edition of Exploring the Region (I promise).
Crown Point has been around for a long time and has a lot of history to explore. Today, however, we are going to focus on one feature of its past—the Wellington A. Clark House.
History of The Wellington A. Clark House
If you ever found yourself wondering, “What is the oldest surviving and intact house in Crown Point, Indiana?” you have come to the right place! The answer to your question is The Wellington A. Clark House. It sits on South Court Street and was built in 1847 (4).
It’s a historic landmark in Crown Point, and I recently took a drive to see it for myself. It was cool to see in person, and I’m glad I made time to go and take some pictures. Nothing was blocking the property, but I was afraid to step on the actual house because I didn’t know if anything would break. Then, after I left, I thought to myself, “It’s been around for a long time, so I doubt I would have damaged anything!”. Oh well. There’s always next time. Anyway, today, I wanted to explore the house’s history, including its ownership, architecture, and its significance to the city of Crown Point.
The Wellington A. Clark House, which is also known as “The Old Homestead,” was built by Wellington A. Clark. He was one of the earlier pioneers in the area. Clark was a native New Yorker who braced the cold Midwest winter in 1837 by traveling to Cleveland and then taking a boat over to Chicago (1). Eventually, he made his way down to Indiana, where he and his family lived on a farm just south of Crown Point.
In 1846, the Clark family started building “The Old Homestead,” but they did not fully move in until 1875 (1). From 1846 through 1875, the Clarks would split their time between both homes. After they built The Old Homestead, the family kept the farm they originally settled on, which was in a more rural area of Lake County. Throughout his life, Wellington A. Clark attempted many lines of work. He was a farmer and a real estate agent and contributed to the local newspaper. He did many things, which also included opening the first cheese factory in Crown Point.
Wellington A. Clark stayed in Crown Point until his last days. He eventually passed away at the age of 97 in 1912, and “The Old Homestead” remained in family hands throughout the years until his granddaughter, Claribel Clark Bevan, passed away in 1965 (1). In 1959, Claribel deeded the historic home to the city of Crown Point as a life estate (3). In 1963, the city became the official owner of the house when the life estate was released. In 2001, The Old Homestead Preservation Society restored the Clark House, and the property was listed on the Indiana Register of Historic Sites and Structures and the National Register of Historic Places (3).
Architectural Significance of The Old Homestead
Since the house was built in 1847 and is one of the few historic homes that has been preserved, it is likely one of the only homes in Lake County that shows the architecture of the pioneer era (2). One thing I love about old homes is the architecture. I love the Victorian style on some of the homes in our area – specifically in Crown Point. However, The Wellington A. Clark House was built with “A basic Greek revival, vernacular in construction” (IN.gov). The site goes on to explain how the house was framed with rough-hewn timbers and covered with cedar clapboards.
“The front portion of the house consists of two rooms side by side with a single entry. The house has a rear extension in the shape of an “L” that was built concurrently with the front portion that included a parlor/dining area, small bedroom, and a gallery kitchen,” the IN.gov website states.
Conclusion
Today, the house receives many visitors. Whether you’re like me and go by yourself for a few minutes to take some pictures and breathe in the old, historic air that surrounds the home, or you’ve joined the City of Crown Point’s Community Library Historic Walking Tour (as the image above states), The Old Homestead will be there and is an incredible testament to the city of Crown Point and its history.
The Wellington A. Clark House has had a long life. From being built in 1847 to becoming an incredible historical landmark in 2025, its presence stands as a reminder of where Northwest Indiana, specifically Crown Point, has been, how far we’ve come, and how we can continue to preserve for the future.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this edition of Exploring the Region. Please share and subscribe!
Peter
Citations:
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wellington_A._Clark_House
- https://www.in.gov/library/finding-aid/4021.htm
- https://indianahistory.org/wp-content/uploads/wellington-a-clark-house-materials-ca-1900s-2001-2008.pdf
- https://crownpointlibrary.org/research/indianaroom/if-solon-could-see-us-now/its-indianas-bicentennial-200-fun-facts-about-crown-point-to-celebrate/
- https://kids.kiddle.co/Crown_Point,_Indiana
- https://nwi.life/article/explore-historic-and-picturesque-sites-in-crown-point/#
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