Clark House
Belton, Bell County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Built in the early 1890s, this house was deeded by prominent Belton businessman Peter Hammersmith to his son, John Peter, as a wedding gift in 1895. The property was sold to Sophie Clark, widow of a Rogers lumberman, in 1899. During World War II, the home was converted to a duplex to help ease the housing shortage at Fort Hood (19 mi.W). Featuring semi-circular shingle bargeboards, the house remained in the Clark family for over eighty years. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1982
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Built in the early 1890s, this Belton house was given by businessman Peter Hammersmith to his son as an 1895 wedding gift, then sold in 1899 to Sophie Clark, the widow of a Rogers lumberman. During World War II it was divided into a duplex to ease the housing shortage created by nearby Fort Hood. Distinguished by its semicircular shingled bargeboards, it stayed in the Clark family for over eighty years.
Why it matters
The home's wartime conversion shows how communities near booming military bases like Fort Hood reshaped daily life to meet the demands of World War II.
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Related people
- · Peter Hammersmith
- · Sophie Clark
Themes & tags
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