Clark's Hall

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The Clark Building is the oldest commercial building in downtown Paxton. Being built in 1867 

by Remembrance Clark who came to Paxton in 1860 from Bangor, Maine.

 

Mr. Clark was a wealthy merchant and purchased the entire east side of the 100 block of North Market. He built two homes and three commercial buildings in the business district of the new community. 

 

Clark's Hall was once the central social hub of the early Paxton community. The third floor served as an opera house and The first high school graduation in Ford County took place here in 1872. The Augustana College Band played their first concert to an expectant audience, church services, town board meetings, lectures, singing groups, medicine shows, political rallies, local talent, hypnotists, spiritualists, and a host of entertainers performed for those who felt that they were living in isolation in the new and sparsely settled county.

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The Hall has even seen some historical figures such as Carrie Justice, Illinois Governor Cullom, and Susan B. Anthony and not so famous as “Lynn” the trained donkey.   

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The second floor was set aside for business and professional offices, but this floor had been refurbished into apartments by Royce Baier in 2019.

 

The first floor was home to the Index dime store for many years. 

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Presently the Clark Building is owned by John and Jeffery Grove.