Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1998.
“Clarke Mills or Vanity Fair Mills is a historic textile factory building in Jackson, Alabama, United States. It was designed in the Moderne style by H.B.”
Wikipedia article Clarke Mills, CC BY-SA 4.0.
One of 21 National Register listings published here for Clarke County · listed in 1998 · category: Building.
Sources: the Wikipedia article · the case file at the National Archives · the National Register database, National Park Service
Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 52 fires within 5 miles of Clarke Mills between 1994 and 2019, burning about 258 acres in total. 3 started naturally. 4 were recorded as arson. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a fire counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.
| Reported cause | Fires |
|---|---|
| Debris and open burning | 18 |
| Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 12 |
| Equipment and vehicle use | 4 |
| Arson/incendiarism | 4 |
| Railroad operations and maintenance | 3 |
| Recreation and ceremony | 3 |
| Natural | 3 |
| Smoking | 2 |
| Misuse of fire by a minor | 2 |
| Power generation/transmission/distribution | 1 |
The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.
| Date | Cause | Size | Reported by | Name on the report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 September 2019 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | under an acre | Alabama Forestry Commission | 20190930-26 |
| 26 September 2004 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 4.0 acres | Alabama Forestry Commission | not named |
| 26 September 1998 | Debris and open burning | 3.0 acres | Alabama Forestry Commission | not named |
| 23 September 1999 | Equipment and vehicle use | under an acre | Alabama Forestry Commission | not named |
| 22 September 2001 | Debris and open burning | 1.0 acres | Alabama Forestry Commission | not named |
| 16 September 1999 | Debris and open burning | 3.0 acres | Alabama Forestry Commission | not named |
| 6 August 2013 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | under an acre | Alabama Forestry Commission | SWR-20130807-001 |
| 7 July 2019 | Debris and open burning | 5.0 acres | Alabama Forestry Commission | 20190707-6 |
Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 5 workings within 5 miles of Clarke Mills: 2 occurrences, 2 producers, 1 past producer. 2 still produce. What was taken out: Sand and Gravel, Construction, Bromine. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a quarry counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.
| Where | Site | Commodity | Status | Recorded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bush Well | Bromine | Occurrence | 1902 | |
| The Salt Mountain Well | Bromine | Occurrence | 1904 | |
| Hunter Bend Pit | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Producer | ||
| Pit #3 | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Producer | ||
| W.T. Ratliff Sand & Gravel Co. Pit | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer |
Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Jackson, the town this property stands in, in 77 storm reports between 1994 and 2025: 52 thunderstorm wind, 13 hail, 6 flash flood, 5 lightning. The reports record 1 injury. Each account below is quoted exactly as the forecast office filed it, from the NOAA Storm Events Database, and each date opens the federal record of that event.
| When | Event | Place named | Harm | What the report says |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | Jackson | 1 hurt, $5,000 | Trees were blown down just northeast of Jackson along County Road 10. A tree was blown onto a mobile home damaging the mobile home and injuring an occupant. |
| January 2017 | Flash Flood | Jackson | $750,000 | Significant flash flooding occurred in the Jackson, AL area due to 5 to 7 inches of rain falling over a very short period of time. 5 1/2 inches were measured in just 90 minutes. Numerous homes and roads flooded, with a few water rescues becoming necessary. Numerous homes on Cherry Avenue were flooded. 3 mobile homes were flooded on Warren Street. The Fish House Restaurant was also flooded. Several roads suffered damage. |
| May 2009 | Lightning | Jackson | $50,000 | Lightning struck an O'Reilly's auto parts store and caused a fire. |
| June 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | Jackson | $50,000 | Thunderstorm wind damaged temporary classroom buildings and took off an awning at the Gillmore Elementary School in Jackson. In Alma, about eight miles east of Jackson, five trees were blown down by the wind and seven acres of corn was laid flat. |
| March 1996 | Lightning | Jackson | $30,000 | no account filed |
| September 2018 | Flash Flood | Jackson | $25,000 | Wiggins Road closed due to a washout from flooding. |
| February 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | Jackson | $25,000 | Winds estimated at 60 mph downed a tree on a house on maple Drive. |
| July 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | Jackson | $25,000 | Winds estimated at 70 mph blew the roof of a National Guard armory off. A large portion of the roof landed on a vehicle in the parking lot. Multiple trees were also blown down. |
| February 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | Jackson | $20,000 | An isolated microburst occurred at the Harper Headstart School. The school sustained roof damage...with nearly all the tar roofing material peeled off...metal fencing was flattened and the school lost electrical power due to a transformer catching fire. |
| July 2009 | Lightning | Jackson | $20,000 | no account filed |
| January 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | Jackson | $15,000 | Winds estimated at 60 mph downed trees near Jackson. One tree fell on a house. |
| October 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | Jackson | $15,000 | Thunderstorm winds blew down several trees throughout the community. One fell onto a house and produced minor damage. |
| May 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | Jackson | $10,000 | Winds estimated at 60 mph caused minor damage to two roofs in the Jackson area. |
| June 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | Jackson | $10,000 | High winds from a line of thunderstorms blew down several trees between Jackson and Walker Springs. |
| October 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | Jackson | $10,000 | Several trees were blown down along State Highway 69, north of Jackson. |
| January 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | Jackson | $10,000 | Several trees were downed over the southern sections of the county, generally between Jackson and Choctaw Bluff. |
| July 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | Jackson | $8,000 | Power poles and power lines were blown down as a result of high thunderstorm winds. |
| June 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | Jackson | $5,000 | High winds downed trees on a deck at a home in Beverly and a storage building was blown over at an animal shelter in Jackson. |
| January 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | Jackson | $5,000 | Winds estimated at 70 mph blew out windows at the Subway in Jackson. |
| February 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | Jackson | $5,000 | Clarke county EMA reports trees down near the intersection of Walker Springs Road and Rabbit Creek Road. |
| February 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | Jackson | $5,000 | Winds estimated at 60 mph downed trees and power line son Salt Works Road. |
| July 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | Jackson | $5,000 | Winds estimated at 60 mph downed a tree on a car...trapping 4 people. |
| February 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | Jackson | $5,000 | Winds estimated at 70 mph damaged trees on Bridalwood Path roughly a half mile northeast of where Harper Head Start School was damaged. |
| July 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | Jackson | $5,000 | Winds estimated at 70 mph downed trees and power lines at the 100 Block of Dogwood and 124 Block of Hayeswood. |
| August 2012 | Lightning | Jackson | $5,000 | Lightning struck the Jackson hospital causing the evacuation of 9 patients due to smoke in air conditioning system. |
| July 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | Jackson | $5,000 | Winds estimated at 70 mph downed trees and power lines at College and State Streets. Trees also reported down on Forrest Avenue. Trees were also blocking road and on a structure at West Clinton and North Portis Streets. |
| March 2011 | Lightning | Jackson | $5,000 | Lightning struck First United Security Bank causing minor damage. |
| April 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Jackson | $5,000 | A large tree wasl blown down onto a house by severe thunderstorms winds near 60 mph. |
| May 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | Jackson | $5,000 | High winds from a thunderstorm blew down several trees around Jackson. |
| July 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | Jackson | $5,000 | High winds from a thunderstorm blew down several trees near Jackson. |
| August 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | Jackson | $5,000 | Trees were blown down near Jackson by high winds from a thunderstorm. |
| July 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | Jackson | $5,000 | Winds from a thunderstorm blew down trees near the community. |
| August 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | Jackson | $4,000 | Several trees were blown down in the city of Jackson. |
| April 2001 | Flash Flood | Jackson | $3,000 | Heavy rainfall caused several dirt roads that cross U. S. 43 between Jackson and Grove Hill to temporarily flood. Some of the roads were closed for several hours until the water drained. Radar estimated four to six inches of rain fell across the area in a three hour period. |
| November 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | Jackson | $2,500 | Trees and power lines were blown down in the south parts of Jackson. |
| February 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | Jackson | $2,000 | Winds estimated at 60 mph downed a tree on Samantha Drive. |
| May 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | Jackson | $2,000 | Several trees and power lines were blown down in the Jackson community. |
| May 1997 | Flash Flood | Jackson | $2,000 | Sections of SH 177 were washed out and other roads in the south part of the county were impassable from the early evening hours into the early morning hours because of high water. WSR-88D estimated that 8 to 10 inches of rain fell in this area from late afternoon through the early morning hours. Most of the rain fell during the evening hours. |
| January 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | Jackson | $2,000 | no account filed |
| April 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | Jackson | $2,000 | no account filed |
| April 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | Jackson | $1,000 | Trees and power lines were blown down along CR 3, five miles northwest of Jackson. |
| July 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | Jackson | $1,000 | Several trees were blown down around the city of Jackson. |
| May 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Jackson | - | Trees down on Catherine Ave. Time estimated from radar. |
| May 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Jackson | - | Trees and power lines down near intersection of High Acres Dr. and Shamrock Dr. Time estimated from radar. |
| May 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Jackson | - | Trees down on Gainestown Rd. Time estimated by radar. |
| May 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Jackson | - | Trees down on Forest Rd. Time estimated by radar. |
| May 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Jackson | - | Trees and power lines down on Catherine St. Time estimated from radar. |
| May 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Jackson | - | Trees down on West Point Dr. Time estimated from radar. |
| May 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Jackson | - | Trees down at intersection of College Ave and Mayton Dr. Time estimated from radar. |
| May 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Jackson | - | Trees down on Bolen Dr. Time estimated from radar. |
| April 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | Jackson | - | High winds downed a tree that blocked both lanes of traffic on Gainestown Road. |
| May 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | Jackson | - | High winds downed a large tree near 350 Commerce Street. |
| May 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | Jackson | - | High winds downed a tree on a powerline. |
| May 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | Jackson | - | High winds downed large tree limbs and debris scattered across the area near Industrial Drive and 177. |
| May 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | Jackson | - | High winds downed a tree on a powerline at the intersection of Forest Avenue and Golf View Drive. |
| February 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | Jackson | - | Strong winds downed trees and power lines in Jackson. |
| November 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | Jackson | - | High winds downed trees and powerlines along Club Wiley Road. |
| April 2021 | Hail | Jackson | - | Clarke County EMA reported half dollar size hail. |
| April 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | Jackson | - | Roof blown off of a storage building on Gainestown Road. Several trees and power lines downed. |
| May 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | Jackson | - | High winds downed trees near the intersection of Gainestown Road and Rockville Road. |
No historic map-sheet match is published for this property yet. That does not mean no map exists. This record needs a coordinate-quality review before it can be joined to a sheet boundary. Browse the county's mapped places while that work is pending.
Other National Register properties close enough to walk or drive between, ordered by distance from this one. Both positions come from the same geocoding pass that matched these properties to their map sheets.
| Photograph | Property | Distance | Listed |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Jackson Historic District | 0.3 miles | 1998 |
 | Doit W. McClellan Lustron House | 0.5 miles | 2000 |
 | J.P. McKee Lustron House | 0.5 miles | 2000 |
| National Archives record | The nomination case file for reference 98000411 in Record Group 79. |
| Wikipedia article | Community-written account of this property, licensed CC BY-SA. |
| Clarke County | All 21 listed properties in this county. |
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