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Photograph of William Clark House
Photograph by Tgkrause, CC BY-SA 3.0. Via Wikimedia Commons.

William Clark House

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.

From the record

“The William Clark House is a historic house at 320 Walnut Street in Baraboo, Wisconsin. The house was built between 1883 and 1886 for William Clark, an engineer for the Chicago and North Western Railroad.”

Wikipedia article William Clark House (Baraboo, Wisconsin), CC BY-SA 4.0.

One of 58 National Register listings published here for Sauk County · listed in 1980 · category: Building.

Sources: the Wikipedia article · the case file at the National Archives · the National Register database, National Park Service · the Wikipedia article

The listing

  • What is counted as historic. The nomination lists 1 building as contributing to the listing.
  • Listed as. Clark, William, House - the National Register files a house under its owner's surname.
  • Address. 320 Walnut St., Baraboo, 53913
  • When was it listed? April 1980
  • Category. building
  • City. Baraboo city
  • Architectural style. Second Empire architecture in the United States and Canada
  • National Register reference number. 80000193 - the number the National Park Service assigned this property when it was listed, and the key its nomination file is catalogued under at the National Archives.

What happened here

An account from the chapter on Baraboo city. The inset identifies its exact source book and publication year.

From Outline Sketches of Sauk County; Including Its History, from the First Marks of Man's Hand ... and Its Topography, Both Written and Illustrated, published 1861 - Baraboo City

The Independent

In the spring of 1866, D. K. Noyes, after returning home from the war with one foot shot off, in casting about for a business occupation, fastened his mind upon the printing business, and made efforts to purchase the Republic, but, failing in that, he purchased and brought on an office equip* ment, and started a paper, entitling it "The Independent," D.

Read the rest of this passage

The ground it stands on

69,180 words

The chapter on Baraboo City in Outline Sketches of Sauk County; Including Its History, from the First Marks of Man's Hand ... and Its Topography, Both Written and Illustrated, published 1861 names Baraboo. This is what it says, exactly as the scans read.

I once found in a stone quarry in Baraboo a very perfect trilobite: the little round eyes the size of a pinhead stood out bold, and no mould in metal could have been made prettier. '1 hi* rock engraving confirms the Mosau" record: one in written characters, the

Passage source: Outline Sketches of Sauk County; Including Its History, from the First Marks of Man's Hand ... and Its Topography, Both Written and Illustrated, published 1861.

E. W. Bruce, President of the Wesieyan Methodist Church, who, I am told, has eharge of five conferer.ces, at Lyons, near Baraboo held revival meetings from September 5, to 23. He gave notice that Sunday evening, Sent. 23 would be his last sermon, and his subject would be "The Sabbath." The evening arrived and the church was filled to the utmo.-t. Mr. Bruce i* a retorical orator; courteous, intelligent. His plan would look as though he wished to give Sabbaterians a lash and then leave - an unchristian cowardly stroke of policy. There is a Sabbaterian organization in about Baraboo of about 35 or 40 members. I noted down the points of his sermon, bnt I do not think it profitable to spend much time in arguing upon this tender sublet. But candid discussion is desirable to be informed. Mr. Bruce is invited to defend his critcised sermon in a -public courteous manner. He being a talented man and representing popular opinions, 1 lake pleasure in placing his deduction-? in my little religious pamphlet Lb. at T am preparing. Another S. D A kept notes of his Sunday evening1, Sept 23 discourse PROPOSITION AND REVIEW take the place of ten, that was given at Sini. they were founded on n principle. The first was compulsion. savagry; even to taking of life if they did not keep them.

Passage source: Outline Sketches of Sauk County; Including Its History, from the First Marks of Man's Hand ... and Its Topography, Both Written and Illustrated, published 1861.

Machine-read from a century-old scan, so expect the errors a machine makes: misspelled names, dropped words, stray characters.

Read the whole chapter on Baraboo City - 69,180 words on its settlement, mills, schools and churches.

Fires near this property

164 since 1992

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 164 fires within 5 miles of William Clark House between 1992 and 2020, burning about 152 acres in total. 6 started naturally. 6 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 burning56
Missing data/not specified/undetermined33
Equipment and vehicle use18
Railroad operations and maintenance12
Misuse of fire by a minor9
Smoking7
Recreation and ceremony7
Natural6
Arson/incendiarism6
Other causes4
Fireworks3
Power generation/transmission/distribution3

The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
30 September 2017Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreWisconsin Department of Natural ResourcesCOUNTY ROAD U FIRE
3 September 2016Debris and open burningunder an acreWisconsin Department of Natural ResourcesGALL FENCED-IN BARREL
3 September 2011Naturalunder an acreWisconsin Department of Natural ResourcesWHITE PINE
29 September 1997Power generation/transmission/distributionunder an acreWisconsin Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
18 September 2005Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreWisconsin Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
15 September 1996Debris and open burningunder an acreWisconsin Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
5 August 2002Arson/incendiarismunder an acreWisconsin Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
27 August 2010Debris and open burningunder an acreWisconsin Department of Natural ResourcesPAWS AND CLAWS

Every fire recorded in Sauk County

Mines and quarries near this property

10 of 12 shown

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 12 workings within 5 miles of William Clark House: 5 past producers, 4 producers, 3 unknowns. 4 still produce. What was taken out: Sand and Gravel, Construction, Iron, Stone, Crushed/Broken, Silica. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a quarry counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
Baraboo OperationSilicaUnknown
Baraboo Quartzite Company, Inc.Stone, Crushed/BrokenProducer
Cahoon MineIronPast Producer1915, 1916, 1925
Cahoon MineIronPast Producer1915, 1916
Spencer QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenProducer
Brown Pit # 1Sand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Farm PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
Farms PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Goerks PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Halsted PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown

Every working recorded in Sauk County

Storms near this property

58 since 1994

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Baraboo, the town this property stands in, in 58 storm reports between 1994 and 2026: 23 thunderstorm wind, 18 hail, 6 flash flood, 6 heavy rain. No death or injury is recorded in these reports. 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.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
April 2014Flash FloodBaraboo$150,000Numerous roads were closed over southern Sauk County due to flash flooding of small creeks and streams. Estimated rainfall amounts ranged from 4-7 inches. Some of the known creeks that flooded were Otter Creek, Honey Creek, North Branch of Honey Creek, and Pine Creek. There was one bridge washout at the north end of Stones Pocket Road due to the flooding of Otter Creek. This will cost approximately $150,000 to replace.
July 1999Thunderstorm WindBaraboo$30,000An isolated severe thunderstorm's powerful downburst winds tore off 3/4ths of a farm home's roof and and levelled many trees.
June 2001Thunderstorm WindBaraboo$25,000no account filed
July 2005Thunderstorm WindBaraboo$20,000A tree fell onto a house and a vehicle was damaged. Trees were also damaged at the Circus World Museum.
July 2023Thunderstorm WindBaraboo$15,000Many trees and branches down in the Baraboo area, including highway signs and power poles.
September 2012Thunderstorm WindBaraboo$12,000Sauk County 911 Call Center personnel reported trees and power lines were blown down by damaging thunderstorm wind gusts estimated at 56 knots (65 mph) along a path from 5 miles southeast of Baraboo to Merrimac.
April 2026Thunderstorm WindBaraboo$10,000Trees down in Baraboo including on at least one home.
May 2000Flash FloodBaraboo$10,000no account filed
June 1999Flash FloodBaraboo$10,000no account filed
June 1996Flash FloodBaraboo$10,000no account filed
June 2019Thunderstorm WindBaraboo$8,000Numerous trees and power lines down in the Baraboo area.
July 1999LightningBaraboo$8,000no account filed
June 1996Thunderstorm WindBaraboo$7,000no account filed
July 2023Thunderstorm WindWest Baraboo$5,000A swath of scattered tree damage including a tree down on a house.
June 2015Heavy RainWest Baraboo$5,000Heavy rainfall of 2 to 2.25 inches in approximately one hour resulted in urban flooding in Baraboo and West Baraboo. The flooding problems were more focused in West Baraboo within construction zones that had temporary culverts in place. Some street closures were needed in these areas, which included South Boulevard near the Army National Guard, Casey's General Store, and at the roundabout near Campbell Park. Knee deep water and a few stalled cars were reported. There was some flooding in the restaurants of Culver's, Taco Bell, and resident basements.
August 2002Thunderstorm WindWest Baraboo$5,000no account filed
June 2019Thunderstorm WindBaraboo$3,000Scattered trees down including a few large trees in the Baraboo area.
June 1998Thunderstorm WindBaraboo$3,000no account filed
July 1998LightningBaraboo$3,000no account filed
August 2018Thunderstorm WindWest Baraboo$2,000Several trees and branches down.
May 2000Thunderstorm WindBaraboo$2,000no account filed
June 1998Thunderstorm WindBaraboo$2,000no account filed
May 2018FloodBaraboo$1,000The Baraboo River near Baraboo reached minor flood stage, cresting at 19.74 ft. Floodwaters affect a trailer rental business and a road wayside park about 5 miles downstream near the Highway 33 bridge. Floodwaters also affect an auto auction business on highway 33 just east of I-94. Widespread flooding of agricultural land near the river is occurring.
June 1998Thunderstorm WindBaraboo$1,000no account filed
May 2017Thunderstorm WindBaraboo$500A 20 inch diameter tree down.
June 1996Thunderstorm WindBaraboo$500no account filed
July 2017HailBaraboo-Estimated wind gusts of 50 mph with nickel size hail.
June 2014Heavy RainBaraboo-The typical street flooding and standing water occurred in Baraboo with heavy rainfall.
October 2013Heavy RainBaraboo-An old and weak stone and mortar wall collapsed on one side of the house when high water from heavy rain impacted it.
October 2013Heavy RainBaraboo-Street flooding resulted in some cars stalling in the high water, mainly on the east side of town. Hourly radar rainfall rates were 1-1.5 inches.
April 2008HailBaraboo-Actual location of this hail report was about 3.0ENE Green Corners.
June 2008Flash FloodBaraboo-Sauk County experienced 4 flash flood events over a 3-day period. Two of the events started on June 7th, one on June 8th, and the last one on June 9th. In each case, flash flooding caused home and business damage as well as crop losses. Roads were blocked or washed out (STH 154 and CTH C), and bridges were damaged. Many vehicles stalled. Locations in the Baraboo River Valley sustained considerable damage as the river crested at all-time levels. Collectively, each of these 4 flash floods resulted in home and business damage along with some crop losses. It was nearly impossible to break down the damages by flash flood event. Therefore, the collective breakdown is provided in the June 9th StormData entry for Sauk County.
June 2008Flash FloodBaraboo-Measured 2.5 inches of rain over 2 hours 10 miles west of Poynette.
April 2023HailBaraboo-no account filed
July 2023HailWest Baraboo-no account filed
July 2021HailBaraboo-no account filed
April 2018HailBaraboo-no account filed
April 2018HailBaraboo-no account filed
May 2012HailWest Baraboo-no account filed
June 2011HailBaraboo-no account filed
June 2008Funnel CloudBaraboo-no account filed
April 2007HailBaraboo-no account filed
July 2006HailBaraboo-no account filed
August 2006HailBaraboo-no account filed
July 2005Thunderstorm WindBaraboo-no account filed
August 2004HailBaraboo-no account filed
August 2004HailBaraboo-no account filed
November 2003Heavy RainBaraboo-no account filed
June 2003Thunderstorm WindBaraboo-no account filed
April 2002Thunderstorm WindBaraboo-no account filed
May 2002HailBaraboo-no account filed
June 2001FloodBaraboo-no account filed
June 2001HailBaraboo-no account filed
June 2001HailBaraboo-no account filed
June 2000Heavy RainBaraboo-no account filed
June 1998Thunderstorm WindBaraboo-no account filed
June 1994HailBaraboo-no account filed
July 1994Thunderstorm WindBaraboo-no account filed

Every storm recorded in Sauk County

Map coverage status

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.

Listed places nearby

6 within 8 miles

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 PropertyDistance Listed
Baraboo Chicago & North Western Depot and Division Officesunder 500 feet2022
Ruhland, Charles and Anna0.1 miles2017
Thompson House Hotel0.3 miles1997
Bear & Deer House0.3 miles1969
Downtown Baraboo Historic District0.4 miles2015
Sauk County Courthouse0.5 miles1982

Sources for this property

National Archives recordThe nomination case file for reference 80000193 in Record Group 79.
Wikipedia articleCommunity-written account of this property, licensed CC BY-SA.
Sauk CountyAll 58 listed properties in this county.

Provenance

  • Listing record. National Park Service National Register of Historic Places, listed-properties dataset, current to 2026-05-22.
  • Map join. Address geocoded through the United States Census geocoder, then tested against the published boundary of every sheet in the USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection.
  • How this page is made. Listing fields come from federal records; map-sheet coverage is a labelled coordinate-to-boundary calculation, not a source-field claim.
  • Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.
  • Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
  • Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.