Clark Memorial Hall
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Clark Memorial Hall | |
 | |
  Location within the state of Michigan  Clark Memorial Hall (the United States) | |
 Map showing the location of Clark Memorial Hall | |
| Location | 120–124 S. Winter Street Adrian, Michigan |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 41°53′55″N 84°02′18″W / 41.89861°N 84.03833°W |
| Built | 1888 |
| Part of | Downtown Adrian Commercial District |
| NRHP reference No. | 85000097[1] |
| Added to NRHP | January 14, 1985 |
The Clark Memorial Hall, also known as the Adrian I.O.O.F. Hall, is a commercial building located at 120–124 South Winter Street (M-52) in the Downtown Adrian Commercial Historic District in Adrian, Michigan. It was designated as a Michigan Historic Site and individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places on January 14, 1985.[1][2]
Elihu C. Clark was born in Walworth, New York in 1811, and began a career as a dry goods merchant in 1830. In 1836, he moved to Adrian and established a dry goods business there. A few years later he began dabbling in finance, and by 1847 he was an important and wealthy local financier. In 1869 Clark, became the first president of the Lenawee County Savings Bank. Clark died in 1880, and his will, he donated $10,000 to the Adrian Lodge of the Odd Fellowship — a branch of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows — to construct a building.[3]
By 1888, the Lodge had acquired land and additional capital to construct a building. The lodge hired to local firm of Beck and Vogt to construct the building for a cost of $9,000. Construction started in June, and the structure was completed by the end of 1888. The Odd Fellows held their first meeting in the new hall in January 1889. The first floor was leased by Moreland Brothers and Crane, a tobacco and candy company.[3]
In 1986, dwindling membership forced the building to be put up for sale. Today, it serves a variety of commercial businesses.[2]
