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Local Historian Receives Special Honor

October 01, 2022 Steve Schwaller

(West Okoboji)– A lakes area historian has received a special honor. Members of the local Daughters of the American Revolution chapter (DAR) Friday presented Jerry Clark, founder of the Clark Museum, with the organization’s historic preservation medal and several certificates of appreciation. Maryanna Hubbard serves as historian for the local DAR chapter. She tells KUOO news the historic preservation medal dates back to the early 1900’s and is extremely prestigious…

“The Historic Preservation Award is not, they give but 30 a year and of course there are more than 2,000 members, I don’t want to quote figures because I’m not sure of them, but there have only been three given in Iowa. And our chapter, I’m proud to say, has given two of those: the first to Jim Hoss in Peterson for his Jim’s History Barn, and then now to Jerry. And I’m happy to say that both Jim, who is now deceased, but Jerry, too, appreciate it and it makes us feel good, too.”

Clark expressed his appreciation to the DAR for the recognition and talked about the enjoyment he gets from running the museum…

“When people come into the museum, I like to visit with them and tell them the complete history of the items that we have in the museum, because that’s what we’ve got it for is for people to enjoy and I really enjoy the people telling me stories, too, you know, that come through the museum. I learned a lot of history from the visitors that come, and of course they hear a lot of things they never knew, too, but that’s why they come.”

Clark also thanked his family and late wife, Irene.

The Clark Museum is located at 2151 213th Avenue just northwest of Milford. The museum contains a vast collection of memorabilia of years gone by in the Iowa Great Lakes. It also features a number of artifacts from the very early days of the Arnolds Park Amusement Park along with an extensive collection of historic photos of the region.

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