Clark, Silas M., House
Also known as: Clark Memorial Hall; History House
Why it's listed
Built in 1869-70 for lawyer and jurist Silas M. Clark, this three-story brick house in Indiana, Pennsylvania follows the Italian villa manner, with round-headed windows, a central tower, bracketed cornices and large brick quoins. Two one-story wooden porches on the north and east sides were enlarged after construction. In 1920 interior walls, a main stairway and several fireplaces were removed, though a marble and tile fireplace in the former parlor survives. The property adjoins the approximate route of the Kittanning Path and the town's first cemetery, and earlier it formed part of the Indiana Seminary grounds that Clark attended. Clark, born in 1834, became an associate justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania and was a founder of the Normal School of Indiana, now Indiana University of Pennsylvania. The building served as a county soldiers' memorial hall and as American Red Cross headquarters from 1918 to 1930. Since 1951 it has housed the Indiana County Historical and Genealogical Society.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is significant for its Italian villa architecture and for its association with Silas M. Clark, a Pennsylvania Supreme Court justice and founder of the Normal School of Indiana. The house later served as a county soldiers' memorial hall and as American Red Cross headquarters from 1918 to 1930, a focal point for war and disaster relief in the county.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 78002406, listed June 15, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 6th St. and Wayne Ave., Indiana |
|---|---|
| County | Indiana County |
| Listed | June 15, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78002406 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architectural style | Italian villa |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | In good condition and occupied by the Indiana County Historical and Genealogical Society, which hopes to restore and maintain it in its original character. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Within district | Downtown Indiana Historic District |
| Coordinates | 40.62010, -79.15101 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 78002406.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7514191
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.