The Champ Clark House, a national historic landmark and regional museum located in Bowling Green, remembers early March as a particularly historic time in the life of its former owner, Champ Clark, and the house itself.
“It’s almost eerie,” observed Charlene McCune, President of the CCH Board of Directors. “Champ Clark was born on March 7, 1850, in a poor Kentucky cabin. He went to Congress for the first of 13 terms, representing Missouri’s 9th District, on March 4, 1893. And on March 2, 1921, Champ Clark died a day before the end of his final term in Congress, and just 5 days before his 71st birthday.”
Another coincidence, and a happy one, occurred in March, 1973 when Congressman Bill Hungate purchased the Clark home from Mr. and Mrs. William Robinson of Bowling Green, determined to preserve it as a legacy of the Clark family and other notable Northeast Missouri political figures.
Champ Clark served as Missouri’s only Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, and waged a nearly-successful campaign for President in 1912.
His was a central figure in several key national issues of the time, such as the tariff laws, antitrust laws, and female suffrage.
His son, Bennett, later served as House Parliamentarian and co-founded the American Legion, before his election to the United States Senate in 1932.
The Champ Clark House, entering its 41st year since Judge Hungate’s purchase, will hold its opening ceremony on June 3, with visiting hours to run through the end of August from Noon-4:00 p.m. Special appointments are also accepted. Admission is $3, with no charge for children 10 and under.