Warner-Clark House
The Warner-Clark House c.1904
Situated on the corner of Millville and Hillside Avenues sits the Warner-Clark House. Built in 1904 for Mr. Oscar Warner, his wife Olive and two sons (James and Richard). The Colonial Revival House was designed by Theodore B. Peck of Waterbury.
The house boasts a long line of influential Naugatuckians as its residents. Oscar Warner was a manager for Eastern Malleable Iron (hence the house’s proximity to the Tuttle’s & Whittemores). He went on to help start Naugatuck’s first water company and sat on the board of the Naugatuck National Bank.
Mr. & Mrs. Charles Brust were the house’s second residents. Mr. Brust was president of Eastern Malleable Iron at the time.
In the mid-1960’s Arthur Clark, his wife Blanche and their 5 children became the third caretakers of the house. Arthur was a CPA and his brother, Charles, was once mayor of the borough. Mr. Clark loved the house dearly and neighbors have many fond memories of him out in the yard caring for the grounds.
The 2019 owners of the home are the previous Naugatuck Historical Society President, Chris, his husband, Michael, and their daughter, Charlotte. Charlotte does have the distinction of being the first baby of the house.
The house is significant architecturally because it is an excellent example of the Colonial Revival style, exhibiting Palladian characteristics. The exterior appears to have been little altered since it was built. It is later than most of the nearby fine houses included in the survey and is significant as the only example of its style to be represented.
The house is significant historically because it was built by Oscar Warner, a contractor at Eastern Malleable Iron Company. He had charge of a production department at a flat fee and himself employed the workers. Warner lived in a house on this site which he moved away, leaving the barn, in order to build this one. He personally meticulously examined each board and other components that went into construction. The house later was owned by Charles Brust, an officer of Eastern Malleable Iron Co. The property was offered for sale in the 1930s for $7,000.
Dana J. Blackwell, interview, August 15, 1986.
c. 2019