Palm Beach County FlArchives Biographies.....CLARK, HAROLD L. 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Nancy Rayburn Naev@earthlink.net September 4, 2007, 1:23 am

Author: The History of Florida:  Past & Present, The Lewis Publishing Co., 1923,  Vol. II pg.246

	CLARK, HAROLD L.  The visitor to Palm Beach County is immediately 
impressed by the beautiful-artistic laid-out grounds and admirably designed 
houses which are to be found throughout its confines, for here the wealthy men 
of the country establish their winter homes, and their example of demanding a 
harmonious arrangement with the marvelous surroundings is followed by the 
permanent residents, so that here, as perhaps nowhere else in the world, there 
is a steady and constantly increasing demand for high-class landscape 
architects and contractors.  Among those who have been connected with this 
work for years, winning a reputation that is state-wide, is HAROLD L. CLARK, 
senior member of the dependable and far-famed firm of Clark & de Gottrau of 
West Palm Bach.
	HAROLD L. CLARK was born, reared and educated at Manchester, New 
Hampshire.  In his early youth he became a florist and gardener, and his 
entire business career has been spent in this line of work.  Going to Chicago, 
Illinois, he was employed by the firm of Poehlman Brothers, operating one of 
the largest and best-known floral and greenhouse enterprises under glass, in 
the west.  He was also for a time associated with E. H. R. GREEN in the 
latter’s extensive greenhouse business at Dallas, Texas, and spent 
considerable time with W. H. ELLIOTT, of Boston, Massachusetts, a 
distinguished florist and botanist.  Mr. CLARK then went to Council Bluffs, 
Iowa, to take charge of the greenhouses of J. W. WILCOX, remaining there until 
1918, when he came to South Florida and located at West Palm Beach, and almost 
immediately was given charge of the floral and arboreal work and landscaping 
on various of the great estates at Palm Beach.  In 1921 he took into 
partnership with him LOUIS DE GOTTRAU, forming the firm of Clark & de Gottrau, 
landscape architects and contractors.  This firm has in its charge the taking 
care of the floral and arboreal features and the carrying out of landscape 
schemes for a number of the owners of famous homes and estates at Palm Beach, 
including the Vanderbilt, Phipps, Munn, Kingsley, Clements, Cudahy, and other 
magnificent places that are the winter homes of their owners.  Mr. CLARK’s 
first engagement after coming here was the landscaping of the grounds of the 
famous Everglades Club, which he carried out under the direction of ADDISON 
MIZNER, architect.  His present quite extensive business has grown from the 
splendid work he did in his first undertaking and is the result of his skill 
and experience in his profession.
	Mr. CLARK and his partner are also the landscape architects for the 
City of West Palm Beach, and as such they are carrying the city’s plans for 
the beautification and harmonization of its streets, avenues and public 
parks.  Under this plan many trees and foliage plants are being taken up and 
transplanted according to modern scientific methods, and so grouped as to 
bring about the effect of harmony,  thus adding greatly to the city’s 
attractiveness.  Various parks and park extensions are now in the course of 
being improved by this enterprising firm.  The almost innumerable tropical 
growths that have long flourished, and others which can be brought to 
luxuriance here, including trees and plants of great value and rare beauty 
that can be produced nowhere in the United States except in South Florida, 
make Mr. CLARK’s business one of the greatest possibilities for usefulness in 
further developing Palm Beach and West Palm Beach, which already are scenes of 
wonder and enchantment for present visitors, and a source of enjoyment for 
those fortunate enough to be residents of this most favored locality.  
Although he has only lived here for a few years Mr. CLARK is one of the most 
enthusiastic of the boosters of Palm Beach County, and his appreciation is 
based upon experienced knowledge and artistic perceptions.  His presence here 
and the work he is accomplishing of both a private and public nature is 
recognized to be among the valuable assets of the county, and his name is 
connected with some of the best results now being obtained from all sources.
	


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