| Location |
| 4000 Bay Street |
| Area |
| "The Five Corners" |
| Business Occupants |
|
The Bean Scene (downstairs) Broadway West Theater (upstairs) |
Clarks' Hall 1876
George and Alson Clark
Sitting empty in 1995
HISTORY:
Clark's Hall is an historic building in Fremont situated at the "Five Corners," a convergence of Fremont Blvd, Washington Blvd, Bay Street and Union Street.
Built in 1876 by Alson S. and George H. Clark who owned this parcel of land and ran a hardware store on the first floor. The second floor of the building had a dance floor and stage used by traveling theatrical groups of the time.
From 1889 to the present day, the building has been home to various businesses including a general store, a hardware and plumbing business, a lighting store, and a post office.
Redevelopment threatened Clark's Hall in 1979 and it was almost destroyed to make way for a wider intersection. Many buildings in the area did not survive, but the Irvington Redevelopment Project saved this historical building.
Along with the Irvington Redevelopment Project, The MIssion Peak Heritage Foundation was instrumental in saving Clark's Hall from certain destruction. Studies were done to determine the structural soundness of the building and cost of restoration.
In 1980, the building was purchased by Joe Betchart and restoration work was begun. Prominent Fremont families have owned Clark's Hall including the Hirsch family and the Rose family.
FUN FACTS:
Clark's Hall is the oldest documented commercial building in Fremont.
The upper floor was used for town hall meetings.
If only the upstairs stage walls could talk! They are littered with the autographs and advertisements of traveling thespians.
In 1979 the "Five Corner's" intersection was re-designed around Clark's Hall.
Clark's Hall has seen many a traveler because this intersection was the main thoroughfare between the 2 main north-south highways in the East Bay during World War I.
Beautiful green ivy used to cover the front and sides of this brick building in the early 1990s.
Fremont's Farmers Market customers enjoy delicious mochas and lattes as well as vegetarian omelets and gourmet sandwiches on Sunday mornings.
Bay Street Cafe 1997-2014 & Broadway West
Clark's Hall overlooking a very different Five Corners today (2014)
SOURCES
Oral History Associates of Sausalito California, comp. City of Fremont: The First Thirty Years.: Mission Peak Heritage Foundation, 1989. Print.
Our City Fremont: A Photo Tour.: Celebrate Fremont Heritage Team, 2006. Print.
Photos courtesy of The Bean Scene Cafe, 4000 Bay Street.
"Broadway West Theater Company." Broadway West RSS.Web. 06 Oct. 2014.
"Irvington Business Association - Fremont, California." Irvington Business Association - Fremont, California. Web. 06 Oct. 2014.
