Clemville

Before it was Clemville the place was Hardy, for F. J. Hardy, whose first well came in about 1908 at 1,365 feet as a 3,500-barrel gusher. The plaque credits F. J. Clemenger with the new name; the Handbook says the town honors Charles T. Clem. By 1914 it had two hotels, two machinists, a dairy, a church, two schools and about 200 people. In 1917 its white school taught ten grades and its Black school four, and both sets of pupils were sent to Markham in 1932. The post office closed in 1970.

What the plaque says

Clemville Originally part of land granted to early colonist Henry Parker, this was a rural farming and ranching area until 1908 when F. J. Hardy discovered oil and formed the Hardy Oil Company. By 1911, F. J. Clemenger had settled in the community, then known as Hardy. After Clemenger purchased Hardy's holdings and further developed oil fields in the area, the community was renamed Clemville in his honor and a post office was established in 1911. Clemville became an oil boomtown, with schools, a church, residences, hotels, a general store and machinist shops. As the economy slowed in the 1930s, Clemville's population began to dwindle. By the end of the 20th century, little physical evidence remained of the once booming oil town. (2001)

Where it stands

More markers nearby

• Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church — 4.9 mi
• Danevang Community Hall (Danevang Forsamlingshus) — 5.1 mi
• Ansgar Evangelical Lutheran Church and Cemetery — 5.1 mi
• Danevang — 5.3 mi