CLEARFIELD FARM

Built in the mid-eighteenth century by Captain David Clark, Clearfield Farm was the home of his grandson John Clark (1761-1821), Governor of Delaware from 1817-1820. John Clark served as Colonel in the Delaware Militia and as Justice of the Peace before being elected Governor in 1816. After his term expired, Clark moved into the town of Smyrna to become President of the Commercial Bank of Smyrna. Following his death, the property was inherited by his granddaughters. Local folklore identifies the plantation as a stop on the Underground Railroad. The property was listed on the National Register of Historical Places in 1973.

NC-89

Location: Near Smyrna - On the grounds of the Delaware Correctional Center. Approximately one mile south of the intersection of Paddock Road and Smyrna Landing Road.

The Delaware Public Archives operates a historical markers program as part of its mandate.  Markers are placed at historically significant locations and sites across the state.  For more information, please contact Russ McCabe at (302) 744-5000.  

NPS Underground Railroad Special Resource Study 1995.
 

A Smyrna station was located at the Clearfield Farm in Blackbird Hundred.  The plantation house of Clearfield Farm, former residence of Governor John Clark (1817-1820) is a rural 2 ½ story---4 bay wide Georgian design.  The mansion house was built 1755 received an addition in 1840.

Upon Governor Clark’s death on August 14, 1821, the house and farm passed on to Daniel Corbit of Cantwell Bridge or Odessa.  William Still’s critical work The Underground Rail Road  (1871: p. 715) identifies Quaker, Daniel Corbit (1796-1877) as an Abolitionist stationmaster.  Daniel Corbit was the uncle of Governor’s Clark’s orphaned granddaughters Sarah Clark Corbit and Mary Pennell Corbit. Daniel Corbit became the girls’ guardian. “The houses, outhouses and orchards” of the girls’ Clearfield Farm were also transferred to Daniel Corbit in 1821.  Corbit had the Clearfield Farm and his Odessa property surveyed at the same time. (New Castle County Warrants & Surveys: A2 58 and 58A).

The Clearfield property has a number of hiding places.  The south end bedroom on the second floor of the original part of the house has a crawl space in the attic.  The fireplace at the south end of the basement under the original part of the house appears to be non-working.  Adjacent to the fireplace is a 10 foot by 8 foot dungeon.  On the second floor of the 1840 addition, there are 2 hidden inner rooms without doors.  One room is 8 foot and the other room is 8 foot by 9 foot.  One room has a sliding panel that matches the paneled wall, and the other room has a cut-out opening of 4 foot by 1 ½ foot on its southeast wall.  A piece of furniture could have been used to hide the opening. The house is a short distance from a branch of Duck Creek. (Dr. K.A. Pippin)

Why Not?  Daniel Corbit’s Freedom Center Complex: Restore and renovate for a multi-cultural rehab and prevention treatment facility for DCC inmates and youth-at-risk. Exhibit art room for DCC Prison Arts Program. The Harriet Tubman Historical Society   

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