Ojai Valley Museum Artifacts in Residence pioneers page

Artifacts in Residence - Pioneers

The Clark and the Soule Families

Renowned Ojai horseman Thomas S. Clark owned property along Ojai Avenue, across from the Post Office building, from Signal street to what is now Rains Department Store. Their home used to be located at the area of Rains' parking lot. His splendid mount in the Independence Day photograph above is a horse from the stables of Juan Camarillo. The photograph was taken on Main Street in Ventura.

In 1895 he opened a stable and livery at the corner of Ojai and Signal, in the building now occupied by the Ojai Pharmacy.

". . . [Tom Clark’s] livery stable [located at what is now the west end of the Ojai arcade] was not only the site of horse-trading and training, but also some lively prize fights were held there, sometimes right out on the street and sometimes inside the stable. When held inside, buggies would be crammed into a corner to make room for the spectators. Some of the younger fry had their first lessons in boxing there."

Excerpts taken from:
Howard Bald,
“Reminiscences of Early Ojai”
Ojai Valley News, Dec. 20, 1972 A12:1

Ella Bakman married Tom Clark in 1894. Together, they raised nine children. Tom Clark operated stagecoach lines to Santa Barbara, Santa Paula, and Ventura. However, as America became motorized, Clark changed the stable to Ojai's first garage, auto showroom and dealership. Clark also served as a Ventura County Supervisor from 1904 to 1936.

Tom died in 1940, but is far from forgotten. In June of 2005 over a hundred of his descendents and relatives came to Ojai to dedicate the Clark Horse Trough, in Rotary Community Park at the West end of town.

Zaidee Soule gave her family’s rand land to the county for construction of the Soule Golf Course east of town. She served for many years as the town librarian.

Tinted and Framed Photograph of Zaidee Soule, c. 1881
Gift of R. E. Barrett, 1975