Harold Hewitt Clark

Harold Clark started his career in journalism as an errand boy for the Iowa Daily X-Ray editor Benjamin Franklin Wright. He later became a newspaper editor, holding many jobs in publishing and advertising and public relations. His first interview was with William Kennings Bryan. After living through a dust storm in Kansas, Clark learned how devastating the lack of conservation measures could be. He grew more concerned with ecology and acquired his knowledge from jobs in advertising farm equipment. Clark was the advertising director for the Hart-Parr company, pioneers of steam-driven farm machinery and tractors. When he moved to Cleveland, he became interested in the pollution problems of Lake Erie. Publishing jobs eventually brought him to Philadelphia and New Hope, where he wrote a column for the Lambertville Beacon. When the Delaware Canal died with the growth of the railroad, Clark began to work to keep it from being filled in as a measure to widen river road. His work with the Delaware Valley Protective Association led to the establishment of the canal as a national landmark in 1978, keeping the local bridges to New Jersey free of tolls, and restoration of 19th century wing dams to maintain the lake it was built for in the New Hope area. Clark formed the Delaware River Basin Commission and the Bucks County Soil and Water Conservation District. He and the commission set up the Tock Island recreation area. It was Clark who insisted on the establishment of a comprehensive park system plan for Bucks County. He developed the Delaware River Basin Commission and Junior Ecology Teams (JETS) for young people concerned with environmental protection. His environmental and ecological dedication over the years earned him national recognition. In 1981, he received a letter from President Ronald Reagan congratulating him on his 91st birthday.

Education and Training
Apprenticed Benjamin Franklin Wright, editor Iowa Daily X-Ray, c. 1906

Connection to Bucks County
Clark and his wife Sara Maynard Clark (a photographer, journalist, and historian) moved to New Hope in 1933 from suburban Philadelphia. Both were very active in the civic activities of their community. Clark was an instrumental figure in the Delaware Valley Protection Association, leading the way for conservation in Bucks County. Their son, Maynard Clark, was a professional photographer and filmmaker. Some of his early photographs of noted Bucks County personalities have been exhibited at the Michener Art Museum.

Major Awards
Bucks County Medical Society Benjamin Rush Award, 1963
Life Membership to the Delaware Valley Power Boat Association, 1960
Honorary Member of Bucks County Parks and Recreation Board, 1970

Colleagues and Affiliations
Member of the County Parks and Recreation Board 10 years and was named an Honorary Board Member in 1970
President of Delaware Valley Protective Association for 25 years