Clare Point Stock Farm

This 1910 view of Clare Point Stock Farm shows the two original farmhouses, the barn, and the mansion Thomas Willson built upon purchasing the property. The farm was situated along what’s now North Oak Street and West Pine Street in Ephrata.

Clare Point Stock Farm, named for Thomas Willson’s wife, Clara, comprised 81 acres, including a lovely meadow.

Two of the original buildings on the farm were farmhouses dating from 1753 and 1783. Pictured here is most likely the older of the two, built of native sandstone.

Thomas Willson began construction of this mansion with sandstone blocks from a demolished barn on the property in October 1901. It was situated on something of a hilltop to take advantage of pristine farmland views.

As seen in this 1905 post card, the Clare Point Stock Farm had a view of the Cocalico Creek. It also had a dam and mill that was converted from a grist mill to a power mill to create electricity for the farm.

Thomas Willson added a man-made pond to the farm and had it stocked with 1,300 brook trout purchased from Carbon County, Pennsylvania. An April 24, 1900 article about the farm in the Lancaster New Era described it as Willson’s "large and beautiful spring."

Clare Point Stock Farm was the realization of Thomas Willson’s love of horses and horseracing. The farm included a half mile racetrack. The Judges’ Stand gave the best vantage of the race.

A unique facet of the farm was the quarter mile “Ring Barn” or indoor track that allowed for horses to train and run all year round.

The Ring Barn, with the Ephrata Mountain in the background, was captured in this c. 1910 photograph, perhaps taken when George B. Willson of Wheatland bought the property after Thomas Willson’s death in 1909.

The Lodge and barns on the property saw many guests – both human and equine – during the farm’s decade of business.

Thomas Willson also purchased Ye Village Inn, a roadside tavern situated at North Oak and West Main Streets in Ephrata. Built in 1777, he had it renovated into a 17 room inn in 1901. Seen here in this 1920s souvenir post card, it continues to operate as a bed and breakfast.

After Willson's death in 1909, the farm remained a summer residence for his widow Clara until she sold it to George B. Willson – then owner of James Buchanan’s Wheatland – who, in turn, sold it to the Redemptionist Order of the Catholic Church in 1914.

The Church renamed the farm St. Clements and opened a school on the property. It’s also now the site of Our Mother of Perpetual Help Church.