Rising Stars: Meet John Clark of Ohio

Today we’d like to introduce you to John Clark.

Hi John, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My wife and I are native Kentuckians who moved to Columbus, Ohio, in 1992. We were immediately drawn to the German Village neighborhood and rented an apartment here. German Village is a privately restored 19th century German immigrant community that was threatened by urban renewal in the 1950s, before a small group of self-described urban pioneers began working to save it. They set up a non-profit organization called the German Village Society to promote the neighborhood to homebuyers.

Not long afterward, the City of Columbus designated 233 acres of its near south side as a protected historic district. An architectural review commission quickly followed. And the entire community was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. Visitors from across the country and around the world come to German Village to experience our brick homes and streets … the small, closely spaced cottages and the mansions that surround our magnificent, 23-acre public park. They love our many one-of-a-kind shops and the top-tier restaurants that now call our neighborhood home.

As a former broadcast journalist, writer and magazine editor, I quickly became enthralled with the rich history surrounding my new home. I began writing and conducting historical research for the German Village Society, which led to the formation of German Village Tours. Today, my wife and I lead visitors from far and wide on one-hour walks, where we tell the rich history of the place and point out the many success stories that are the result of our continuing historic preservation efforts.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
My first business partner and I started the company about 10 years ago. We wanted to help the German Village Society promote our community to visitors. And we wanted to help the Society in their mission to educate the public about the importance of historic preservation.

Three years ago, my first partner had to bow out of the partnership due to health and family issues. My wife stepped in, and the two of us have been running the company since. Jan and I have both retired from our individual careers, and we don’t market German Village Tours to be a high-volume company. We do this because we enjoy meeting people and showing them where we live.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I began working in radio, part-time, about 1973. I was still in high school at the time. In college, I majored in journalism and got my first job as a local TV anchor/producer/reporter during my senior year. After college, I continued working in local TV, eventually transitioning into full-time producer and executive producer positions. I left the business after a nearly five-year stint with KTRK-TV in Houston.

Since moving to Columbus, I have produced a syndicated health & lifestyles television program, written and produced TV & radio commercials for a major furniture retailer and edited a local lifestyles & personality magazine. Today, I still write local history articles for various magazines, shoot and produce a YouTube series called Artful Living in Ohio and have written three local history books.

What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
I’ve learned to listen to people and to be humble in their presence. Jan and I have met people from around the world. I enjoy talking with all of our clients and learning what it is that interests them in visiting our historic neighborhood.

I also try to remember that I’m just an “armchair” historian. I learn something new about German Village every month or two. Often, it’s from visitors who lived here long ago and who have returned to see what has changed. I try to keep records of every bit of history I collect, to share with the true historians later.

Pricing:

• Walking Tour: 60-to-90-minutes. $25 per person. DIscounts for parties of four or more.
• Step-On Coach Guide: Price varies according to individual requests. Please inquire.
• On-Site History Presentation: $150 within Columbus metro area.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://GermanVillageTours.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/germanvillagetours/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=german%20village%20tours