Statement of Significance

The Dr. L.W. Chilton house (1902) is a Late Victorian Queen Anne style house with spindlework detailing.  It was designed by  South Texas architect Jules Leffland and built by the accomplished local craftsman, Bailey Mills.   The Chilton house served as the center of the active and exceptional life of Dr. L.W. Chilton.  Dr. Chilton was a pioneer in the practice of medicine in South Texas and practiced as a physician and surgeon in Goliad County, Texas for over 50 years.  The Chilton house is eligible under Criterion B in the area of Health/Medicine   The property Is being nominated for local significance because of its association with Dr. L.W. Chilton.

Dr. L.W. (Louis Warren) Chilton (1865-1945) was a young doctor practicing medicine in Weser, Texas when he married Martha Ella Shaper (1870-1942) in March of 1892.  Ella was the daughter of Louis and Alice Nance Shaper, pioneer settlers of Goliad County. Ella was also the niece of Henry Shaper, long time Goliad County Judge and Representative of the 87^th District to the 22^nd Texas State Legislature in 1890. Anticipating his marriage,  Dr. Chilton purchased two lots in the city of Goliad in September of 1891. Goliad was one of the first three municipalities in Texas and has been the Goliad County Seat since 1836.  The Chilton property is part of the original four leagues of a land grant signed by Republic of Texas President, Sam Houston in 1844, two years before Texas was annexed into the United States. The original dwelling was built and completed in early 1892.  Dr. and Mrs. Chilton moved into the new house following their wedding.  Dr. Chilton’s noteworthy career took a major step in 1893 when he was appointed as County Physician for Goliad County.   

As the chief health officer for Goliad County, Dr. Chilton was responsible for insuring that communicable diseases were kept under control and that emergency access to health service was assured.  In 1902, the gruesome opportunity arrived for Dr. Chilton to exercise his authority.  On Sunday, May 18, 1902, just after 3:30 in the afternoon, one of the most destructive tornadoes ever to hit Texas touched down on the south side of the San Antonio River.  The storm cut a path of destruction through northwest Goliad a mile long and two city blocks wide.  The doctor was on a call in a neighboring town when the storm hit and had to force his horse to swim across the river because the bridge had been destroyed.  As he approached Goliad, the scene must have been horrifying; the land where his home had been was reduced to rubble.  Upon reaching the courthouse, he discovered that his family had survived.  His wife, Ella, had a broken hip, but his five year old son, Warren Jr. was unharmed.  Katie May, his eight year old daughter, had actually been sucked into the funnel but, miraculously, suffered only minor scratches and bruises.  Dr. Chilton immediately began ministering to the wounded and dying.  He set up a temporary hospital and morgue in the courthouse.  The official death toll was 114 with 225 injured; over ten percent of the total population of Goliad was gone.   

Perhaps due to the emotional impact of the near loss of his family and the devastation of his city, Dr. Chilton became involved in fraternal organizations with the goal of assisting those in need.  In June of 1903, Dr. Chilton joined fourteen others to charter a Goliad lodge of The Order of the Sons of Hermann; the largest Fraternal Benefit Society of its kind in the state of Texas.  The primary mission of the lodge was to aid the victims of disasters.  He became a Mason and held the top office of the Goliad Lodge #94 in 1904 and again in 1914. Dr. Chilton was noted in his community for many humane deeds and cause under takings where he assisted people of varied religions and races.  (Goliad Advance-Guard 1945)  The doctor was also dedicated to education and spent 25 years   a s an officer and trustee on the Goliad School Board.  A lifelong Republican, Dr. Chilton spent several terms as the Goliad County Republican Executive Committee Chairman.  These activities show Dr. Chilton’s increasing social status in the Goliad community.

 As the doctor grew into a position of respect in the community and his financial situation improved, he was able to purchase property in the town square. In that section he built the Chilton building which housed his clinic until the close of his practice in 1941. Dr. Chilton was always striving to bring the best medical care to the people of Goliad County. In 1905 he installed the first generator to manufacture electricity for his x-ray machine.  In 1907, Dr. Chilton successfully petitioned the city for right of way to put poles in the city and to maintain an electric plant. The plant initially powered Dr. Chilton’s office and several neighboring businesses.  By 1909, the Commissioner’s Court voted to have electricity installed in the courthouse and jail and four street lights were installed on the square.  The plant was eventually sold to Joel and Jasper Shaper.  Dr. Chilton’s X-ray machine is on display at the Texas X-ray Company in Corpus Christi, Texas. (Goliad County Historical Commission, 1988)  In 1907, believing it would be superior transportation for making house calls, Dr. Chilton brought the first automobile to Goliad.  Unfortunately; the “Red Devil” was more likely to break down on the road than successfully transport him between calls. (White 1980)  It was several years before automobiles became reliable enough for the doctor to put his horse out to pasture. 

The Chiltons set up residence in Dr. Chilton’s office building following the destruction of their home in the 1902 storm.  Dr. Chilton retained local architect Jules Leffland to design a new home over the old foundation.  Bailey Mills, noted area builder, began construction on the new home in June of 1902.  The 2 ½ story home and carriage house were completed in October of the same year.  Dr. Chilton also commissioned the addition of an underground storm cellar on the property, as a safety measure should they ever experience another disaster like the storm of 1902.(Mae Baker Kelly, 1997)  The new house was built on a much grander scale than the original, a house that more aptly fit Dr. Chilton’s social stature.  It became a showpiece and the Chilton’s adorned it to suit the architecture.  The focal point of the music room was a large mahogany pier mirror from the Hall of Mirrors in Versailles, France.  The Library hosted large social gatherings and featured an original portrait of John James Audubon’s wife painted by Audubon hanging over the white marble mantle.  (Chilton Papers Goliad County Museum, 1997)  The house became a community  focal point and when the streets were redrawn, the street they lived on was renamed from Church to Chilton Street in honor of the doctor and the elegant home that he built.  The house is the best representation of life and accomplishments of Dr. L.W. Chilton.

Dr. L.W. Chilton was a medical pioneer and social leader and humanitarian in Goliad County.  His house was the palace he built as an expression of himself.  After closing his office downtown in 1941, Dr. Chilton moved his office into the downstairs sitting room of his house.  The Chilton house is eligible under Criterion B for association with Dr. L.W. Chilton in the area of Health/Medicine at the local level.