Built in 1874 for Lucien LaSalle Chenault and Narcissa DeWitt Chenault, this residence began as a modest wood-frame house and later grew with two substantial rear additions. A city tour listing notes the front portion dates to 1874 and identifies it as the core of what many locals long called the “Dr. Stahl House.”
Founding family and deed.
On September 16, 1874, Lucien married Narcissa DeWitt, granddaughter of empresario Green DeWitt. In 1875, Narcissa’s parents conveyed this lot to her, recording that “the lot with the dwelling house recently erected by L. Chenault goes to Narcissa for love and affection.” The Chenaults lived here briefly and sold the property in 1876. Lucien served in the County Clerk’s Office, later worked with H. L. Hopkins in land and abstract work, then returned to public service as District Clerk until his retirement in 1902. He died October 16, 1916; Narcissa died July 16, 1921.
Stahl ownership and expansions.
By the early 1880s the property belonged to businessman Solomon Stahl, who owned downtown commercial property with partner Solomon Joseph and invested widely in regional enterprises. A city tourism summary places Stahl’s purchase in 1882 and notes that he added two major sections to the rear of the original house, creating the elongated plan visible today.
Community and Jewish-history sources describe Stahl as a Polish-born merchant and hotelier who arrived in Gonzales about 1880 and became a leading figure in the town’s Jewish community.
Photographic records and survey metadata also document a related “Stahl Bros. Building” downtown, underscoring the family’s commercial presence around the square.
Later stewardship.
Stahl owned the house for decades, and it was commonly identified as the Solomon Stahl House in local usage until recent research re-established the Chenault origin. A widely used image labels the property “Lucien Chenault House (c. 1875)” at 713 Saint John Street, aligning with current interpretation.
Designation: Locally significant residence with documented 1874 core and later nineteenth-century additions.
Period of significance: 1874–1876 for the Chenault build and occupancy, and 1880s–early 20th century for the Stahl period and rear additions.
Notable owners and associations: Lucien L. Chenault and Narcissa DeWitt Chenault; Solomon Stahl and the Stahl-Joseph commercial partnership in Gonzales.
Architecture: Wood-frame house with an 1874 front block and two large rear additions dating to Stahl’s ownership, producing an expanded plan while preserving the original street-facing volume. The house is frequently described as a late nineteenth-century Victorian residence and retains high ceilings and period fabric typical of Gonzales homes of the era.
Notes on sources: Local tourism and heritage listings supply the 1874 build date, early 1880s Stahl purchase, and “two additions” summary. Jewish-community histories corroborate Stahl’s biography and prominence. Real-estate and photo documentation verify the current address and long-standing identification as the Lucien Chenault House.