Lucien Chenault House

Eliza Polk Chenault, Lucien’s mother, was a prominent early resident of the area. On September 16, 1874, Lucien Chenault married Narcissa DeWitt, born in 1858, the daughter of Christopher Columbus DeWitt of Missouri and Parmelia Narcissa Barrow DeWitt of Tennessee. Narcissa was also the granddaughter of Empresario Green DeWitt, one of the founders of the colony. In 1875, Narcissa’s parents gifted her this lot, stating in the deed that “the lot with the dwelling house recently erected by L. Chenault goes to Narcissa for love and affection.” The initial portion of the house was likely completed that same year.

The Chenaults lived here for only two years before selling the property in 1876. Lucien worked in the County Clerk’s office before resigning in 1893 to join H.L. Hopkins' general land and abstract business. Later, he resumed public service as District Clerk until his retirement in 1902. Lucien passed away on October 16, 1916, and Narcissa on July 16, 1921. They are both buried in the City Cemetery.

In 1885, Solomon Stahl, a businessman with diverse investments, purchased the property and added two significant sections to the rear of the original house. According to various records, Stahl was born either in Alt Sogorren, Russia, or Wilna, Poland, in the early 1850s. He arrived in the U.S. in 1880, settling in the area in 1882. Stahl, alongside his partner Solomon Joseph, co-owned the Stahl-Joseph Building on the north side of Independence Square and was actively involved in expanding local commerce. His investments spanned public utilities in Texas and Louisiana, as well as ventures like the Gonzales Cotton Oil Manufacturing Company, Luling Oil Manufacturing Company, Gonzales Land & Royalty Company, and Nolen Produce Company.

In 1878, Solomon married Henrietta “Yetta” Wolfe, who joined him in the United States in 1882. Together, they raised seven children. Since Solomon lived in this house for over fifty years, it became known as "The Solomon Stahl House" until recent research revealed that Lucien Chenault was its original builder. When Solomon passed away on March 29, 1938, he left the home to one of his sons, Dr. L.H. Stahl. Both Solomon and Yetta, who died on April 30, 1922, are interred in the Jewish Cemetery.