C. L. Walker Home

Duane's take

Here's how the official marker tells it, and I'm just the voice along for the ride. Now, Temple, Texas has seen its share of notable families, but every now and then a story comes along that makes you set down your coffee and just listen. This is one of those.

Back in 1912, a builder named Will Campbell put up this residence. Will Campbell, the marker tells us, constructed many early homes in Temple, and this one he built for C.L. Walker and his wife Daisy.

C.L. Walker came into this world in 1881, Daisy in 1884, and together they made this house a home. Now here's where the story starts to layer up in a way that ought to make you smile.

C.L. Walker went on to serve as mayor of Temple, from 1922 to 1924. Mayor.

And he was a City Commissioner on top of that. He and Daisy also had a son, C.L. Walker Junior, who folks around Temple knew simply as Chick.

And Chick, well. Chick served as mayor of Temple too, from 1950 to 1952. Also a City Commissioner.

Both father and son. Same town. Same office.

And if that's not enough symmetry for you, both of them operated a cotton oil mill. Father and son, mayors both, commissioners both, cotton oil mill and all. C.L.

Walker, the elder, passed in 1940. Daisy lived on until 1969. And since 1945, this very house has been owned by Chick and his wife Iladene, who raised their three children right here inside these walls.

Will Campbell built a house in 1912. Turned out he built something that would hold a whole lot more than furniture.

What the marker says

Will Campbell, who constructed many early homes in Temple, built this residence in 1912 for C.L. Walker (1881-1940) and his wife Daisy (1884-1969). Since 1945 it has been owned by their son C.L. ("Chick") Walker, Jr., and his wife Iladene, who raised their three children here. The elder Walker served as mayor of Temple from 1922 to 1924 and his son was mayor from 1950 to 1952. Both were also City Commissioners and both operated a cotton oil mill. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1978