Isaac Heffron House

Duane's take

Here's my telling of what the official marker says about the Isaac Heffron House in Galveston County. Now, every good house has a story, and this one starts about as far from Texas as you can get. Isaac Heffron was born in Wales in 1853, and somehow, some way, he found himself in Galveston, arriving there at a young age.

A long way to travel, friend. A long way indeed. In 1876, he married Clotilde Gillet, a native Texan, and the two of them set about building a life together.

Four children came along, and in 1881, the family purchased a house on Post Office Street, formerly known as Avenue E. Heffron wasn't a man who stood still. He was a successful general contractor and served on the city board of aldermen.

A man who built things for a living. And wouldn't you know it, when his own house started feeling a little close for a growin' family, he did what any self-respecting contractor would do. He rebuilt it.

Added a second story, put a new porch along the rear facade, and out front he installed an elaborate concrete balustrade for the garden. The Victorian house became something to look at. The Heffrons lived there through 1901, then moved on to a new house on 17th Street.

But the story of the house on Post Office Street wasn't finished. The couple's daughter, also named Clotilde, and her husband, Andrew C. Falligant, took up residence there and lived in it until 1913.

A Welsh-born builder arrived in Galveston, married a Texas woman, raised a family, and left a house standing long enough that his daughter and son-in-law called it home, too. That house on Post Office Street held two generations before it was done with the Heffron name. Not a bad run for a man who started so far away.

What the marker says

Isaac Heffron (1853-1928), born in Wales, immigrated to Galveston at a young age. In 1876, he married Clotilde Gillet, a native Texan. The couple had four children and purchased the house on Post Office Street, formerly Avenue E, in 1881. Heffron was a sucessful general contractor and served on the city board of alderman. As the family grew, Heffron rebuilt the Victorian house to include a second story, a new porch along the rear façade and an elaborate concrete balustrade for the front garden. The family lived in the house through 1901 when they moved to a new house on 17th St. The couple's daughter, Clotilde, and her husband, Andrew C. Falligant, lived here until 1913. RECORDED TEXAS HISTORIC LANDMARK - 2016