The Isaac Heffron House, a two-story Victorian in the East End Historic District of Galveston, has seen a lot since it was built in 1890 — thanks in part to the occupants who called it home over the years.
Isaac Heffron immigrated to the U.S. from Wales and settled in Galveston in 1860. He worked on the docks, making his way eventually to a career in construction, winning bids with the city of Galveston for a railroad and trestle bridge that connected the city to LaPorte.
When a public health crisis stemming from poor waste management hit Galveston, Heffron founded the Galveston Sewage Company and contracted with the city to build Galveston’s first sewage system.
By then, he and his wife, Clothilde, had lived in their home at 1509 Post Office Street for a few years. Originally, they moved into an existing one-story home, but in 1890, they demolished it and built the two-story, four-bay Victorian with turned columns.
The tall two-over-two windows in the first story allowed the porch to be used as living space, and the rear porch was built to capture the ocean breezes coming from the Gulf of Mexico.
We have more details on this historical shelter on SecondShelters.com.
