The Woodworth House
Port Arthur, Jefferson County, Texas
Marker Inscription
[RTHL medallion and plate on house] (Rose Hill) J.H. Baxter of the Griffing Lumber Company built this residence in 1906 for R.H. Woodworth (d. 1923). Wide verandas extend beyond the impressive columned portico of the Classical Revival structure. Woodworth, a business and civic leader, and his wife Mary (d. 1946) hosted numerous social gatherings here in the early 20th century. Since 1947, the house has been in the care of the Department Club of Port Arthur. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1978 [27" x 42" marker 100 feet SW of the house at the sidewalk] (Rose Hill) In 1896 Arthur E. Stilwell, president of the Kansas City Southern Railroad, organized a townsite company to settle Port Arthur. Soon afterward, R.H. Woodworth (d. 1923) moved here from Chicago with his bride Mary (d. 1946). They erected their first home on Nashville Avenue. An independent real estate dealer, Woodworth later entered the banking business. He served as Port Arthur's third mayor in 1902. He hired J. H. Baxter of the Griffing Lumber Company to construct this Classical Revival mansion in 1906. This property was then located on the edge of town. When it was completed, the residence reflected Woodworth's position as a business and social leader. Here the Woodworths raised their children, George and Phebe, and often entertained friends. Mrs. Woodworth served as a director of the First National Bank and was active in the Department Club of Port Arthur. In accordance with her wishes, her daughter Phebe gave Rose Hill to the city in 1947 to be cared for by the Department Club. The elegant structure is maintained as a meeting place for various community groups and as a center for social and cultural events. (1978)
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Built in 1906 for banker and civic leader R. H. Woodworth, this Classical Revival mansion—known as Rose Hill—rose on the edge of the brand-new town of Port Arthur, founded a decade earlier by railroad man Arthur Stilwell. Woodworth had come from Chicago with his bride Mary, entered real estate and banking, and served as the city's third mayor in 1902. With its columned portico and wide verandas, the home hosted the couple's social gatherings until Mary's daughter Phebe gave it to the city in 1947 to serve as a community center.
Why it matters
Rose Hill embodies the ambitions of the men who built Port Arthur as a planned railroad and port town, and its gift to the city preserved a piece of Gilded Age elegance for public use.
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Related people
- · R. H. Woodworth
- · Mary Woodworth
- · Arthur E. Stilwell
- · J. H. Baxter
Themes & tags
Nearby & related markers
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