Baker, Charles H. and Catherine B., House
Also known as: Pettus House
Why it's listed
Built in 1902, this two-story brick house on South Commercial Street in Goliad was the homestead of Charles H. Baker and Catherine B. Baker. Baker, a native of Victoria, Canada, came to Goliad in 1870, opened Baker Drug Store on the courthouse square, served as postmaster and also farmed and ranched. The L-plan house replaced a frame house that burned. Its bricks were made at a kiln on Baker's land just south of the property. The house blends Victorian Gothic and Eastlake features, notably carved vergeboards, pointed Gothic gable windows, fish-scale siding and three double porches with spiraled columns and spindlework. A brick milkhouse with decorative metal cresting and the remains of a barn stand to the east. Despite 1950s apartment conversion and some enclosed porches, the exterior largely retains its original look. It was listed for its architectural distinction and its link to a prominent local entrepreneur.
Significance in brief: The house combines Victorian Gothic and Eastlake features, including carved vergeboards and three double porches with spiraled columns and spindlework. It was built for C. H. Baker, a local druggist, postmaster, farmer and rancher, using brick made at a kiln on his own land. It is one of few large masonry houses of its period in Goliad that has not been greatly altered.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 85001616, listed July 25, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 401 S. Commercial St., Goliad |
|---|---|
| County | Goliad County |
| Listed | July 25, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85001616 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- |
| Architectural style | Victorian Gothic with Eastlake detailing |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied; converted to apartments in the 1950s. The north and south porches have been enclosed, and the barn is described by a reviewer as now in ruins. |
| Acreage | 3.7 |
| Coordinates | 28.66101, -97.39413 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 85001616.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110002071
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.