The
house was built as a New England Colonial style mansion in
1915 for Dr. and Mrs. H. D. Morris. He was an early Port
Arthur physician and British Consul. The Clarence Booz
family subsequently purchased the property and added the
large verandas and columns to change the style to Southern
Greek Revival. Carl and Stella White, final residents of the
home, brought interior glory to their home with their avid
collection of Victorian furniture and other antiques. They
named the house "White Haven" when they bought the
house in 1942. They lived here with their only child,
Michael. Stella
White left the home and furnishings to the Captain William
Sanders Chapter, NSDAR, on her death in 1985. Her husband
and son had preceded her in death. Charter Member, Ella
Young Atwell, endowed the elegant restoration of the home in
1986. White Haven has assumed an important role in Port
Arthur's Historic District for tourism and education.
The
chapter had many fund raisers to maintain the home. In 1997,
it was equipped and designated as a Bed and Breakfast. Subsequently,
in 1999, the Captain William Sanders Chapter offered the
beautiful home with all its Victorian furnishings as a gift
to Lamar State College, Port Arthur. The
college uses the home for various functions, as well as a
guest home.
White
Haven has a Texas Historical Marker and is a Recorded Texas
Historic Landmark.
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