The Chavner residence was built in 1892 in the Queen Anne Style for Thomas Chavner who founded the town of Gold Hill.

Chavner, who had been born in Ireland, began accumulating land as soon as he came to the Rogue River Valley in 1856. After the discovery of the Gold Hill Lode on his property in 1859 the surrounding area became a center of interest and vitality. He built one of the first toll bridges across the Rogue River.

In 1884 Chavner and his second wife Rosa filed plat for the town of Gold Hill with the county commissioners.

Adapted from the NRHP nomination submitted in 1996.