2007
Home & Garden Tour
1905 NW 20th
The Tudor Revival home was built in 1926. When the Bartees purchased the home in 1977, it had been rental prop-erty for several years. Although all rooms were very spacious, there were only two bedrooms. In 1982, with a growing family, part of the wrap around porch was enclosed to add an-other bedroom. Today, it serves as the study.
The kitchen, breakfast room, and part of the backyard were combined to make the present kitchen/family room in 1984. The owners have tried to maintain the original character of the home with each project.
The Bartee Garden. Please feel free to stroll through the backyard. The Bartee family has created a magnificent escape to the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Many hours have gone into making and maintaining this peaceful retreat.
1905 1/5 NW 20th
According to county records, the guest house was also built in 1926. Its size and location suggests it may have been built for a mother-in-law or some other relation. An attached garage was unusual in the 20‘s and a brick fire wall separates the garage from the guest house. One can see the thickness of this wall when entering the stairwell which cuts through it.
Many people have related taking piano lessons in the ―music room which is now the master bedroom. The guest house was gutted and re-stored in 2006. During renovation, the beautiful oak floor in the kitchen was discovered under three layers of linoleum. The Guest House is currently occupied by Mr. Bartee‘s daughter and her husband.
2116 N. Indiana
Unlike many houses in this area, this quaint, Tudor-style house built in 1927 has only had 5 owners in its 70 wonderful years. The main house is 2200 sq ft with 3 bedrooms, 1 3/4 baths, and a very large basement. A detached, 2 car garage with a full second floor storage area and a maid‘s room in the back of the garage completes the property.
Probably as a result of having so few owners over the years, the house has remained remarkably original. The majority of the woodwork is still in original, stained condition. The chandelier in the dining room is original and probably hung in the living room at one point as it matches the wall sconces there. The living room also boasts a magnificent Frankoma ceramic tile fireplace with detailed tiles depicting scenes I choose to believe are of Europe (they SURE don‘t look like anything I‘ve ever seen in Oklahoma!). The bathroom tiles and floors are also original features.
Several major renovations have taken place in the last few years. Most notable is the demolition of the looks-cute-but-impossible-to-keep-clean, 50‘s soda shop, black and white checkerboard design kitchen. What you see bears no resemblance to what was envisioned when the remodel started, but when the white cabinets arrived and were decidedly NOT white, it was back to the drawing board. A lucky find in a bargain box at a local lighting store gave the kitchen a whole new color pallet and I am now grateful beyond explanation the cabinets weren‘t white – I LOVE my kitchen! Cork flooring, concrete countertops, and hand-painted ceramic tiles are a big part of why this is my main living room. (Check out the kitty door cut in to the basement door!). The backyard has been landscaped, the garage has been completely remodeled (with Tim-The-Tool- Man-Tailor in mind!) and the former maid‘s apartment is now my art studio.
As part of my legacy in this house, I‘ve taken my charter from the previous owners and have exercised great care to keep as much of the house as original as possible – I‘d like to think that even though the previous owners might raise their eyebrows at the leopard print wallpaper in the hallway, they‘d secretly approve!.
1308 NW 21st
An appreciation of history and antiques brought the present owners of 1308 NW 21, Corey and Kristi Campbell, to the Gatewood Neighborhood.
What was to become Gatewood District was first claimed by participants in the land run of April 22, 1889. By noon of that day, land hungry settlers began the first run for ― free land in Indian Territory. By nightfall, the land that is now Gatewood, had been claimed by Andrew Finley, and Lewis Walch.
This example of Colonial Revival style, built in 1921, is framed construction with a brick foundation, and a side gabled roof. The two-story home has a rectangular front entry porch, with paired classical columns, dentils, and balconet. The semi-circular frontward projection to the side porch has classical columns and brackets, wood railing and a room above. Previous owners modernized by adding central heat/air, while keeping the original coal-fired ducts with their brass covers.
All 3 bedrooms in the home have been renovated. The large master bedroom enjoys a sitting area, and includes a fireplace. An additional room adjoins the master bedroom that can be used as a baby nursery or office. The bathroom was also renovated completely. The owners kept the original cast iron pedestal tub, and replaced everything with more period items.
After many years of renovation, the Campbell's‘ have kept the historic feel of their home, and enjoy living and raising their growing family.
2052 NW 21st
Welcome to the home of Michael and Estrella Elliott!
Our 2200 sq ft, 3 bed, 1.5 bath home was built in 1926. We purchased the house in 2000 and have made many improvements since living here. The kitchen has been completely remodeled in a 1950‘s style, which our breakfast nook matches. Both bathrooms have been completely remodeled with their own individual style. Carpeting was removed from the entire house and the hardwood floors underneath were repaired and refinished. The basement was recently remodeled to be more functional. Both the interior and exterior of the house were painted. We re-placed all of the fixtures in the house. We also added French doors to the back bedroom, which open to a newly installed deck in our backyard. Even with all of these improvements, we kept some of the original charm, such as the original crown molding and crystal doorknobs.
As you walk through our house, you will find we have eclectic tastes and decorate with a lot of bold colors. We are also huge supporters of local art, so you will see a lot of original artwork and fixtures from local artists, including the tiled front porch, which is how most people recognize our house.
2012 N. Indiana
Built in 1926, this home has been extensively updated without sacrificing the charm of yesteryear. Upon entering the house for the first time, Scott and Rhonda knew it was the home for them.
Original wood floors and crown molding accent the downstairs, which consists of a single bedroom, full bath, beautiful den with built-in shelves and original fireplace, renovated kitchen, dining room, and a media/family room with attached "sunroom" office. The updates and modern decor only add to the classic style of the past. The upstairs "attic" was converted into a roomy mastersuite, with vaulted ceilings, sitting area, his and hers closets, large open bathroom and storage areas.
The front yard is anchored by a large red oak and a beautiful river birch. The landscape, while adequate, is described by the owners as a "work in progress". An iron gate separates the front and back yards. The backyard is dominated by a huge hackberry tree that shades almost the entire yard. Under the massive canopy, you'll find a quiet sitting area and hear the music of windchimes and a small koi pond.
The owners have fallen in love with this house and the Gatewood neighborhood since moving here in April of this year, and invite you to "come on by"!
Carey Avenue
Although situated within the boundaries of Gatewood Historic District, Carey Place is a unique street with its own personal identity and is separately listed on the National Register of Historic Places, October 1998.
The first phase of Carey Place was developed in 1931/1932 by Callaway, Carey & Foster. Mr. Carey, of Carey Lumber, and his wife, Ruth, lived at 2000 Carey Place. The current residents, Jason and Edwina Johnston, are only the 2nd occupants of this distinctive French Eclectic home.
The second phase occurred between 1936 and 1938—Jess Woolf was the major developer of these properties. Woolf built the home at 1901 Carey Place in 1937 and, along with his wife, lived there until the 1980‘s. This home, now owned by Bill and Sue Bowlby, still retains the original shutters with the hatchet-shaped cutouts—the early day‘s standard symbol of a builder.
These silhouettes have spurred an urban legend about a young girl, Carrie, supposedly ax-murdered on the front porch of this house. The fable contends that the porch is always painted red to cover the blood stains that refuse to be scrubbed away and that Carrie‘s ghost causes a swing in the Gatewood Elementary School playground to sway eerily on Halloween night. One version of this gruesome tale has her body buried under the turret at 2000 Carey Place. Trick-or-treaters flock by the hundreds to this area as Carey Place becomes ―Scary Place.
While this peculiar narrow street running between NW 17 and NW 21st is now the site of 36 separate buildings—private single family homes from NW 18th to NW 21st and a series of duplexes from NW 17th to NW 18th—it was originally in-tended to be a railcar right of way. The majority of Gatewood, both east and west of Carey Place, was developed in the 1920‘s and an interurban line was to service this and other surrounding residential neighborhoods. However, beginning in 1929 the interurban right of way from NW 16th to NW 23rd was sold to a succession of owners, with part being developed for commercial property, part being platted and developed for standard house lots, and part being developed for the non-standard development along a new street, Carey Place. Thus was the birth of the now much acclaimed, and highly appealing, Carey Place Historic District. Although the majority of the homes were built in the Mission/Spanish Colonial style, there are also examples of Minimal Traditional, Tudor Revival, Colonial Revival, and French Eclectic.
Take a stroll down historic Carey Place. Listen carefully and perhaps you‘ll hear the clanging echo of the streetcar bell as it makes its ghostly run down the narrow lane once platted to be a trolley car right-of-way but destined to become one of OKC‘s most intimate neighborhoods.
1629 N. Marion
1629 N Marion was built in 1910. The Ross Family built and occupied the home until early 1980‘s. The Ross Family on many occasions would have dinner for the Archbishop Meerschart of OKC. The late Mrs. Ross would receive a phone call from the Archbishop needing dinner for many of his visitors who he would entertain at the Meerschaert house located at St Francis of Assisi Church and she would make these delicious dinners at a moments notice.
The house changed hands and become dilapidated over many years. Jeff Struble with Struble Construction, Inc. received a phone call from the current owner at the time needing to get rid of the house because he lived out of state and could no longer take of the property long distance.
Struble Construction, Inc. rezoned the property in 2006 from R-1 to O-1 for use as professional offices. This will be the main office for Struble Construction, Inc.
1739 NW 16th
The building Plaza Java is located in was built in the early 1930‘s and over the course of years has been home to many, many different businesses – an appliance store, a bakery, a furniture store, a coffee shop, a dance studio and an interior design studio. In 2006, Kevin McGarr and Brad Cavener undertook a major labor of love and proudly restored the beautiful building back in to a coffee shop.
Brad and Kevin take great pride in being among the very first to recognize the incredible potential of The Plaza District and are still absolutely convinced that The Plaza District is the most exciting example of re-gentrification happening in Oklahoma City – reminding us all once again of the elegant history of this great area. The theatrical twist provided by the presence of Lyric Theater will give The Plaza District an advantage no other historic area can claim, making this area even more exciting!
In addition to offering a wide variety of coffees, sandwiches, and gourmet cheeses, Plaza Java is striving to become a significant social center of this neighborhood – Brad and Kevin not only provide a relaxing place for people to gather all day long, but often open the coffee shop as a venue for local artists and musicians to display their talents.
