03-29-24 Spring Home & Garden

This opulant staircase was used to connect two houses into the Dolese Mansion. The home was the 24th Show House in 1997 and is being reprised this year.

2024 Symphony Show House is rich in history

The 51st Symphony Show House was built in the 1930s by C.E. Duffner and is located in Crown Heights at 729 NW 38th St. Young Roger Dolese brought his wife Ardith from Detroit to Oklahoma City for their honeymoon, in the then eight‐room house.

Roger came here to learn the concrete business from his two uncles who did not have any heirs. In the 1940s, Roger purchased the house next door and then began the conversion to connect the two houses into this well‐known Oklahoma City landmark, the 12,000‐square‐feet, 40‐plus room Dolese Mansion.

This was the family home for their children and the site of parties with many guests. After divorce and death, the house was vacant until two young doctors, Susan Chambers and her husband Kyle Toal needed a larger home for their young family. It was loaned to the Orchestra League for the 1997 Symphony Show House and renovation continued for 17 years.

Sally Dasovich and Meg Salyer, were the chairmen for the 24th Show House event. Local designer Jason Johnston did a boys bedroom and this started 17 years of friendship and renovations.

Show House

From Page C3

Jason found the original blueprints and discov‐ered the plans were to combine the two houses with a large staircase conservatory entry, to access both the first and second stories, instead of just the first floor, which the Doleses had done. Jason appreciated the Dolese's wonderful contribution they made to the home from their many trips to Europe and the best quality plumbing, including hand painted porcelain toilet bowls and faucets. There are a lot memories in the house of hosting civic events, as well as family times for both fami‐lies and friends.

This house has a ballroom in the basement, 14 bathrooms, 10 bedrooms, an elevator, a grand staircase in the conservatory that connects the joined houses, a Teddy Roosevelt balcony over‐looking the pool and cabana in the backyard and many more that you will discover. The house was designed in the Georgian style with stately tall columns in the front and reflects a White House vibe that Dr. Kyle loved especially Teddy Roosevelt. This historic home is to be open to the public to visit Saturday, May 4 to Sunday, May 19. Ticket information will be available at okcphil.org.

From left: Traditions Interior Design and Interiors’ Carol Stith, Sharen Polkinghorne, 2024 Show House Chairman Mark Taylor and his wife Virginia in the room they are designing.

Above: Patrick and Linda Alexander in the kitchen area. At left: Sarah and Richard Sagran look at the pool area.

‑ Photos by Rose Lane

Above: OKC PHIL Executive Director Brent Hart and Jake Yunker.

Above: One of the 14 bathrooms in the Dolese Mansion, this space features elaborate fixtures and tile as part of its seas theme. Inset: This bedroom is reminiscent of days gone by.

Local designer selected for Harvard project

IIt’s not every day that one gets a call with an invitation to design an area at Harvard, but that’s exactly what hap‐pened to designer J. Mark Taylor with Traditions in Edmond.

Mark had been working on a large residential project in the Boston area for nearly a year, when the call came. Shortly thereafter, he was in Boston again – evaluating, measuring, and creating plans for a suite of offices at the Harvard Law School. The project is now complete, and Traditions is in talks about another opportunity at the university.

Taylor is no stranger to his‐toric buildings and significant spaces. He was honored to be the interior designer on the recent renovation of the Oklahoma Governor’s Mansion, a place that has become very dear to his heart. “

Working with our First Lady, Sarah Stitt, was an absolute joy!,” Taylor said. “She wanted to bring the mansion back to its 1927 roots as much as possible and we are very proud that we were able to accomplish that.”

Traditions is located at 33rd and Broadway, in Edmond.

The library at the Oklahoma Governor’s Mansion.

Habitat to break ground on new community

OOn Tuesday, April 2, Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity (COHFH) will host an auspicious event with a distinguished group of dignitaries.

Among them are the Honorable Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt and Oklahoma City Ward 1 Councilman Bradley Carter. Together, we will celebrate the offi‐cial groundbreaking celebration at Cornerstone Creek, situated at the intersection of NW 150th and Morgan Road in Oklahoma City.

Our invitation‐only event serves a dual purpose. It not only brings together state, city and civic lead‐ers to acknowledge the progress of our Phase I infrastructure installation, but it also unites us in a shared vision of hope and prayer. As we embark on our construction journey, we will build the first 91 out of 450 affordable new homes at Cornerstone Creek. Over the next six to eight years, this afford‐able‐housing community will feature three parks with workout stations, a gazebo and crucial access for schoolchildren to Piedmont, Oklahoma’s excel‐lent schools.

Cornerstone Creek is COHFH’s most expansive affordable‐housing development in our 34‐year his‐

tory. It stands as part of Habitat’s answer to the ongoing affordable‐housing crisis in Oklahoma City. During the celebration, we will also honor the Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation’s generous $1.5 million gift made in memory of the late Dr. David R. Brown. Dr. Brown was my personal mentor and one of Oklahoma’s foremost public affairs champions.

We’ll also extend our recognition to the Cornerstone Crew – a dedicated group of more than 25 seasoned volunteers who consistently tackle some of our most challenging home builds.

The name Cornerstone Creek pays homage to this remarkable team. Originating from several Kerr McGee retirees, the Cornerstone Crew came together after the devastating 1999 Moore, Oklahoma torna‐does. Now, nearly 25 years later, as we lay the foun‐dation for affordable homeownership at Cornerstone Creek, we honor these true Habitat heroes.

Our heartfelt gratitude goes out to all our gra‐cious donors, faithful volunteers and supportive civic leaders as we continue to build homes, commu‐nity and hope in the days ahead.

ANN FELTON GILLILAND President and CEO Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity