Goodholm Mansion

Construction was started in 1899 by Andrew Goodholm, one of the first millers in Oklahoma City. He was also a city councilman, builder, developer, lumber dealer and an officer of the first packing plant. Goodholm was organizer of the Acme Milling Company, an early flour mill, and headed a company that built the original Sears Roebuck & Company store which has been demolished by urban renewal. As a director of the Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce, Goodholm had a hand in early development of several industries in the city and state. He served two terms on the City Council.

Goodholm, Andrew
Goodholm, Agnes
Goodholm, Eugene H.
Goodholm, Ruth
Goodholm,
Goodholm, Dorothy

I found E. Harold & Ruth Goodholm on the Central High school, Student Roster, Classes 1895-1971 here

"Courting" in the front porch swing is one of the more vivid memories Ruth Goodholm Donart and Dorothy Goodholm Richardson have of the 17 years they lived in the Goodholm mansion.

Active women who are around 80, the Goodholm sisters reside in Stillwater and are thrilled about the restoration and re-opening of their former home.

Three of the six Goodholm children were born in the Goodholm mansion their father Andrew built in 1901 at 211 NE 4.

Goodholm was a member of the Oklahoma City Council and a leader of the chamber of commerce.

Both parents were avid readers and encouraged family reading at the library table in the sitting room, the sisters said.

The parlor was used for company and special holidays, and the large sliding doors were kept closed when the parlor was not being used, they said.

The family ate at the dining room table never in the kitchen and the table was always covered with a white tablecloth.

Minnie, their cook for 12 years, was like a family member and would sit and visit with the family each evening after supper.

The sisters also remember a seamstress who came to the house periodically to sew clothes and mend for the family.

At Christmas time, the women said, the table was laden with Christmas goodies and presents and the children would sit at a special smaller table in the bay window of the dining room.

Although their recollections of such things as wallpaper patterns and furnishings have dimmed, the sisters remember with nostalgia a wood stove, kerosene lamps and a grove of pear trees that ran alongside the driveway on the east side of the house

Publication: The Oklahoman
Date: January 13, 1980
Page Number: 18

Restoration Uncovers Pair's Initial Deeds

When Harold Goodholm and his best friend and next-door neighbor. Roscoe Norris, decided 10 carve their initials on something more than 70 years ago. they derided it wouldn’t be wise put them *nyu*hore a not-so-understanding mother might look.

So the three sets of chiseled HCs and RNs remained well-hidden on the foundations and basement walls of the Goodholms three-story Viet nr inn mansion for more than seven decades.

The pair’s duplicity, however, came to light Saturday when Goodholm, 82, returned to his native Oklahoma City to help State Fair Board officials plan restoration of his old home as a historical museum.

The initials were just one of the home s features Goodholm pointed out to fair officials, who hope to use the Michigan advertising executive's memories to restore the mansion as nearly as possible to its condition during the 1910s. when it was a show place of the fashionable Maywood addition in Oklahoma City.

Built in 1901 by Goodholm’s father. Andrew, an early day businessman and developer, the turreted house was recently moved to the fairgrounds from its original location at NE 4 and Walnut.

"I enjoyed Oklahoma City.” Harold Goodholm told fair officials Saturday as he toured his old home with his two sisters. "It was like any growing, small town. It was good place to grow up and make friends."

When restoration is completed, officials will try to have the house entered in the National Register of Historic Places, fair spokesman Art Cox said.

Cox said officials are certain the old house's exterior will be restored jn time for the 1950 State Fair and are hopeful the Interior will be sufficiently complete to allow tours.

Restorers are seeking donations of antique furniture and other turn-of-the-century items to outfit the home. Cox said. Donations are tax deductible, he said.

Andrew Goodholm. a Swedish immigrant built the stately house after establishing Oklahoma City’s first flour mill The early day businessman developed the Jefferson Park addition in north central Oklahoma City in 1912 and 1913 and was a founder of the Maywood addition.

Compiled, transcribed and submitted by Marti Graham, Oklahoma County, OKGenWeb Coordinator, January 2009. Information posted for educational purposes for viewers and researchers. The contributor is not related to nor researching any of the above.

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