Gross, the German immigrant who constructed the house at 500 NW 14th, built this home for Mr. and Mrs. Jean Harrison Everest in 1903. Everest, a close friend of Anton Classen, was an educator, attorney and business leader. In addition to real estate and investments, he became a law partner with Ed Vaught and Phil Brewer, creating one of the most powerful firms in the state. He also served as legal counsel to the Oklahoma City Building and Loan Association and a director of Liberty National Bank. He and his family remained in the 14th Street home until 1946.

The home was the first structure on the block and one of the largest frame homes ever built in Heritage Hills. The design is American Foursquare, a variation of Prairie style, and is distinguished by broad horizontal lines and a wrap-around porch. Inside, distinctive tiger oak trim, pocket doors, beautiful Ionic entry columns, and the 1908 mural in the dining rooms set the home’s gracious tone. Built before electrical lines were laid to the block, the house originally was lit by gas lamps. Heat was provided by a coal-fired steam system with radiators and coal burning fireplaces.

In January 1985 the house was purchased by James and Sherry Blevins. They began extensive repairs to the plumbing, electrical, heating and air-conditioning systems, and restored one bathroom and refinished the woodwork on the first floor. They also had decorative ceiling moldings, complete with medallions, removed, repaired, and reinstalled. In 1987 the family suddenly needed more of the home’s large interior space when Sherry gave birth to triplets.

In the 1990s Jim and Jennifer Saunders purchased the home. They razed the large garage and guesthouse and completely rebuilt it. They had a son and daughter and the family especially enjoyed gathering with neighbors. For Halloween, Jim was famous for dressing up in a costume and setting up with a lantern in the crawl space under the front porch where children could peer at him through the small openings in the bricks.

Kirk and Rainy Broussard purchased the home in 2006. They were drawn to the neighborhood because of its proximity to downtown for jobs and schools of choice and because of the uniqueness and variety in home styles. Their particular house drew them in with its welcoming wrap-around porch, original woodwork, high ceilings, spacious rooms, and large backyard and guesthouse.

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