The man who built this home, William M. Longmire, was born in the hills of Tennessee. William left home at an early age and walked to Texas, where he settled in Paris and found a job in a drugstore. While there, he met and married Myrtle Chisholm, a grand niece of famous Cherokee frontiersman, Jesse Chisholm.

The Longmires moved to Shawnee, Oklahoma Territory, and opened a furniture store with partner J.M. Draper, who operated the funeral home side of the business. Soon after statehood Longmire moved to Oklahoma City and opened a store downtown next to a dress shop. His partner was James Harbour. Ten years later, convinced that his future was in Oklahoma City, Longmire built this house on 14th for his family of five.

In 1925 Harbour and Longmire formed a financial partnership with the wealthiest man in the city, William T. Hales. With capital from Hales, and encouraged by the economic boom of the roaring twenties, the partners built their five-story building at 425 W. Main. Designed by the architectural firm at Hawk and Parr, it was an ornate furniture palace with extravagant staircases, large light bays, and the best furniture available. It quickly became known as the “Furniture Showcase of the Southwest.”

During these years of business success, the Longmires changed the house on 14th. They enclosed part of the front porch and built a den and game room. Then they had the entire home redecorated by Warren Ramsey. Longmire remained in this home until his death in 1955, followed by the death of Mrs. Longmire three years later.

Further changes were made by the next owners, Dr. Claude F. and Janeal Foster. When they moved in, C.F. and Janeal found a house needing major work. They removed the sagging front porch and used some of the brick to rebuild the den wall. They changed the configuration of the windows, converted the old sun porch to an entryway, moved the main entry, and added a decorative portico. They also repaired the 16-inch exterior walls and painted the stucco black.

‍