A native of Oxford, Mississippi, Thomas Dudley Turner moved to Texas in 1867 to operate a small produce store. By 1892, with a little capital accumulated, he moved north across the Red River to the three-year old town of Oklahoma City. Despite the economic depression that gripped the territory at that time, Turner invested his capital and organized the Turner Wholesale Produce Company. By 1900, three years into a new economic boom, he owned a large brick warehouse at 1 W. Main and a regional distribution network. In recognition, he was elected president of the Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce in 1904 and 1905. Two years later, Thomas and his wife, Fannie Irene Block, built the brick house on 15th. They had two sons, Thomas, Jr., born in 1905, and Francis, born in 1908. Mr. Turner lived in the home until his death in 1933 at the age of 88.

In 1950 the home was sold to Mr. and Mrs. R. Gerson Adler, who raised three sons in the home. One of them, Tom Adler, completed his law degree and returned to live in the home on 15th. His wife, Shelli, started “What’s Cooking? “ in 1995 to provide catering and home cooked meals for carryout.

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