Oklahoma's Own: Historic Muskogee Home Has Interesting Beginning

On May 5th, Muskogee will hold its "This Place Matters Historic Homes and Buildings Tour."

One of the houses on the tour is a beautiful 105-year-old home with an interesting beginning, one beginning in 1907.

"It was the aristocratic area, and so the wealthier people were buying property out here and building their nice homes," homeowner Jim Holder said.

One of those homes was built by an early-day Oklahoma business man, Oscar Hayes, who had aspirations of being the state's first governor.

"In all of his speeches, he would say, ‘when I win the election, I will give my inaugural speech from the balcony of my new governor's mansion I'm having built in Muskogee,'" Holder said.

With Charles Haskell selected instead, Oscar Hayes never got to give that inaugural speech from the balcony.

Muskogee didn't become the state capital. But the state did get a wonderful home that's still standing after 105 years.

Jim Holder and his late wife Brenda bought the Hayes house in 1996. It had been boarded up for 10 years. It was quite a restoration project Holder took on, mostly himself.

"If I try it and mess up, then I call a professional and they pick up where I left off, so I thought I'll give it a try," Holder said. "On most occasions it worked."

Six years of renovations and the Holders' lovingly restored the Hayes house.

"I'm glad to have it; I'm glad to have it," he said.

Holder lives on the third floor of the nearly 3,800 square foot home he calls Victorian eclectic.

The first two floors make up a guest house with two suites. The house is frequently booked for wedding receptions and other events

Which is great for Muskogee, because it means more people get to see its unique beauty both inside and out.

"It is a rewarding experience to have people come in and say, ‘wow that's neat,'" Holder said.

Holder never tires of hearing that. And over the years, has grown to love the Hayes House and the interesting history behind its beginning.

The Hayes family only lived in the house for a few years before moving to another house. The tour of historic homes and buildings in Muskogee is May 5th.