Of the six frame homes built on the north side of the block from 1902 to 1904, this is the only one that has survived as originally designed. The others either have been replaced with new homes or radically altered.

This home was built by George G. and Virginia Sohlberg. George was a native of Minnesota and the son of Swedish parents. Virginia was a native of Virginia. George was an urban builder active in a variety of enterprises. He came to Oklahoma City during the economic depression of 1894 and established the Acme Milling Company. By the time he built a home on 14th, he also was president of the Pine Tree Lumber Company, vice president of the American National Bank, vice president of the Cleveland Brick Company, vice president of the Oklahoma Export Company, and secretary of the Oklahoma City Packaging Company. He later expanded into even more diverse enterprises, from furniture to wholesale groceries.

The Sohlbergs chose a Southern Colonial design for their home on 14th. When they moved in, the Sohlberg household consisted of George, age 42, his wife Virginia, age 33, two daughters, ages 3 and 1, and Virginia‘s mother, Ada Tucker. In addition, a yard man, cook, and nurse, all Austrian immigrants, lived in the home. The Sohlbergs remained in the home until their deaths in the late 1940s.

The home was purchased from the estate by the Sohlbergs’ daughter, Ada, and her husband, Mr. T. Winston Eason. In 1958 the Easons sold the home to Dr. Joe Henry and Sarah Coley, who lived in the home next door to the east. Three years later, Dr. Coley sold it to his brother, Captain Charles C. Coley, U.S.N. (Retired), and his wife, Dorothy, the former Miss Dorothy Reed Liles of Norfolk, Virginia.

Captain Coley was familiar with the neighborhood as he was born and raised in a house at 13th and Robinson. After graduating from high school, he attended the U.S. Naval Academy, where he graduated in 1934. During his 30-year career in the Navy, he saw duty in China and in both World War II and the Korean conflict. He served as executive officer of the U.S.S. New Jersey and as commanding officer of the U.S.S. Fred T. Berry and the U.S.S. Nantahala. His final assignment was the Joint Chiefs of Staff in the Pentagon.

After moving into the home next door to his brother, Captain Coley became a leading advocate for preservation in Heritage Hills. He became president of the Classen-Winans Neighborhood Association in 1963 and helped organize Historical Preservation, Inc. during the period from 1964 to 1969. He was named to the Oklahoma City Historic Preservation Commission in 1967.

The Coleys’ regard for preservation is seen in the home. They retained the hot water heating system with radiators, the old icebox, the butler’s pantry, and the internal telephone system. Even the sleeping porches outside were kept open, while most residents have enclosed them for additional floor space. Today, Captain Coley’s granddaughter Cara Parent and her family keep the history alive for this special home in Heritage Hills.

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