The man who built this house, Robert H Gardner, was one of the frontier adventurers who joined the exodus to the heart of the promised land. Born in a 5th Avenue mansion in New York City, he moved with his family to a Tennessee plantation where he was educated at the Sewanee Webb school. During his teens, he left home for Galveston, Texas, to join a brother-in-law in the cattle business. On a pleasure trip to New Orleans during Mardi Gras he met and married Lena Dowell.

The Gardners were still in Galveston when the famous hurricane and flood of 1900 killed more than 3000 people and leveled the city. They survived the storm but lost their cattle business. Two years later, while bound for Kansas City, they stopped in the boom town of Oklahoma City, liked what they saw, and decided to stay.

With his family in a rented house on Northeast 10th and Stiles, Gardner plunged into the real estate business. He and his partners platted new additions, built homes, arranged financing, and provided insurance. By 1906 he was successful enough to buy a lot in Classen‘s prestigious new addition north of Northwest 13th.

Under the supervision of an architect name Kleinschmidt, Robert and Lena built a two-story stuccoed home distinguished by half timbered detailing, large extended gables, and strong horizontal lines. The Gardners and their two daughters, Elizabeth and Gertrude, moved into the house in early 1907. To his wife’s distress, Gardener heeded his architect's advice to let the house “dry” for a year before installing hardwood floors and plaster. Gardner lived in the house until 1941, followed by his daughter, Gertrude, and her husband, who remained until 1977.

The aging house was soon purchased by Doug Nesbitt. An attorney and oil man, he grew up in the neighborhood with his parents, Margôt and Charles Nesbitt. Since moving into the historic home, Doug and his wife, Ava Anderson, have remodeled most of the interior and restored the exterior. Ava also grew up in the neighborhood on 14th Street. They raised two sons in the home, Christopher and Patrick, and now welcome their grandchildren to their home. ``````````````````

‍