Edmond in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma — The American South (West South Central)
Kivlehen House
Constructed 1910
Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, April 9, 2025
1. Kivlehen House Marker
National Register
of Historic Places
2008
Recognized by
Edmond Historic Preservation Trust
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Architecture. In addition, it is included in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1910.
Location. 35° 39.645′ N, 97° 28.61′ W. Marker is in Edmond, Oklahoma, in Oklahoma County. It is at the intersection of North Jackson Street and East Wayne Avenue, on the left when traveling north on North Jackson Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 525 N Jackson St, Edmond OK 73034, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Central Oklahoma Frontier Country and in Greater Oklahoma City. It is also in the American South, specifically on the prairies, and on the Southern Plains. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture and also the Louisiana Purchase.
Other nearby markers. At
this page online
Regarding Kivlehen House. Excerpts from the National Register nomination:
James D. Kivlehen was a young man when he came to Oklahoma Territory with his parents. He attended the Normal School and graduated as valedictorian in the second class of eleven students in 1898. After he received his teaching certificate, he was associated with banks in Cordell and Luther. He left Edmond to attend the University of Texas to study law, and then returned to the bank at Luther. He eventually served as field representative of the Federal Land Bank at Wichita until 1940 when he retired. Martha (Mattie), Kivlehen's wife graduated in the fourthclass from Central State Normal School in 1900, taught Latin two years in Enid, and then became the secretary to the president of the Teachers College. The Kivlehens married in 1904.Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, April 10, 20252. Kivlehen House MarkerMarker is at the front left corner of the house.
The Kivlehens built their house in 1910, having purchased the property in 1909. The newspaper called it "one of the largest residences in Edmond," and estimated the cost then at $5000. Kivlehen had not only been involved in banking, but also was involved with his brother-in-law, Robert Galbreath, in oil discoveries at Glenpool. He served as Edmond's city treasurer for eighteen years, was on the city commission from 1910-1913, and was postmaster in 1917. He was a founding member of the board of directors of the Edmond Chamber of Commerce.
Kivlehen chose a house worthy of his position as a community leader in Edmond, and the house is distinctive in appearance from other early homes. The Kivlehen's constructed the home in anticipation of the birth of their daughter, Colleen Jim.
Also see . . .
1. Kivlehen House (PDF). National Register nomination for the property. (Prepared by Cathy Ambler; via State Historic Preservation Office of Oklahoma) (Submitted on May 21, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)
2. Edmond, OK History: The Kivlehen House. Thirteen years after the Unassigned Lands in Oklahoma were opened and settled, Banker James Kivlehen decided to build a house in the growing town of Edmond. (Alanna Radle Rodriguez, Heroes, Heroines and History blog, Sept. 19, 2016) (Submitted on May 22, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)
Credits. This page was last revised on May 22, 2025. It was originally submitted on May 21, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 241 times since then and 60 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 21, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
