Cherokee Nation Citizen's Home Placed on National Register of Historic Places

Native News Network Staff in Native Currents. Discussion »

VINITA, OKLAHOMA – The Cherokee Nation held a celebration in Vinita Friday to congratulate tribal citizen Mary Holland for her home's recent induction into the National Register of Historic Places, the official list of the historic sites in the United States worthy of preservation.

Mary Holland with Principal Chief Baker (r) view Historic Marker

The Carselowey House, which sits on the corner of Tahlequah Avenue and Gunter, was built in Indian Territory in late 19th and early 20th century colonial revival architecture. Holland, whose parents bought the home in the early 1920s, has called the historic site home for nearly nine decades.

“This is the old family home; it was built in 1895. I'm 93 and I moved here when I was about 5 years old,”

said Holland.

“Everything in the house is original; the fireplace is just the way it was built along with the beveled glass door.”

Cherokee Nation Housing and Environmental Services first realized the home might qualify for the national register when they began rehabilitation work in Holland's lower bathroom, citing that the home maintained its original integrity including location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling and association. After alerting the Oklahoma Historical Society of the home's quality, the tribe initiated the application to place Holland's home on the register. The Carselowey House is now one of only nine sites listed on the National Register of Historical Places in Craig County.

"The Congress of the United States created the National Register of Historical Places in 1966 so we would have an opportunity to identify and honor those buildings, sites, structures and districts that we consider to be significant and to have made a contribution to our history,"

said Oklahoma Historical Society Coordinator Glen Roberson.

"This particular house built in 1895 in colonial revival style and owned by the Carselowey family since the 1920s is one of these kinds of properties."

Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Bill John Baker presented Holland with a special plaque denoting the homes historical importance.

“On this occasion, the Cherokee Nation is so proud of one of our citizens and her home that we have produced a plaque to honor the Carselowey House's acceptance into the National Register of Historic Places,”

said Chief Baker.

“The home is very well preserved and we are very proud of (Holland) who has been a guardian of it for close to 90 years.”

posted May 29, 2012 7:57 am edt