Gay couple’s home featured in OKC home tour

Jeff Erwin and Sam Blackstock have worked hard at having a fabulous home in the prestigious Oklahoma City Heritage Hills neighborhood, and it’s not gone unnoticed. Their’s will be one of the feature homes at the 48th annual Heritage Hills Home Tour.

“We were invited to be on the tour by tour chair, Katy Leffel,” said Blackstock. The homes are selected by certain criteria and they like to include a mixture of different homes.

“It’s exciting to be a part of the tour because it brings the neighborhood together. There are so many great activities; the party at the Overholser [Mansion] is so fun. It’s such an honor to share the history of the house and the neighborhood with guests,” he said.

Erwin added, “Historic Homes take so much work so it is really enjoyable and such an honor to see the ‘fruits of your labor’ shared with others.”

Blackstock and Erwin have been the homeowners since 1999 and have worked hard to respect the home's original character while making it comfortable for modern living. They feel they are good caretakers of their home's historic charm and have preserved some of the original light fixtures and even a bit of stenciling done by former owner Nan Sheets in an upstairs bedroom.

Another reflection of the artistic history of the home is the pair of copper lions installed at the entrance by previous homeowner Willard Johnson.

They opened up and created better flow in the kitchen, totally renovated the master bath, and created a basement entertainment area. Outdoors, they have done extensive landscaping and added a resort style spa.

The home was built in 1924.

The couple says they have no problems being openly gay in the heart of Oklahoma City.

“We have wonderful friends and neighbors and we live in the bluest dot in the state, have a great church (St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral) and work at great places,” the two exclaimed.

Sam is the Director of the Oklahoma Academy of Physicians and Jeff is the Director of the new Ambassador Hotel in Midtown.

“And we are just both two hard working people,” added Blackstock. “This neighborhood and the adjoining [one] are very welcoming, open minded and inclusive we feel.”

Erwin added, “People here are much more concerned with how well you are keeping your house up than what you are doing upstairs!”

The home of Sam Blackstock and Jeff Erwin is located at NW 18th & Hudson in OKC and will be on the Heritage Hills Home Tour Saturday and Sunday, September 27 and 28, 12pm to 5pm. Admission is $12 in advance, $15 on the days of the tour. To purchase tickets, visit www.heritagehills.org/hh.

by Robin Dorner, Editor in Chief

The Gayly – September 6, 2014 @ 10:30am