Built in 1881 by John C. Tolfree, the house was purchased by James E. Keet in 1883. By 1886 it had been converted from a plain two-story brick dwelling with a flat roof into a charming example of Victorian architecture. The home was designed by Mr. Keet after the Armour Mansion in Kansas City and features towers, spire, ironwork, and decorative plaster capitals. The brick, nails, pillars, and ornate cornices were made locally. Owners have included James E. Keet, president of Keet-Rountree Dry Goods and other businesses, his wife, Katherine Holland, and his daughter and her husband, Mr. and Mrs. Claude (Katherine Keet) McElhany. The home retains most of its original interior. The proud elegance of the residence and its association with a family prominent in banking and business circles create a flavor of the nineteenth century in current day downtown developments. Architectural style: Victorian Gothic, Eastlake manner

Approved: 12/10/73, 3/21/83