Tulsa Resident Preserved Historic Greenwood Home
Sharonda Ballard has restored a residence once owned by a prominent family in the historic Greenwood district.
Updated on Sept. 20, 2026 in African-American
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Sharonda Ballard has completed a dedicated preservation project for a historic house in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Ballard moved into the residence in 1992 and began restorative work in 2012 to honor the legacy of the former owners.
Why it matters
The restoration of this property highlights the importance of maintaining sites connected to the Greenwood district. By preserving this home, Ballard celebrates the history of the Blevins family and their contributions to the local community.
Sharonda Ballard completed more than 60 historic preservation reports over the past two years. The house she restored is currently eligible for the National Register of Historic Places.
The players
Sharonda Ballard
She is a local preservationist who has documented dozens of properties across Oklahoma.
Charles and Bertha Blevins
The pair were hotel operators in the Greenwood district who resided in the home during the mid-20th century.
Love Works Foundation and Corporation
This entity provided the sponsorship necessary for the Greenwood and Beyond project.
The details
Ballard restored the property by removing aluminum siding and reopening a long-sealed basement door. The house, which once hosted piano recitals and served as a voting site, is linked to the Blevins family who operated a local hotel on Greenwood.
Timeline
Charles and Bertha Blevins lived in the home from the 1930s through the 1950s.
Sharonda Ballard moved into the property in 1992.
Preservation work on the home officially began in 2012.
Ballard completed over 60 preservation reports between 2024 and 2026.
Culture Shift
This project reflects a growing grassroots commitment to documenting and maintaining the physical legacy of historically significant neighborhoods. Such work counters the loss of architectural heritage by formalizing the preservation process through professional reporting.
Residents may see an increased emphasis on local history as more properties undergo formal preservation reporting. This trend encourages homeowners to explore the cultural heritage of their own dwellings.
The takeaway
Preserving historic homes requires both significant time and a deep commitment to honoring the previous inhabitants. Property owners can contribute to their community identity by documenting the unique history of their own residences.
Further reading
Learn more about local historical documentation in our African-American section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Fox23.
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