A Look Inside the Keltner Home

As Mike and Beverly Keltner put an offer on their now home in Meadowmere Place, they had no idea they were about to purchase such a unique piece of Springfield history. This was 2022, and they had been looking for a home near Missouri State University, where they both have strong ties. “We wanted a home with a three-car garage, a master on the first floor and plenty of room for grandchildren,” says Beverly. “We were immediately drawn to the woodwork in this home.” 

The Meadowmere area was a big draw for the couple as well. “This is a front porch neighborhood, where everyone walks,” says Beverly. Fall is a favorite time for the Keltner family. “Pickwick is just so beautiful year round, but in the fall the maples create a colorful canopy that’s especially beautiful.” 

The Keltners knew they had purchased something unique with this house, and as they told friends about their new home some of the history began to unravel. “People began to tell us about the Keets, the original family that built the house,” says Mike. The Keltners’ interest was piqued quickly and they took a deep dive into local archives and online to gather more history on the home. It was constructed for James and May Keet in 1910. “At the time, the house was built outside of city limits in the country,” says Mike. “I heard it was built to look like a hunting lodge in Wyoming where the Keet family used to vacation.” 

The Keets were a very wealthy couple that sadly had their baby kidnapped from the home. This was 1917, and the baby was 14-month-old Josiah Lloyd Keet. At that time, kidnappings for ransom were unheard of, thus catapulting the story into front page news all across the country. “It’s a very sad, sad story,” says Beverly. After the tragedy, the Keets stayed in their home, and the baby’s mother, May, continued to live there until her death in 1980, at age 94.

The home had a few different owners after May passed until The Keltners took ownership and moved into the home in August of 2022.

Beverly says the family that owned the home before them had done a lot to upkeep and update the home, so Beverly and Mike only had to make small changes when they moved in. Today the home holds a lot of its original character. The majority of the original flooring and woodwork remains in the home, as well as the diamond windows, doors and hardware. “The front door is original and we don’t want to mess with it,” says Mike. “It’s just too cool!”

The main living space along with the formal dining room is the Keltners’ favorite space inside the home. The original stone fireplace and wood mantel make the space feel welcoming and cozy. It’s the part of the house where people gather.  “I instantly felt at home in this space,” Beverly says. The coffered ceiling is cherry and adds warmth and character.

The Keltners have always appreciated natural elements and beautiful woodwork. Inside their dining room sits what they call “the ship’s table.” It’s made from a piece of wood from an old ship, which they found at an antique store. “We had it shipped home and had legs added to it to create the table,” Beverly says.

There’s a lot to be appreciated about the landscape around the home as well. Tall, mature trees are scattered around the 1.25 acres, creating a picturesque neighborhood scene. The rock entrance to Meadowmere Place is visible from the front porch and coordinates with the rock on the exterior of the home. When it’s just the two of them, the Keltners utilize the front porch the most, but other spaces outside are used for outdoor entertaining. “The deck out back is where we like to eat and grill,” says Mike. “I have a Recteq pellet grill and a Blackstone out there. I love grilling meat and seafood on the grill and hibachi on the Blackstone griddle.” They also love making pancakes on the griddle for their grandkids. A patio on the side of the home is often a place where people gather for wine and relaxing. This space has an old-fashioned fireplace people can enjoy in cooler weather.

Although the Keltners spend a lot of time traveling with the Missouri State University Bears basketball team for Mike’s job, throughout the fall, coming home is always a welcomed idea. “We were truly lucky to find everything we were looking for in a home in this area,” says Mike. “It was such a unique find.”