2216 Gaylord Street was built in 1903 for owner Teckla Frohm under building permit #1719. The permit lists George L. Bettcher as architect and builders as Wicklem and Sederholm. Teckla Frohm lived next door at 2222 Gaylord Street at the time of construction, and it appears that 2216 Gaylord was built as an investment property.
While Frohm sold 2216 Gaylord to Charles S. Onderdonk in 1909, city directories show that Onderdonk was living in the home as early as 1906. Charles S. Onderdonk was president of Onderdonk Engineering Company, which sold mining and milling machinery. Onderdonk was born c.1859 in New Jersey, and lived at 2216 Gaylord with his wife Laura and children Charles, Margaret, and Laura. The Onderdonks sold the house in 1912 to Willfred Lenhart.
