E.W. Marland had made a fortune in the West Virginia and Pennsylvania areas and lost it in the panic of 1907. He came to Oklahoma in 1908 and started drilling for oil at the 101 Ranch. An oil strike for Marland was not made until June, 1911. E.W. kept his promise to the owners of the Arcade Hotel and finally paid his bill in full.

Marland's Grand Home was started in 1914 and completed in 1916. It came with a central vacuuming system, automatic dish washer, attached three car garage and the first indoor swimming pool built in Oklahoma.

When E.W. and Virginia moved into the new home, their adopted children, George and Lydie, who were Virginia's blood niece and nephew, moved in with them.

At the time the Marlands lived in the Grand Home, E.W.'s net worth, not including his oil company, was 30 million dollars. In 1925 E.W. started building what came to be known as the Marland Mansion.

Virginia passed away at the Grand Home in June 1926, never seeing the mansion finished.

In 1928, after the completion of the Mansion, E.W. took Lydie east to Pennsylvania, had the adoption set aside and married her.