Thomas N. Taylor House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Thomas N. Taylor House
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Thomas Taylor House
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 Location in Utah
Location in the United States
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| Location | 342 North 500 West Provo, Utah |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1904 |
| Architect | Richard C. Watkins |
| Architectural style | Classical Box |
| MPS | Entreprenurial Residences of Turn-of-the-Century Provo TR |
| NRHP reference No. | 82004180 |
| Added to NRHP | July 23, 1982 |
The Thomas N. Taylor House is a special old house found at 342 North 500 West in Provo, Utah. It's so important that it's listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's officially recognized for its history.
Built in 1904, this house was like a "dream home" for many people in Utah at that time. It's a great example of the "Classical Box" style of architecture. This style was common in Salt Lake City but not so much in Provo. The house has beautiful details and looks mostly the same as when it was built.
Thomas N. Taylor was a very well-known person in Provo. He managed the Taylor Brothers Store, served as the mayor of Provo, and was a leader in his church. The Thomas Taylor House was also added to the Provo City Landmarks register in 1995.
Provo's Grand Victorian Homes
Between 1893 and 1908, many grand Victorian houses were built in Provo, Utah. These homes are important because they show off amazing architecture. They also belonged to some of the most successful people in the city and state back then.
These special houses include the Charles E. Loose House, the William H. Ray House, the Knight-Allen House, the John R. Twelves House, the Jesse Knight House, the Knight-Mangum House, and the Thomas N. Taylor House. Each house has its own unique style, like Eastlake, Shingle, or Classical. Most of these homes are made of brick and have very fancy designs, making them the most beautiful houses in Provo.
Who Was Thomas N. Taylor?
Thomas N. Taylor was born in Provo, Utah, in 1868. His father, George Taylor Sr., started the first furniture store in Provo in 1866. In 1890, the family business became the Taylor Brothers Company. It grew into the first big "department store" in Provo, selling many different kinds of products.
Thomas went to schools in Provo and later attended Brigham Young Academy, which is now Brigham Young University. He married Maud Rogers in 1889. Thomas was also very active in politics. He served as the mayor of Provo from 1900 to 1903. In 1920, he even ran for governor of Utah as a Democrat, though he didn't win that election.
Thomas was also a dedicated member of his church. He served as a bishop for 19 years and later as a stake president for 20 years. He was also a patriarch in the LDS Church. Beyond his church and political roles, Thomas was active in the community. He was on the board of trustees for Brigham Young University and the University of Utah. He also helped create the Utah Valley Hospital.
Thomas Taylor passed away in 1950. After he died, his house was given to the Taylor Brothers company. Later, in 1957, David S. Nelson bought the house. He owned it for 16 years before selling it to Verl G. Dixon, who was also a former mayor of Provo.
Protecting Historic Homes
The Thomas N. Taylor House was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. This was part of a bigger effort to recognize several important houses in Provo. Six houses were listed at that time.
These listed houses include the Knight-Mangum House, the John R. Twelves House, the Jesse Knight House, the Knight-Allen House, the William H. Ray House, and the Thomas N. Taylor House. Another house, the Charles E. Loose House, was also considered important enough to be listed. However, its owner didn't want it on the list, so it wasn't officially added.
