Taylor House History and its 100th birthday
Renovation | Today | Take a Picture Tour
Affectionately named by a neighbor as "the Pearl on Broadway," the three and one-half story Taylor House was built in 1909 for John N. and Elizabeth Taylor and their seven children.
Second Row: Thomas Reed Taylor, Elizabeth Frances "Betty" Reed Taylor, John Newton "Jack" Taylor, Jr.
Front Row: Henry Allison Taylor, James Brainard Taylor
At the time, the Old Southwest neighborhood was new and boasted city utilities, making this neighborhood very desirable. Today, homes in the Old Southwest are still in great demand for their spacious lots and historic homes.
Originally, Mr. Taylor established himself selling wagons before he moved into the piano and automobile business. He held a seat on Columbia's City Council, and he was a member of Stephen's College Board of Directors. The city closed its offices for his funeral in 1932.
The Taylor House remained a single family dwelling until shortly after Mr. Taylor's death. Elizabeth Taylor triplexed the home in 1935, and the family lived on the east side of the home until the late 1980s. At that point the home was rented to various locals and students. It soon fell into disrepair.
