Manitoba Municipal Heritage Site No. 260

 

Taylor House
102 – First Street SW
Portage la Prairie

Taylor House

Designation Date:  August 9, 2004
Designation Authority:  City of Portage la Prairie
Present Owner:  privately owned

The Taylor House, built in 1913, is a majestic residence featuring remarkable craftsmanship blending elements of the Prairie School aesthetic with other influences. Made popular in the work of American architect Frank Lloyd Wright, the Prairie style is characterized by an emphasis on clean horizontal lines, natural materials and subtle Japanese influences. The Taylor House’s gently sloping roofs with large overhanging eaves, groups of rectangular openings and details, such as geometric patterns and porches, typify the Prairie style; however, departures exist in the building’s height and use of ornamental brick. The residence was built for one of Portage la Prairie’s most influential early citizens, Fawcett Gowler Taylor, a crown prosecutor, alderman and mayor, leader of Manitoba’s Conservative Party (1922-33) and a superior court judge, and many of the original interior finishes and details from the Taylor family’s occupation are still apparent.

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