103 South 2nd Street
Le Sueur, MN, USA

National Register of Historic Places - George W. Taylor House

Statement of Significance:

The George W. Taylor House in Le Sueur is significant as the residence of a major figure in local and state commerce during the late nineteenth century and represents an excellent example of the Eastlake style of architectural design in Minnesota.

George W. Taylor was born in Toronto, Canada in 1841, the son of George and Mary Taylor. When three years old he lost his father and made his home with an uncle. At an early age he started making his own way by working on farms, attending school in the winter.

He worked as a salesman in a store until 1865 when he came to LeSueur, He spent a period in the U.S. Quartermaster Department at Ft. Abercrombie and Ft, Wadsworth, then returned to LeSueur, From 1868 to 1877 he worked in the H,C, Smith store. He then entered the firm of W.H, Patten & Co, It soon became Taylor, Patten & Co. In 1893 he bought the entire stock in the business. He conducted it until 1909 when he sold it to A.H. Nelson and Paul W. Baumann.

Wm. Gresham in his History of Nicollet & LeSueur Counties says, "Not only was George W. Taylor notably successful as a merchant, but in other lines of business activity he has shown himself to be a man of ability and resource, this being evidenced by his position as a stockholder in the Farmers' Bank and also by his occupancy of the office of president of the Minnesota Valley Canning Co. (now Green Giant Co,)."

In 1874 he was married to Ludusky J. Patten, who was born and reared in LeSueur County, Mrs., Taylor was the national president of the Women's Relief Corps in 1903, also was president of the Minnesota department for 2 years, 1894-1895. She was active in the Women's Christian Temperance Union and was the local president.

The Taylor House is one of the finest Eastlake-style residences in Minnesota, the facades are illustrative of virtually all Eastlake design motifs used generously and in varying combinations. The present monochrome scheme tends to camouflage much of the variation in shapes and textures, however these features are intact and would be greatly amplified if returned to original polychrome. Conscientious efforts over the years have preserved the lavish ornamentation of the Taylor House and have made possible its distinction of being one of extremely few examples of the Eastlake mode of architecture in Minnesota to have retained original decorative design treatment.