The John A. Taylor House
Interpretive Essay- John A. Taylor House
John A. Taylor House
c. 1847
Benjamin Gardner, Architect
“Greek Revival style house built for John A. Taylor (1798-1873), native of New York, shipping and railroad industrialist, civic leader; and wife, Catherine M. Harriss (1806-1877). From 1893 to 1951 the building served as an armory for the Wilmington Light Infantry. The WLI gave it to the city of Wilmington for use as a public library. The library occupied the building from 1956 to 1981.”[1]
[1] “John A. Taylor House,” New Hanover County Digital Collections, accessed February 6, 2024, https://cdm16072.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15169coll2/id/2266/rec/377.
The John A. Taylor House is located at 409 Market Street in Wilmington, North Carolina. The house was built in 1847 by architect Benjamin Gardner. The architectural style of the house is Greek Revival. The house is considered Greek Revival because of the material used and the design of the building. Greek Revival is consistently thought of with its symmetrical features. The structure of the house is usually rectangular or square-shaped, while the roof is triangular-shaped. Greek Revival's most notable feature is using columns as a prominent display of the architecture. This Greek Revival exploded onto the American scene between the 1830s and the 1860s. Greek Revival was inspired by the architectural structures of Greek temples from Ancient Greece. Throughout the 1830s and 1860s, Greek Revival was heavily used in American architecture, ranging from homes, banks, churches, and other structures such as mansions.[1]
The John A. Taylor house is symmetrical, a key component of the Greek Revival style. Its façade is rectangular-shaped, with the front of the house built with different shades of marble.[2] The front-facing side of the house has four windows, two on each side, sitting on top of each other. In the middle, the entrance is pushed inward, with stairs leading up to the wooden front door. Above the front entrance is a marble balcony with a column-styled railing and a wooden door. Since the house is symmetrical, the sides are identical. On the sides of the house, the marble is replaced with brick as the building’s façade. There are two rows of windows with three windows each.[3] The front door is elaborately constructed with a notable surrounding stained-glass design. The material used for Greek Revival is stone, brick, stucco, or brownstone.[4] Ancient Greek architecture incorporated marble for exterior design. Much of the Greek Revival architecture in America does not use marble on the exterior of homes. They use white-painted brick or wood to create a resemblance to marble.[5]
[1] “Greek Revival Style 1830s,” National Parks Service, accessed February 6, 2024, https://www.nps.gov/articles/greek-revival-architecture.htm.
[2] “View, John A. Taylor House, Wilmington, North Carolina,” NC State University Libraries’ Rare and Unique Digital Collections, accessed February 6, 2024, https://d.lib.ncsu.edu/collections/catalog/buch0418#?c=&m=&cv=&xywh=-139%2C-242%2C4568%2C3383.
[3] John A. Taylor House,” New Hanover County Digital Collections.
[4] John A. Taylor House,” New Hanover County Digital Collections.
[5] Kristin Hohenadel, “Greek Revival Architecture Explained,” The Spruce, December 8, 2023, https://www.thespruce.com/greek-revival-architecture-4770079.
The roof, however, is not the normal Greek Revival style. Greek Revival architecture has gabled or triangular-shaped roofs. With the John A. Taylor House, there is no triangular-shaped roof. Instead, the roof is flat, with little marble rectangular pillars placed around the edges of the roof. On the roof, there is a marble-designed cupola with windows. A cupola installed on buildings or homes allows the air to vent and escape the house. It also provides natural light to enter the house and brighten the place.[1] The John A. Taylor house can be described as a marble and brick-fused fort.
John Allen Taylor was born in New York on November 12, 1798, to his parents, John and Jane Taylor. His parents immigrated to America from Northern Ireland before 1790, landing in New York. There is little written evidence of John's life in New York before moving to Wilmington. However, it is known that John had a brother and a sister. His brother, James Taylor, unfortunately, passed away during John's childhood. His sister was named Sally Taylor, who survived and married James Cronly. It is known that John became a member of the Grand Lodge of New York and was a known Mason.
[1] “Functional or Decorative: The Understated Necessity of Cupolas,” Custom Barn Builders | Full-Service Barn Building Company, July 5, 2023, https://banddbuilders.com/functional-or-decorative-the-understated-necessity-of-cupolas/#:~:text=A%20cupola’s%20open%20vents%20(louvers,functional%2C%20decorative%2C%20or%20both.
By 1820, John left New York and traveled to Wilmington. Before he began construction on the John A. Taylor house, he was a part of numerous business opportunities in Wilmington, helping him become a prosperous businessman. During his time in Wilmington, John operated a steam sawmill. The location of the sawmill is on Water and Castle streets. Additionally, he purchased tugboats, which allowed him to build a commercial ferry system for Brunswick. John's success led him to the Wilmington and Raleigh Railroad Company, where he was hired for transportation services. By 1847, John was successful and highly wealthy. Outside of his boat transportation services, “He was a town commissioner, a director for the Wilmington branch of the Bank of the State, a member of the local school board, and on the subscription committee for the Wilmington and Manchester Railroad.”[1] John’s move to Wilmington led him down a successful life as he became a public figure in the Wilmington community.
During John’s time in Wilmington, he married Catharine McIlhenny Harriss Taylor on June 19, 1823. Catharine was born on April 19, 1806, and was native to Wilmington, North Carolina. Catharine’s family was of notable respect during this time. Her parents were well-established in Wilmington. Catharine's parents were William and Elizabeth Harriss. Catharine's relationship with the McIlhenny family as relatives signaled their high-standing status in Wilmington as the McIlhenny's owned Eagles Nest. Eagles Nest was a rice plantation situated in Brunswick. John and Catharine lived the rest of their lives in Wilmington.[2]
[1] Jane Naus, “Catharine McIlhenny (Harriss) Taylor,” WikiTree, March 6, 2018, https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Harriss-123#N883. (Work is from a compilation of primary sources. Those interviewed in the 1980s were Walker Taylor III, Katherine Taylor Hill, David Oliver, Margaret Hall, and John D. Taylor. Additionally, from the Bill Reaves Files and James Sprunt’s Chronicles of the Cape Fear: 1660-1916.)
[2] Naus, “Catharine McIlhenny (Harriss) Taylor,” WikiTree.
The John A. Taylor house was not built until 1847, when John purchased the lot where it still stands. John’s desire to build a house came from his wife, Catharine. She wanted at one point to have a house constructed of marble. During this time, Wilmington houses were burning to the ground due to the materials being used. John hired architect Benjamin Gardner to help with the construction and architecture of the home, using marble veneer and Philadelphia brick to prevent the possibility of fire. By 1850, John’s house was valued at $40,000.[1] With the house being valued at $40,000, that would be around $1.5 million per inflation rate of today.
They had two children, John Douglas Taylor and Harriet Harris Taylor Tennent. Unfortunately, John passed away on May 11, 1872, and was buried in the Oakdale Cemetery. The family held onto the house until 1876. Records indicate that the house was auctioned by the city of Wilmington, where Charles M. Stedman purchased the property for $500. Charles was born on January 29, 1841. He graduated with honors from The University of North Carolina during the onset of the Civil War in 1861. During the Civil War, Charles served for the Confederacy in the 44th North Carolina Regiment as a lieutenant for Company E. After being promoted to regimental major, Charles "fought with the Army of Northern Virginia in every major campaign," and was "one of the twelve North Carolinians who had fought at Bethel and surrendered at Appomattox."[2] After the war, Charles married Catherine de Rosset Wright in 1866, a member of the known Wright family in Wilmington. Charles entered politics and was chosen as a delegate for the 1880 Democratic National Convention. By 1884, Charles became lieutenant governor for the state of North Carolina. In 1910, Charles made his way to the U.S. House of Representatives, serving until he died in 1930. Charles's death in 1930 made him the last Confederate soldier who served in Congress.[3]
[1] “John A. Taylor House Application,” New Hanover County Digital Collections, accessed February 6, 2024, https://cdm16072.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15169coll2/id/2266/rec/377, 1.
[2] Max R. Williams, “Stedman, Charles Manly,” NCpedia, accessed February 6, 2024, https://www.ncpedia.org/biography/stedman-charles-manly.
[3] Williams, “Stedman, Charles Manly,” NCpedia.
Two more important people had a connection to the John A. Taylor house. The first one is John's cousin, Michael Cronly. Michael Cronly was born in New York City on April 24, 1826. While the Civil War was raging on, Michael was opportunistic, creating a series of auctions that provided goods to local and traveling merchants. These goods were in during the Civil War using blockade runners. His auctions attracted the massive attention of people all over America.[1] His importance to the John A. Taylor house is that he helped with the marble exterior of the house. Michael had a relative living in Philadelphia named Dr. Murphy. Dr. Murphy had an interest in architecture. Once he heard of the project in Wilmington by Michael, he wanted to help. Dr. Murphy helped supply the marble for the house.[2]
The last ownership of the house was with Charles M. Steadman. On May 16, 1893, the house was then acquired by the Wilmington Light Infantry. The WLI was a military organization that was formed in 1853. The WLI was a longstanding organization for Wilmington that helped with local and state emergencies. During the onset of the Civil War, the WLI took it upon themselves to take control of two forts in the Cape Fear River, Ft. Johnson and Caswell. Additionally, the WLI became an active regiment for the Confederacy. They were called the 8th North Carolina Volunteers. Records indicate they had a banner distinguishing the unit. The banner was seen at numerous battles, such as Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, Chancellorsville, Sharpsburg, and Appomattox.[3]
[1] “Death the Reaper,” The Wilmington Morning Star, February 8, 1898, https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-wilmington-morning-star-deaththereap/27438508/.
[2] Naus, “Catharine McIlhenny (Harriss) Taylor,” WikiTree.
[3] “John A. Taylor House Application,” New Hanover County Digital Collections, 2.
Furthermore, the Wilmington Light Infantry took part in the Wilmington massacre in 1898, repressing African American citizens of Wilmington with martial law and brandishing weapons. The WLI was implicated in the deaths of African Americans during the 1898 Wilmington coup.[1] The WLI also participated in the Spanish-American War, World War I, and World War II.[2] The WLI owned and operated in the John A. Taylor house from 1893 to 1951. In 1930, Hon. Carlyle recognized the house: "As a memorial to its own achievements, the Reserve Corps has deeded to the city of Wilmington its handsome white marble=front armory building and grounds to be used as a public library."[3] In 1951, the building was officially sold to the city of Wilmington for $500, provided that the building followed certain restrictions. The house will be a “perpetual memorial to the Wilmington Light Infantry, to be used as a public library, or for other municipal purposes, but not to be used for general community purposes as disassociated from municipal purposes.”[4]
After the Wilmington Light Infantry sold the building to the city in 1951, it was converted into a public library. The public library opened in 1956 and continued to serve the public as a library until 1981. By 1981, the public library decided to relocate to another building in Wilmington, ceding ownership of the building. The town designated the building as planning offices for the city, where officials could hold meetings. It was not until 1996 that Wilmington gave ownership of the building to the First Baptist Church. The First Baptist Church had its congregational building next door. The church decided to take ownership of the building, fusing it into the church. The John A. Taylor house is still standing and still owned by the First Baptist Church.[5]
In conclusion, the John A. Taylor house is filled with history, from its inhabitants to its uses as a home, an infantry building, a public library, and a church. The plaque currently placed on the building only tells part of its story. However, presenting a complete narrative with 14 lines of text is difficult. The John A. Taylor house is a significant piece of history to the city of Wilmington.
[1] “November 10, 1898,” Politics of a Massacre: Discovering Wilmington 1898, accessed February 6, 2024, https://core.ecu.edu/umc/wilmington/timeline-vertical.html.
[2] “John A. Taylor House Application,” New Hanover County Digital Collections, 2.
[3] “John A. Taylor House Application,” New Hanover County Digital Collections, 2.
[4] “John A. Taylor House Application,” New Hanover County Digital Collections, 2.
[5] "Wilmington Armory (Aka John A. Taylor House)," Clio, accessed February 6, 2024, https://theclio.com/entry/35945.
Bibliography
“Death the Reaper.” The Wilmington Morning Star, February 8, 1898, https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-wilmington-morning-star-deaththereap/27438508/.
“Functional or Decorative: The Understated Necessity of Cupolas.” Custom Barn Builders | Full-Service Barn Building Company, July 5, 2023. https://banddbuilders.com/functional-or-decorative-the-understated-necessity-of-cupolas/#:~:text=A%20cupola’s%20open%20vents%20(louvers,functional%2C%20decorative%2C%20or%20both.
“Greek Revival Style 1830s.” National Parks Service. Accessed February 6, 2024. https://www.nps.gov/articles/greek-revival-architecture.htm.
Hohenadel, Kristin. “Greek Revival Architecture Explained.” The Spruce, December 8, 2023. https://www.thespruce.com/greek-revival-architecture-4770079.
“John A. Taylor House Application.” New Hanover County Digital Collections. Accessed February 6, 2024. https://cdm16072.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15169coll2/id/2266/rec/377.
“John A. Taylor House.” New Hanover County Digital Collections. Accessed February 6, 2024. https://cdm16072.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15169coll2/id/2266/rec/377.
Naus, Jane. “Catharine McIlhenny (Harriss) Taylor.” WikiTree, March 6, 2018. https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Harriss-123#N883.
“November 10, 1898.” Politics of a Massacre: Discovering Wilmington 1898. Accessed February 6, 2024. https://core.ecu.edu/umc/wilmington/timeline-vertical.html.
“View, John A. Taylor House, Wilmington, North Carolina.” NC State University Libraries’ Rare and Unique Digital Collections. Accessed February 6, 2024. https://d.lib.ncsu.edu/collections/catalog/buch0418#?c=&m=&cv=&xywh=-139%2C-242%2C4568%2C3383.
“Wilmington Armory (Aka John A. Taylor House).” Clio. Accessed February 6, 2024. https://theclio.com/entry/35945.
By Brian Fiore
