Frenchtown in Tallahassee in Leon County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
The Taylor House
Photographed By Tim Fillmon, June 16, 2016
1. The Taylor House Marker
Inscription.
The Taylor House. . Built in 1894 by Lewis Washington Taylor and Lucretia McPherson Taylor, the Taylor House is located in Frenchtown, one of Tallahassee’s most historic neighborhoods. Settled by freed slaves after the Civil War, it quickly became a vibrant African-American area. Lewis (1865-1931) was an educator, tutor for white children, civic/religious leader, businessman, and landowner. Lucretia, a cook and seamstress, was born into slavery in Tallahassee on May 19, 1865, the day before the Emancipation Proclamation was read downtown. The Taylors married in 1887. They had 13 children, 11 of whom survived and became educators. Lewis bought the site of the Taylor House in 1893 from Fannie and Simuel Butler. Family members lived here until 1977. In 1995, the house was saved from demolition by Aquilina Howell (1917-2000), a granddaughter of the Taylors and the first woman Assistant Superintendent of Leon County Schools. She is credited with easing the integration of local schools in the 1960s and early 1970s. In 2001, with the aid of the Tallahassee Urban League and Lucille Alexander, a noted nurse and professor and Howell’s sister, the house was restored and became a museum.
Built in 1894 by Lewis Washington Taylor and Lucretia McPherson Taylor, the Taylor House is located in Frenchtown, one of Tallahassee’s most historic neighborhoods. Settled by freed slaves after the Civil War, it quickly became a vibrant African-American area. Lewis (1865-1931) was an educator, tutor for white children, civic/religious leader, businessman, and landowner. Lucretia, a cook and seamstress, was born into slavery in Tallahassee on May 19, 1865, the day before the Emancipation Proclamation was read downtown. The Taylors married in 1887. They had 13 children, 11 of whom survived and became educators. Lewis bought the site of the Taylor House in 1893 from Fannie and Simuel Butler. Family members lived here until 1977. In 1995, the house was saved from demolition by Aquilina Howell (1917-2000), a granddaughter of the Taylors and the first woman Assistant Superintendent of Leon County Schools. She is credited with easing the integration of local schools in the 1960s and early 1970s. In 2001, with the aid of the Tallahassee Urban League and Lucille Alexander, a noted nurse and professor and Howell’s sister, the house was restored and became a museum.
Erected 2013 by Maggie Lewis Butler, Ernest Ferrell, Curtis Taylor,Scott Maddox, Delaitre Hollinger, Patricia Branton, and the Florida Department
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of State. (Marker Number F-793.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Architecture. A significant historical year for this entry is 1894.
Location. 30° 26.885′ N, 84° 17.241′ W. Marker is in Tallahassee, Florida, in Leon County. It is in Frenchtown. Marker is on West Georgia Street, 0.1 miles east of Old Bainbridge Road, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 442 West Georgia Street, Tallahassee FL 32301, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Credits. This page was last revised on July 31, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 14, 2020, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. This page has been viewed 247 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on June 14, 2020, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
