RESTORED!

One of Provo’s oldest homes will once again become the home for a new family, thanks to the restoration efforts of Habitat for Humanity of Utah County and countless donors and volunteers.

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places and designated to the Provo City Landmarks Register, the George Taylor Jr. House is one of Provo’s oldest structures still standing. Built in the 1880s, it is one of Utah few remaining cross-wing, Gothic Revival-style house. George Taylor Jr. built this house in 1885 for his wife and future children. The son of George Taylor Jr. and Eliza N. Taylor, he was born shortly after his family arrived in Provo with the John Wolley Handcart Company in 1863. The Taylor family founded the first Furniture Store in Provo and later incorporated the business and became Provo’s first department store.

The home remained in the Taylor family after the death of George Taylor Jr. in December 1941. After decades of neglect, Habitat for Humanity of Utah County purchased the historic George Taylor, Jr. home from the Provo Housing Authority, and began the long process to restore the house and turn it into a home for a deserving family.

Habitat for Humanity of Utah County commemorated the home transformation with a ribbon cutting ceremony and open house this past weekend with hundreds of community members attending including Provo Mayor John Curtis and descendants of George Taylor, Jr. The public got a chance to take rare look inside the home built in the 1880s.

“The George Taylor, Jr. Renovation and Restoration project brought Habitat’s affordable housing and revitalization missions together,” said Kena Jo Mathews, Executive Director of the local Habitat affiliate, “The restoration project will not only provide safe and affordable housing for an area family in need but has renewed and strengthened the downtown Provo neighborhood by turning an long time eyesore into a community showplace. Habitat is very grateful for the opportunity to be involved with such an amazing and important project.”

Habitat partner family, Alex and Mary Kae Blair and their five children, will be purchasing and moving into the home in a few weeks just in time for Christmas. The local Habitat affiliate would like to thank those that helped us make the beautiful transformation a reality! You made the impossible possible!

Check out the Daily Herald article about the ribbon cutting at http://www.heraldextra.com/news/local/central/provo/george-taylor-jr-home-completed-family-prepares-to-move-in/article_94e0a784-89d1-52a2-8d80-9d5f2d41cf56.html.