L.E. Taylor House

The heritage value of this house is largely due to its association with its owner, Lionel E. Taylor (1880-1962), who was a major influence in the early development years of the fruit industry in the Okanagan. The house also has some value as an example of a 1920s Bungalow, although it has been considerably modified.

The historic place is valued for its association with the fruit-growing, the dominant industry in the Okanagan, through its original owner and long-time occupant, Lionel E. Taylor. Taylor formed the Bankhead Orchard Co. Ltd. in 1911 to take over a large area of orchard land planted by his brother-in-law, T.W. Stirling (see 2124 Pandosy Street). The Stirling and Taylor families originally financed the Bankhead Orchard Co. Ltd. It eventually specialized in growing pears (for which it was acclaimed), but other fruits, as well as crops such as corn, potatoes, and tomatoes and livestock such as cattle, sheep, pigs, and Shetland ponies, were tried in the early days.

Taylor was an important player in the fruit-growing industry because of the longevity of his career. He remained president or director of the company for 51 years, until his death. He also served as president of the British Columbia Fruit Growers' Association from 1923 to 1925, and was a leader in the founding of the Associated Growers of British Columbia, the first successful central fruit-selling agency, in 1923. Born in Athlone, in Ireland, Taylor trained as a botanist and in his youth was for ten years in the Government Forest Service of the Cape Colony and Transvaal in South Africa.

Taylor built the house in 1924. Its original form, with a high gable roof and a cross-gable facing the street, is still evident, but a new porch, replacement windows, and replacement siding have compromised its integrity. Taylor lived here until he retired to Saanichton, on Vancouver Island, about 1956.

In 1964 the orchard was sold to housing developers and disappeared under suburbia, leaving this house as a relic of the 'orcharding era'. A year later George and Elsie Hillian owned the house. George Hillian was an English teacher at Kelowna Secondary School until his retirement, and lived in this house until recently. Elsie Hillian, an active member of the Kelowna Shakespeare Club, died in 1984.