Ellis-Taylor House, Niagara Falls

Built in 1894 by the Ellis family, the Ellis-Taylor House is a striking historic residence located in Niagara Falls. The Ellis family, known for acquiring and developing numerous lots south of Morrison Street, originally constructed the home for Arthur Park Ellis. Their business centered around real estate development, with this house serving as one of their notable early investments.

In 1899, the house was sold at auction and purchased by Frank Taylor, a local merchant. Taylor and his family lived there for nearly five decades, until 1945. Following its residential chapter, the building found a new role as the accounting office for the Niagara Falls Board of Education, operating in this capacity from 1953 to 1965.

Architecturally, the Ellis-Taylor House is a fine example of Queen Anne Revival style. Its standout features include patterned brickwork on the rounded corner tower, an elegant curved verandah, and Palladian-style tripartite gable windows. Other details that showcase its craftsmanship include ornate carved front doors with glass panels and a large round-arched parlor window topped with a stained glass transom-elements that speak to the attention to detail and stylistic flair of late 19th-century design.