Author Roger Taylor will be joining us to talk about his book, The Building Legacy of Alexander Taylor In the Pacific Northwest: 1899-1944. This is a free after-hours program.

Alexander Taylor was a masonry contractor in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho from 1899 to 1944. Born in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1870, his family came to the U.S. in 1882. In 1899 Alexander joined his brother-in-law in Walla Walla as a partner in a masonry construction contracting business. That partnership lasted until 1917, after which Alexander formed his own company.

During his career, Alexander constructed more than 200 buildings of different types and functions. Many jobs were creating parts of buildings such as foundations, fireplaces, porches, porch railings, boilers, heating plants, smokestacks, and bases for columns. Many of these buildings are still in use today, and eighteen are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The book explores life in Walla Walla during this time, then introduces the family bricklayers. It contains over 200 photos of commercial, industrial, and community buildings as well as residential homes and apartments constructed by Taylor. The book will be available to purchase in the Museum Store for $24.99.

About the author

Alexander Taylor’s grandson Roger Bordeaux Taylor was born in Walla Walla in 1934. After a series of moves, the Taylors returned to Walla Walla in 1949. Roger graduated from Wa-Hi and attended Whitman College and later the University of Washington. He earned his Master’s Degree in Urban and Regional Planning from California State University. During his employment with the City of Fresno, he specialized in historic preservation projects. His love of history led him to teach Fresno County history for the Clovis Adult School after retirement.

Roger and his wife, Arida, have three children, 12 grandchildren, and 9 great-grandchildren. They have traveled extensively in North America and Europe. They are excited to be back in Walla Walla to share the history and building legacy of Alexander Taylor.