The Carpenter Gothic home was built in 1865-1866

NEVADA COUNTY, CA (MPG) - The Nevada County Historical Landmarks Commission is pleased to announce the Nevada County Board of Supervisors designated the Ben Taylor Home as a Nevada County Historical Landmark, NEV 21-05 on August 10, 2021.

Ben Taylor arrived in Grass Valley in September of 1849 and, besides his home place, is most known for road building. He and his partners built the Grass Valley and Illinoistown Turnpike that mostly follows today’s Dog Bar Road. The Bear River crossing is called Taylor’s Crossing to this day.

Originally, Mr. Taylor settled in what is now known as the Peardale area. He named his property Buena Vista Ranch after a famous battle in the Mexican American War to which he was a veteran. Ben Taylor found he much preferred farming and horse breeding on the ranch rather than mining. As he and his wife Esther E. Huling’s family grew he began to build the home place.

The Carpenter Gothic home was built in 1865-1866. Originally, the property stretched from West Main Street to Ridge Road and from Peabody Creek to Alta Street in Grass Valley. The home place was created as a family home and has since been handed down to children, grandchildren, and cousins. The property was subdivided over the years, but the plot the home sits on has never left the family. The beautiful home with its dovetailed timbers and original artisan wells still stands proudly on Linden Street.

The purpose of the Nevada County Historical Landmarks Commission is to promote the general welfare of Nevada County and its citizens through official recognition, recording, marking, preserving, and promoting the historical resources of Nevada County.