Tayler-Phipps Building - Medford, Oregon
Posted by: 
ddtfamily
N 42° 19.616 W 122° 52.306
10T E 510565 N 4686083
Two-story brick commercial building constructed in 1909
Waymark Code: WMG1B0
Location: Oregon, United States
Date Posted: 01/01/2013
Views: 3
The Tayler-Phipps building, erected in 1909, is one of the few office buildings in downtown Medford that did not, at some point, undergo a major, excessive remodel of the facade. The building contains two separate storefronts on the lower level that share a common upper story.
The building is named for Ira D. Phipps, a dentist who owned the east store and whose name appears above it, and Albert C. Tayler, a shoe retailer who owned the west store. Phipps’s father, Iradell Judson Phipps, was an early settler who purchased 320 acres of land that ultimately became northern Medford and is considered by many to be Medford’s founder. Ira Phipps was deeded this lot by his father.
A.C. Tayler was born in England and after coming to Medford in 1889, he opened a shoe business on this lot. Ultimately, he rented the western space in his new building to other shoe sellers, one of whom, Harvey Field entered into a partnership with V.A. Norris to create Nor-field Shoes, renamed Norris Shoes in 1961 when Norris became the sole owner. Norris Shoes continues in this location.