Guard, Thomas, House
a.k.a. Wylie House; Leonard House;3-2-3-15-20
240 Kaiulani St., Hilo, HIThis site is significant based on a combination of architectural interest and historical association. The house is unique in Hilo, Hawaii, for its Neoclassical Revival style and open breezeways that were more typical of plantation houses in the Southern Part of the United States at the time. The style reflects the influence of the Columbia World Exposition where concepts of the "City Beautiful" created many Neoclassical towns throughout the United States. The use of the vast lanai, wide overhangs, and large windows show a consciousness of Hawai'i's tropical climate. It is one of the most intact examples of a house and site built during this era in Hawaii.
The building has further significance in that the architects, Ripley & Davis, were notable architects from Honolulu, Hawaii during the 1910-1930s. Clinton Briggs Ripley was born in 1849 and Louis Edward Davis was born in 1884. Both had begun their architectural careers in other towns before coming to Honolulu to set up practice. Ripley worked in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Los Angeles, California, Manila, Philippines, and Oakland, California before starting his firm in 1910. Although he had no formal training in architecture, Ripley's designs have been widely recognized in Honolulu architecture.
Ripley formed partnerships with various well-known architects, including C.W. Dickey (his partnership with Dickey provided such landmarks as the Stangenwald Building, Progress Block Building), Makiki Fire Station and numerous homes of the wealthy) and Arthur Reynolds, one of the first partnerships in Honolulu. It was a prolific partnership producing such notable buildings as Pauahi Hall at Punahou--National Register, Hawaii Hall at the University--State Register, the Kamehameha School for Girls and other prestigious commissions. Reynolds went out on his own in 1913, and Ripley made a new partnership with Louis E. Davis (designer of McKinley High School, Old Tax Office and many other significant buildings throughout the state).
The owner/builder, Thomas Guard, was an executive with Theo. H. Davies Co. Ltd., (Sugar Factors, Merchants and Commission Agents; Agents for Lloyds) where he began working as an office boy at the age of fifteen. He quickly rose in the company to become its vice president, and when he died in 1964 at the age of 83, he had been with Davies for some 55 years. Mr. Guard left Hilo in about 1928 to move to Honolulu. Mr. Guard sold the house to Mr. George Sherman of Honolulu when Mr. Guard was transferred from Hilo to Oahu. Mr. Sherman did not live in the house but rented it to a widowed piano teacher, Mrs. Lewis. Around 1933, Mr. And Mrs. George Watt purchased the property but did not move into the house until 1935. The only change the Watts made to the property was to enclose the northern lanai with windows to keep out the Hilo rains. William and Elizabeth Watt Wylie (daughter of George Watt) moved into the house in 1964, a few years after her parent's death. Mr. Wylie passed away in 1982, and Mrs. Wylie passed away in 1997. The property was purchased from the Wylie Estate on June 7, 2002, by George M. and Barbara J.B. Leonard, who currently reside on the property.
Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 2003.
The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation’s historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and archeological resources.