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TAYLOR,
TEXASWilliamson
County, Texas
Hill Country
Intersection of US 79 and Hwy 95
35 miles NE of
Austin
Population: 11,472 (1990) 13,575 (2000)
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Birds-eye
view of Taylor, Texas, looking North West
Photo courtesy texasoldphotos.com |
Taylor
had several prosperous periods, sponsored in a large part by the cattle and cotton
industries.
One inventive theater/candy shop owner invented a sauerkraut-flavored
candy that was popular with locals, but failed to catch on nationally. The secret
of his success was having two long rows of candy cabinets on either side of the
theater's recessed entry. Moviegoers would be forced to run the tempting gauntlet,
and passersby could buy even if they didn't want to see the show.
Taylor Hotels
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Looking
North on Main Street, Taylor, Texas
Photo courtesy texasoldphotos.com |
| | Immanuel
Lutheran Church in Taylor
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, April 2005 | |
| Contact
the Chamber for a driving tour map. Taylor has a wonderful array of 19th
Century buildings that went up after their devastating fire in 1879. Sunday
is a great day to visit downtown. Architectural details abound in cast iron staircase
supports, granite building corner protectors (at least one) and stained glass
and stone. Several antique shops are open and so is the Moody Museum.
Taylor Public Library
More of Taylor's interesting and frequently
offbeat history can be found at the Taylor Public Library at 721 Vance
Street. 512-352-3434. Moody
Museum by Mike Cox
Famous Sons
This restored
Victorian House (c. 1887) was the birthplace of Governor Dan Moody. While
he's always mentioned for prosecuting the KKK in Williamson County, he also brought
honesty back to State Government after the corrupt reign of the Fergusons (A Ma
and Pa business, if ever there was one), reclaiming hundreds of thousands of dollars
for Texas. As Governor, he also declared martial law in Borger and sent in Texas
Rangers to clean up the lawless element. Other
famous sons include actor "Rip"
Torn and Bill
Pickett who liked his meat rare. Pickett was honored posthumously with
a postage stamp partially because of his talent of "bulldogging" or throwing a
bull by biting its upper lip. Someone suggested a festival based on this unusual
talent, but Taylorites decided they would rather sack rattlesnakes.
Event
Plan to visit the Taylor Rattlesnake Sacking Championships
in March. Like Dave Berry says: "We are not making this up." Call the Chamber.
Taylor
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Taylor
Stories
Battle
of Brushy Creek
by Mike Cox
More than a decade before Texas celebrated a centennial
of independence from Mexico by putting up hundreds of historical markers across
the state, the school children of Taylor collected money for a stone marker commemorating
a little-known fight between Comanche warriors and Texas Rangers called the Battle
of Brushy Creek. ... moreThe
Banker by
Mike Cox |
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Former
theatre in Taylor
TE photo |
Taylor
Architecture Past & Present |
| | The
Odd Fellows Building in Taylor
TE Photo, 2004 | |
Nearby
Destinations
Hwy
95 South 16 miles to Elgin via Coupland with
its picturesque downtown and railroad depot, another 17 miles south to Bastrop.
Hwy 95 North
34 miles to Temple.
Hwy
79 West 17 miles to Round Rock,
then I-35 South 18 miles to Austin.
Taylor
Tourist Information
Taylor
Chamber of Commerce - 512-365-8485
1519 North Main, Taylor, Texas 76574
Website: www.taylorchamber.org
Taylor
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Taylor
Texas Forum Subject:
Blazimar Hotel
Those
of us born and raised in Taylor know that the Blazimar (spelling correction) was
named after Bland, Zizinia and Marse. We are unsure of who the Zilkers might be
as they or unknown to Taylorites. By the way, I checked the Taylor Public Library
archives to be certain of my information and the spelling of The Blazimar. Thank
you, Ella Jez, March 10, 2009
Subject:
Blazilmar Hotel story
Dear TE, My grandparents (Paul and Eureka Ferguson) managed the Blazimar
hotel in Taylor, Texas, in the late 1950s and I spent several summers there.
I well remember James the elevator man and even helped as his special assistant
sometimes when he was busy with some chore my grandmother thought up. He taught
me how to ease the lever down to stop exactly even with the floor so the guest
doesn't trip.
Your reminiscence page brought back such a flood of old
memories it makes me eager to write an article for your magazine. Meanwhile, [here
is] my 2004 short story, set in 1958 at the Blazilmar. "Waiting
for Elvis" is fiction, but based on actual events. It won second place in
the Denver Woman's Press Club ---- In-House Writer's Contest in 2005! - Shere
Chamness, August 22, 2007
Subject:
Hotel
Blazimar
I grew up in Taylor also and I remember the Blazimar Hotel very well. I have a
brother that worked across the street at the Blazilmar garage as a mechanic. I
remember coming home from boot camp from San Diego and arriving on a greyhound
bus. - Bennie Mitchell, Amarillo Texas, March 18, 2006
I'm
looking for historic information about Taylor Texas. My father James Vester Taylor
was born and grew up there. His father, Christopher Columbus Taylor, married to
Mary Alice Taylor had a cotton farm there for their adult life. My father told
me that we were descendents of the naming Taylor, but he is since deceased and
I have no further information. Can you refer me to any links, books, etc., where
I might find information. Your site brought back memories. - Vera (Taylor),
Seattle, Washington, December 04, 2005
Thank
you sooo much for your coverage of Taylor! We really do appreciate it. You do
great work for our small towns! - Shelly Hargrove, Main Street Project Manager
©
John Troesser
Related
Topics: Texas | Online
Magazine | Texas Towns | Texas
Hill Country
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