More on Orrin Morehouse Taylor, My Great Uncle by CB Taylor Kinsella

Orrin Morehouse Taylor, youngest child of Daniel and Delia Taylor, was born on October 21^st, 1865 in Oakfield, NY. 

Orrin’s schooling and later years can be found in previous blog stories:

http://taylorbakercousins.blogspot.com/2017/12/the-taylor-brothers-go-to-college-by_16.html

http://taylorbakercousins.blogspot.com/2018/03/the-three-taylor-brothers-by-cb-taylor.html

On March 4^th, 1894, Orrin married Mary Ladd Armstrong. Together, they had two boys, Laurens Armstrong Taylor and Arthur Henry Taylor.

Mary Armstrong and Orrin Taylor

Laurens, the oldest, went on to work at General Electric and became the holder of 15 patents. He was one of America’s pioneers in short wave radio broadcasting and the development of radar.

Arthur Henry Taylor died of polio at age 20 while he was a sophomore at Cornell.

I never really knew Great Uncle Orrin. He died on Christmas day when I was five years old (1932). I did go over with Mom to visit when he was sick, but did not go into his room which was in the parlor, and was told to be very quiet. 

Mom’s aunt Florence Doran has given Mom a deeper insight into Orrin, her uncle:

“Uncle Orrin was a very precise person. He was always on time and expected everyone else to also be exactly on time. When he traveled by train, he arrived early and stood, watch in hand, checking on railroad times. If it was one minute late, he’d notify the conductor, train master and the man minding the station.

On Sundays, when he was attending church with his parents, he was also exacting about time. He would have announced the time that the buggy was leaving, and stood dressed and ready by the door, watch in hand. They all hastened to do his will!

His home in Geneva, on Castle Street, had a wide frontage, a ‘porte couchere’ on the side of the house, with a screened porch above it, and a long lot lengthwise which covered about 400 feet. The land fell down behind the house to provide room for a large garden of vegetables, etc., and met Castle Creek which ran behind all the homes on that side of the road. There was a lengthy set of steps with a handrail to climb to the lower level of the ground. 

His barn, just behind and to the left of the rear of the house, served as a spacious garage. It was supported in the rear with very large four inch square posts which gave an avenue to a lower door and a chicken coop with wire fencing for outside area when weather allowed.

In the garage area, where the car was parked, was also a long workbench along the side with his tools. Also, several metal canisters, filled with chicken feed, so that daily, as he returned from work, he could take several scoops, spread them on a wooden tray which he then upturned over an opening in the floor in the corner, thereby ‘feeding his chickens’ as it fell into their coop!”

He was very inventive, and in much demand as a local speaker on propagation of fruits. He created many varieties and with one, an exceptionally tasty red raspberry, he was rewarded by having it named after him, the Taylor variety of red raspberry.

Taylor Raspberries, Ripe for the Picking!

Various present day fruit nurseries describe Taylor raspberries:

Variety description: Highly recommended! Large bright red fruit with an excellent flavor. Easy to pick, nearly thornless variety. 'Taylor' bears one heavy crop in mid-summer, usually in the first week of July here in Connecticut. Berries are large, juicy and do not crumble. Vigorous, tall, and productive plants. Great for fresh eating, pies, tarts, jam and freezing. From Geneva, NY ( Cricket Hill Garden)

And from Gurney’s Seed and Nursery:

Taylor (Summer Bearer) Raspberry: Considered by many to be the best-flavored red raspberry. Medium-sized berry is firm; perfect fresh or frozen. Plant is vigorous and very productive.

So, Taylor Raspberries are still here in 2018!

 Orrin and Mary Taylor

CB Taylor Kinsella continues:

Our side back yard garden patch at 30 West Street was planted with this variety of berries. Daddy faithfully trimmed and tended to them, and just as faithfully, everyone picked the berries when ripe.

Harold, Doris and I took Harold’s red wagon and filled it with pints and quarts and toured the blocks around us in season—8 cents a pint and 16 cents a quart! They were great! Neighbors would watch for us. We did the same when Daddy grew melons and used two bushel baskets in the wagon for different sizes—prices were from 5 cents to 30 cents.