Interview with Stuart Taylor, 1969 July 22 [audio]

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  • Introduction and early life; Family and siblings; The trolley into Wilmingotn; Ethnic makeup of the communities on the Brandywine; Learning a trade
    Partial Transcript: "I'm Robert S. Taylor, that's all I know..."
    Synopsis: Taylor says that he was born in Montchanin, Del. in 1892. His grandfather came to the United States from Ireland. He says that most of his family worked for DuPont and the Rising Sun trolley. He talks about the ethnic makeup of the communities on the Brandywine and swimming and ice skating on creek. He talks about learning a trade. He talks about his mother buying groceries for the family.
    Keywords: Brandywine Creek; DuPont Experimental Station; French Americans; Hagley Yard; Ice skating; Irish American; Italian Americans; Montchanin, Del.; Peoples Railway Company (Wilmington, Del.); Street-railroads; Swimming
  • The garden and animals kept by the family; Christmas and Christmas gifts; Taverns and saloons; Politics; Peeling Willows; Explosions at Hagley
    Partial Transcript: "The house we lived in had about five acres of ground...
    Synopsis: Taylor talks about his family's garden and the animals they kept. He says that he never tried alcohol before he was 35. He talks about local taverns and saloons and the types of alcohol consumed there. He talks about local politics when he was young. Taylor talks about the early days of cars and getting around. He describes peeling willows for black powder manufacture. He talks about the local doctor. He briefly discusses explosions at Hagley.
    Keywords: Blakeley's tavern; Cars; Chickens; Christmas; Cows; Dougherty's tavern; Expolsions; Gardens; Gifts; Hagee's tavern; Horses; Lawless' tavern; Pigs; Republican Party; Sam Frizzell's store; Willow trees
  • Aftermath of explosions at Hagley; Fate of the powder mills after their 1921 closure; Eleutherian Mills and Louise du Pont Crowninshield
    Partial Transcript: "I remember the year the packing house went up...
    Synopsis: The audio is very difficult to understand in this section. Taylor talks more about explosions. He talks about what happened to the wives and children of deceased powder men. Taylor talks about firefighting and cleaning up after an explosion. Taylor talks about what happened to the yards after their closure. He talks about work during World War I. Taylor answers questions about Louise du Pont Crowninshield and Eleutherian Mills.
    Keywords: Accidents; Crowninshield, Louise du Pont, 1877-1958; Eleutherian Mills (Greenville, Del. : Estate); Explosions; Firefighting; Hagley Yard; Work; World War (1914-1918)
  • Living in Pennsylvania; Church in community life; World War I; Flooding on the Brandywine Creek; Honey hunts
    Partial Transcript: "Didn't have electricity until I lived up in Pennsylvania."
    Synopsis: Taylor talks about living and working in Pennsylvania. Taylor talks about the role of the church in community social life. He talks about World War I. He talks about Church and Sunday school. Taylor describes flooding on the Brandywine Creek and the self sufficiency of the communities on the Brandywine. Taylor describes "honey hunts" and hazing newcomers.
    Keywords: Brandywine Creek; Christ Church Christiana Hundred (Wilmington, Del.); Church; Electricity; Flooding; Honey hunts; Pennsylvania; Work; World War (1914-1918)
  • Marriage and divorce on the Brandywine; Local rents; World War I bond drives; Working in a shipyard; Mill buildings around Hagley
    Partial Transcript: "I don't know of a single family that busted up, of course there might have been some..."
    Synopsis: Taylor talks about divorce on the Brandywine, and say he personally never heard of it happening. He talks about marriage, and when a young married couple would live in their own home. He talks about renting his home and the costs associated with that. Taylor talks about bond drives and buying Liberty Bonds during World War I. Taylor talks about working as a carpenter in a shipyard. Taylor talks about the way some of the mill buildings in the area around Hagley have been used during his lifetime.
    Keywords: Brandywine Creek; Carpentry; Divorce; Hodgson Bros. woolen mill; Homes; Liberty Bonds; Marriage; Mills; Rent; Shipbuilding
  • Drinking and the temperance movement; Radio and live music; Local politics and speechmaking; Laundry and chores
    Partial Transcript: "We let them sleep it out..."
    Synopsis: Taylor talks about the local temperance movement. He describes a bridge where local drinkers gathered to get drunk. He talks about the first person in the area to get a radio. He talks about local musical groups and local politics. Taylor describes chores and objects around the house. He discusses fueling the stove with coal and doing the laundry.
    Keywords: Drinking; Drunkenness; DuPont Experimental Station; Music; Politicians; Politics; Radios; Tancopanican Band; Temperance movement
Details
Title

Interview with Stuart Taylor, 1969 July 22 [audio]

Date Created

1969-07-22

Abstract

Taylor describes Wilmington in the early twentieth century, including the ethnic makeup of the city, pastimes of young people, learning his trade, the temperance movement, healthcare in the city, church and community life, and other day-to-day routines in the early 1900s. He also describes working conditions during his career.

Interviewee

Taylor, Stuart

Interviewer

Ryff, Allen
Scafidi, John A.

Biographical Note

Robert Stuart Taylor (b. 1892) worked in the powder yard and on the trolley lines in Wilmington. His father worked for a lumber yard.

Note

Very poor recording: lots of tape hiss, clanging sounds. Was copied from original source. Ends abruptly

Subject(s)

Reminiscing
Children
Powder mills

Subject(s)

Wilmington (Del.)

Find all items with name(s)

Taylor, Stuart
Ryff, Allen
Scafidi, John A.

Genre

oral histories

Brand Information

RCA Magnetic Tape Red Seal 1800 ft. 1.0 mil polyester Type 10MLN-18LT

Language

English

Type of resource

sound recording-nonmusical

Extent

1 sound tape reel : 3.75 ips. TRT 1:17:55.

Physical Details

A
1:17:55

Repository

Audiovisual Collections and Digital Initiatives Department, Hagley Museum and Library

Original Collection

Eleutherian Mills-Hagley Foundation interviews on the history of the DuPont Company Powder Yard (Accession 1970.370)

Original Identifier

1970.370.289

Finding Aid

http://findingaids.hagley.org/xtf/view?docId=ead/1970_370.xml

Item Location

Box 6, Reel 289

Preferred Citation

[Description and dates], 1970370_022514_taylor, Box 6, Reel 289, Eleutherian Mills-Hagley Foundation interviews on the history of the DuPont Company Powder Yard (Accession 1970.370), Audiovisual Collections and Digital Initiatives Department, Hagley Museum and Library, Wilmington, DE 19807

Access Condition

Access to this item is provided for educational and research purposes only. The user assumes responsibility for obtaining permission from the copyright holder to publish or distribute this material. If you would like more information, please contact askhagley@hagley.org

Hagley ID

1970370_022514_taylor

PID

islandora:2277557

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