Taylortown - A historical account of how Taylortown bega

History & Histories of Moore County Towns and Places Aberdeen, Cameron Carthage, Jackson Springs, Pinebluff, Pinehurst, Robbins, Seven Lakes, Southern Pines, Taylortown, West End, Whispering Pines, Daniel Blue farm, & Civil War Letters in and around The Sandhills of North Carolina. Golf history in Pinehurst pictures of Donald Ross out side the Pinehurst Country Club and Pinehurst #2 course

Taylortown in Moore County, Taylortown in North Carolina, Taylortown in the Sandhills, Taylortown history, story of Taylortown, Town of Taylortown

Taylortown

In the early 1900’s Demus Taylor was directing construction around Pinehurst. Demus Taylor’s grandfather was one of the first African slaves brought to the new world. Demus Taylor is a descendant of the Western African tribe known as Ebu.
    Taylor purchased land from the Tufts family with hopes of beginning a community. His goal was to build a town for the men and women who worked on Tufts’ new golf course and buildings. Taylor’s town soon became the home for employees who were the lifeblood of Pinehurst. Taylortown was originally called Old Settlement, and was located directly across highway 211 from where it (Taylortown) resides today. Old Settlement was later renamed Taylortown in honor of its builder.
    Demus Taylor’s son Robert Taylor operated a small café that served as a gathering spot for the settlement. Robert also helped found a school for the children of the settlement, known as Academy Heights. A new year round school was established in the early 1990’s near the same area as the original and was appropriately named Academy Heights in honor of the early school.
    Geneva McRae was a pupil of the original Academy Heights School. She was born in Red Springs, but later moved to the Pinehurst Area and graduated from Academy Heights High School. After serving in the Army during World War II, Geneva returned to New York City and became certified to teach. She later worked for the New York State Employment Service where she helped supervise the city’s first Job Service Corps Center. After her retirement she came back to Taylortown. Geneva participated in the formation of Taylortown Ministerial Alliance; this led to a campaign to incorporate Taylortown.
    On July 15^th, 1987 Taylortown was incorporated and Geneva McRae served as mayor for two terms. Today Taylortown has a population of almost 900 residents and reflects the legacy of Demus and Robert Taylor. Taylortown is a community proud of it’s heritage as well as the courage and leadership of it’s creators.