Photo courtesy of University of Washington libraries, Asahel Curtis Collection CUR788, circa 1910
In earlier posts re the Denny Renton Clay & Coal Plant, the Kummer Mine and the Johnson Clay Mine, we focused on the role that clay mining and manufacturing played in the early history of our region. Add Taylor to the list. Thanks to an extension of the Columbia and Puget Sound Railroad from Maple Valley, through Hobart and then on to what became known as Taylor, a new town was born. Taylor apparently was a company town originally owned by a Scotsman named Sam Galloway who discovered deposits of coal and clay around 1892. As with the mine at Kummer, Galloway eventually sold out (for the big sum of $64,000) to what became known as the Denny-Renton Clay and Coal Company. Bricks manufactured here played an important role in the reconstruction of Seattle following the disasterous fire of 1889.
From what we know, Taylor's population rose to nearly 1,000 by 1900 with 135 men working in the coal mine that fueled the kilns for the clay products. High quality clay was also mined here and served as the basic raw material for the manufacture of bricks. From what I am told, the coal was not of "saleable" quality but did serve to fire the ovens that produced the brick and other clay products. According to an article in the Maple Valley Reporter by Barb Nilson, the first generation population consisted of "250 Americans, 80 Italians, 53 English, 37 Finnish, 13 Polish, 16 Slovakians, 36 Slovanians, 11 Swedish, 11 Welsh, 6 Russians, 2 Scotch, 2 Lithuanians and a Letish. In the 1920's, English as a Second Language was being taught in the school in Taylor."
Photo courtesy of University of Washington Libraries, Asahel Curtis Collection CUR787, Circa 1910
Notice the company housing in the photo above top right.
In March 1927, a company from California called Gladding, McBean & Co. purchased all of the Denny-Renton properties including Kummer, Denny-Renton and Taylor. No doubt, Mr. Denny pocketed quite a bundle, especially since he sold just prior to the stock market collapse of 1929. Clay mining and products were now big time here and continued well into the 1940's.
So what happened to Taylor to wipe it off the face of the earth? The Depression of the 1930's no doubt accelerated the process of decline and the town became but a remnant of it's earlier self during this period. But the real death knell came when the City of Seattle concluded that mining activities were contributing to the pollution of their water supply, now know as the Cedar River Watershed. By the powers vested, the City of Seattle condemned the property and all mining and manufacturing operations ceased. The town was dismantled in the summer of 1947 and approximately 10 homes were moved to Hobart and Maple Valley.
So, Taylor is no more - sort of. In a future post, will take you on a great hike around Taylor Mountain.
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