The location of TAYLOR'S at the corner of the U.S. Hwy 41 and University Avenue has always been ideal. When lots were first made available for lease in 1869, George S. Fairbanks claimed Lot #1, the lot where today stands TAYLOR'S. For 100 years the railroad tracks for Sewanee were just behind the depots facing the building, in similar fashion to the 1960s depot and highway today.
The original building housed the P.S. BROOKS DRY GOODS STORE, and following Fairbanks' death, Mrs. Brooks acquired the lease from Mrs. Fairbanks. The picture of cadets lining the street for President Taft's visit in 1911 shows a wooden two-story structure with front porch extending into the street. That building burned in 1916, and was rapidly rebuilt with different materials and its shape and size is what you see today. See entry for TAFT'S VISIT.
The building was purchased by William Hamilton, local electrician, in 1963 to be used as a hardware store. Including Taylor's tenure, this lease has seen only a handful of businesses in 150 years.
IN BUSINESS AGAIN 24 HOURS AFTER FIRE
Remarkable Record by Brooks & Co., Sewanee, Made Possible by Nashville Firm.
One of the most remarkable records for the re-establishment of a business destroyed by fire has just been made by P.S. Brooks & Co., Sewanee grocers. The prompt handling of their business by C.T. Cheek & Sons, wholesale grocers of Nashville, made this record possible, and naturally "Cheek" feels as proud of the accomplishment as Brooks & Co.
Twenty-four hours from the time P.S. Brooks & Co. were burned out at 2 p.m. on Friday, June 23, Marion Talley, traveling salesman in that territory for C.T. Cheek & Sons, had booked an order for $1,500 worth of fresh, new merchandise, had sent it to his house by long distance telephone, and in spite of the fact that the depots close at 4 p.m., the company made shipment that very afternoon, with the result that Brooks & Co. were open for business the very next day.
For twenty years P.S. Brooks & Co. have bought practically all of their groceries fron C.T. Cheek & Sons. They are considered among the strongest retail merchants of Middle Tennessee
Nashville Tennessean and the Nashville American (1910-1920); Jul 2, 1916; ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The Nashville Tennessean pg. 13C
Photos courtesy of Mary O'Neill, Ken Taylor and University Archives