Taylor Pork Roll History | A Timeline
1763-83
Col. John Taylor makes minced ham for Revolutionary soldiers
1836
John S. Taylor born 10.8.1836
1849
President of Ex-Volunteer Fire Dept., Harmony #4
1856
John Taylor refines grandfather’s recipe to create Taylor Prepared Ham
1859
Works in the Academy St. grocery store with D.P. Forst in Trenton, NJ. Supplied Civil War Troops
1860
Marries Catherine Rowley.
Gen. Lewis Perrine sold south part of Perrine Farm to Taylor and Forst. Yards built in 1870.
1866
Organized and President of the Trenton Hall & Building Association
1861-1877
Civil War
1867
Taylor Opera House built and opened on March 18. Post office housed here. Fred McNeely postmaster.
1868
June 25, organized and 1st VP of Trenton Board of Trade
1869
Feb. 23, Mark Twain performs “Vandals” lecture in Taylor Hall.
Dec. 15, Washington Market Assoc. is formed. Masonic Lodge #5 occupies space in Taylor Opera House.
1870
April 1, Taylor Market opened, and the Greene St. Market is demolished.
1872
Left grocery store to begin packing & cattle business. Member of the Lotus Club.
1877
Inauguration of Gov. George McClellan at Taylor Opera House.
1880
John Taylor NJ State Senator 1880-1883
1884
Member of Trenton Battle Monument Assoc.
1885
Board of Director for Union Library Co. Chairman of Finance Committee on City Council.
Director oF First national Bank. Director of Peoples Electric Light co. Controlling Interest in Union Pottery Co.
1888
The Taylor provisions Company is created. Son William is the secretary.
The inter-state Fair broke ground in july, co-founded with John Guild Muirheid. Sept-Fair opened with the motto: “Bold, Brilliant, Successful.”
1891
Dec. 26, the cornerstone is laid for Washington’s Battle Monument.
Commemorative Program held at Taylor Opera House. Son Harry is the manager.
1901
125th Anniversary of the Battle of Trenton program at Opera House.
1903
Trenton Vaudeville Theatre opened built by Taylor Hall Assoc.
1906
Taylor Ham renamed Taylor pork Roll due to ruling with the Pure food & Drug Act.
1909
Feb. 10, John Taylor dies. 1916 son Harry dies.
1910-1914-1917
Inauguration of NJ Gov: 1910 Woodrow Wilson, 1924 James F. Fielder, 1917 Walter E. Edge. All held in the Taylor Opera House.
1919
Nov. 8, both the Trent Theatre and Taylor Opera House were sold to Frank V. Storss of New York.
The Opera House was converted into a RKO theatre in 1921.
It was razed in 1969 and parking lot was put in for the bank next door.
1939
World War II, 1939-1945.
1939-40 Taylor Pork Roll Exhibit at the NY World’s Fair. Son William dies later that year.
1940
After the success of the NY World’s Fair, Taylor Sandwich Shops opened in Trenton, Philadelphia, and Union.
1940
Taylor Sandwich Shops open in Asbury Park, Seaside, Atlantic City, Ocean City, Wildwood, and Cape May, NJ. The last one closed in the early 1980s.
1950
Taylor Provisions Company gave annually to The Delaware Valley United Fund.
1960
Taylor Provisions sets up a display in the Better Living Center at the 1964 New York World’s Fair.
1965
The Taylor Provisions Company gave annual donations to the Hun School of Princeton’s building fund
1990
Sponsor’s of the Trenton Thunder baseball team. A sign on the outfield wall promoting Trenton Pork Roll.
2010
Sign changed to Taylor Pork Roll for Trenton Thunder baseball in 2011.
2023
Sponsor of the New Egypt Speedway. Taylor Pork Roll Sign on Route 539. Kids bike and pork roll giveaways.
