The photos here are from Stephanie Coleman Elliott. Her grandparents lived on Taylors Island in the 1920s for about 6 years or so. Her grandfather had a portable saw mill and he got a contract to clear land on the island. He stayed part of the time at the home of Mr. Loft of Loft's Candy Company out of Baltimore. Mr. Loft had a vacation home there and her grandparents house sat for them. Her aunt attended school on the island. When they returned home (Columbia, Del, near Delmar, Sharptown, Mardela, and Hebron) they brought with them Lawrence Hooper, who was African American, deaf and didn't speak very well. He was in his 20s and became very close to her grandfather and wanted to go with him when they left the island. He lived with them the rest of his life and died when he was about 78.
Thank you Stephanie for sharing these wonderful images of our island's history.
Thank you Stephanie for sharing these wonderful images of our island's history.
Above photo: 4th of July celebration at home (Loft property) with Cooper family & Taylors Island Maryland friends.
Boat at Taylor's Island, Md, 1920s
Above: Little gasoline boat in Oyster Creek
Capt. Sherman Cooper with Margaret Cooper, Leon Brannock, Harlan & Robert Horseman, dogs Spot & Kike in Slaughter Creek, Taylor's Island, Md c. 1924"
Above: Sherman Cooper & Margaret at Edmonson property on Taylors Island Maryland Home from Nov. 11, 1924 - Sept. 27, 1927
Aunt Maggie at home on Taylor's Island, Md, 1926. Edmondson Property
Margaret Ellen Cooper (right) at Taylor's Island. B.E. Harrington Residence in background
Margaret Cooper on ice piled up from the Little Choptank River, on Loft property, Taylor's Island, Md, 1929
Margaret Cooper (standing on left) at Hoopers Neck,Taylors Island, Maryland - home sweet home in the woods - 1923-1924. — in Delmar, Delaware.
Lawrence Hooper shortly after moving to Delaware with Sherman & Beula Cooper.
This is a picture of Lawrence Hooper. He was deaf and didn't speak very well. In the 1920s he was in his 20s and became very close to Stephanie’s grandfather Sherman Cooper. Lawrence, who was called “Bo” lived with Cooper family while they stayed on Taylors Island for several years. After the Cooper family left Taylors Island he went with them and lived as part of their family until he died at age 78. He was very much a part of Stephanie’s family, having been around since before her mom was born. He was even buried in the family cemetery alongside Stephanie’s grandpop whom he idolized. The Cooper family only ever knew of one relative that Lawrence had – an aunt. After he moved with the Cooper family, Lawrence’s aunt, around 1930, tried to get him to go back with her, but he refused.
This is a picture of Lawrence Hooper. He was deaf and didn't speak very well. In the 1920s he was in his 20s and became very close to Stephanie’s grandfather Sherman Cooper. Lawrence, who was called “Bo” lived with Cooper family while they stayed on Taylors Island for several years. After the Cooper family left Taylors Island he went with them and lived as part of their family until he died at age 78. He was very much a part of Stephanie’s family, having been around since before her mom was born. He was even buried in the family cemetery alongside Stephanie’s grandpop whom he idolized. The Cooper family only ever knew of one relative that Lawrence had – an aunt. After he moved with the Cooper family, Lawrence’s aunt, around 1930, tried to get him to go back with her, but he refused.
Home for a while - Sept. 27, 1927 - March 14, 1929. George Loft Home, formerly Richard Spellman home
Sherman Cooper (left) and brother Clyde on their steam powered portable saw mill called "Old Smutty Bill". Used in Taylor's Island, Md. from 1924 - 1929
Margaret Ellen Cooper, 1929. On dock in Oyster Creek when creek frozen over, Taylor's Island, Md
Sherman Cooper, Margaret Cooper & Teaser on Taylors Island.
Margaret Cooper, Mary Frances Harrington, Emeline Slacum at Margaret's home at Taylor's Island. Roberts and Caton residences and schoolhouse in background. 1920s.
At the saw mill at Taylor's Island, Md, Sherman Cooper and team hauling lumber down to the wharf, 1924.
Oxen steering team at the saw mill in Taylor's Island, Md. 1920s
Sherman Cooper and team hauling big timbers at The Nest, near home in the woods.Taylor's Island, Md, 1924
Margaret Cooper and Aline Travers, Chesapeake Bay, Taylor's Island, Md, c. 1928
Bungalow on Kitchen Point, Chesapeake Bay, Taylor's Island, Md. 1920s
Margaret Cooper (8 yrs old) with kittens (Grace Ann and Fusty Boots) at the Saw Mill at Taylor's Island, Md., 1924
Margaret Cooper at saw mill in Taylor's Island, 1924
