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TAYLOR ENTERPRISES:

The Work Ethic at Work ICE - COAL - SCHOOL BUSSES

Pauline drove 33 years, from 1950 to 1983. Her father drove from 1928 until his death, 22 years; together they totaled 55 years of private contracting.

Sociologists today lament the death of the work ethic in modern America; it was alive and well when George W. Taylor came to Brunswick, and he continued the trend with his family. His primary career was the railroad, but he purposely branched out into other businesses as an example for his family and to keep them occupied and out of trouble. Having eight children is a real incentive to set an example of energy, ambition, and enthusiasm, and it all led to an uncommon success story. George was a railroader on the B&O before coming to Brunswick, but was not satisfied with just one job. The town existed south of the westbound tracks, and he first branched out with a livery stable that he bought from a Mr. Hoffmaster. Next he started the ice delivery business with a horse and wagon. He bought ice from Mr. Flicker, who manufactured it in a building to the rear of Litten's. Flicker's office was at one end; Taylor built an office at the other end. Flicker made ice in blocks of different weight and supplied the Taylors until T. S. Michael of Frederick became their source. Three of the sons had trucks and their own routes to serve; Ellsworth ("Beany') for instance, supplied Rohrersville and other areas of Washington County. Both "Beany and Palmer worked on the railroad in addition to their other jobs. After Flicker left, Taylors moved to the long one-story commercial building on Petersville road. Storage was at the left, machinery and rest rooms in the middle, office at the right end, and loading platform in front. A filling station completed this business. Coal was the other season's product. Their storage house for this was at the other end of town, across from the Moose Home. The railroad's gondola cars transported the coal. This two-story building was destroyed by the Potomac River flood of 1936; the trucks were saved, but the coal business ceased. Taylor's busses transported two generations or more of children to school. George Taylor began in 1928. At first there was a fee for transporting high school students, but none for elementary children. In time, George and his son Stanley began driving their own busses with ten-year contracts. At George's death in 1950, his will gave the bus to his daughter, Pauline, who conducted the service until retirement in 1983. Stanley continued driving his own bus, but gave that up in the 1940's and moved to Washington, D.C.

S - Pauline Taylor W-MMM

INSURANCE

PHILLIPS INSURANCE AGENCY, INC. Preston N. Phillips started the business which bears his name on a part-time basis in 1943 while still employed at the Brunswick Y.M.C.A. By 1944 he was a full-time agent with an office at 4 West Potomac Street, selling auto, fire, health and life insurance. A growing business forced a move to larger quarters at 16 West Potomac Street. His children, Bill, Marvin, and Janet, worked for him in the business. In 1963, "Pres" Phillips died and son Marvin took over the business. In 1964 the office was moved to 7 West Potomac Street and several agencies were purchased and combined with the original. On June 1, 1968, Marvin Phillips sold the agency to Jacob R. Ramsburg, Sr., J. R. Ramsburg, Jr., and Robert C. Lindquist. A.t this time, the agency was incorporated and continued to use the name of Phillips Insurance Agency, Inc., with the permission of Margaret Phillips. On January 1987 the office moved to 50 Souder Road in the Brunswick Shopping Center. Coverages offered have been widened to include business, homeowners, and bonds. Millie K. Burch joined the firm in 1960 and worked nearly 25 years. Current employees are JoAnn Lewis, since May 1962, and Ernestine B. Morgan, since June 1973. W - Millie Kidwell Burch

SHAFER AND BOWERS INSURANCE COMPANY Today Louise Nicodemus Porter wears with pride a Bulova wrist watch left by her Aunt Eva (Nicodemus) Shafer. Miss Eva (EV-va), as she was called, was the wife of Edward C. Shafer, who founded Shafer and Bowers Insurance Co., with Charles Bowers who later became president of the

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