Married February 24, 1881, when Nelson Whitford Taylor and Mary Catherine Buckman celebrated their golden wedding anniversary, in their 305 Ann Street home, the event was covered in detail in the February 26, 1931 edition of The Beaufort News.
OBSERVE GOLDEN WEDDING TUESDAY
Mr. and Mrs. Nelson W. Taylor charmingly entertained their many friends Tuesday in celebration of their golden anniversary, at a tea in the afternoon and lovely reception that evening.
Guests were greeted by Miss Georgia Neal, and standing at the entrance to the living room, and introducing guests to the receiving line was Mrs. Hugh Overstreet, of Burgaw. In the receiving line were Mr. and Mrs. Taylor, two of the bridesmaids and best man at the wedding fifty years ago--Mrs. Nannie Thomas, Miss Emma Manson, Mr. Lee Taylor of New Bern--Mrs. Taylor's sister, Mrs. S.M. Buckman of Baltimore, children Mrs. Bessie Taylor O'Bryan, Mr. and Mrs. W.K. Hinnant, Mr. and Mrs. Bayard Taylor, Mrs. Sam Thomas, and close friends, Miss May O'Bryan, and Mr. and Mrs. Bartus Spicer of Washington, D.C.
At the entrance of the music room, greeting guests were Mrs. J.S. Gutsell and Mrs. Joseph House. At the entrance of the dining room stood Mrs. C.L. Duncan. Presiding over the punch bowl were Mrs. Hal Potter and Mrs. Ed. Hancock. Punch, cake and mints were served by the grandchildren, Misses Mary Taylor Hinnant, Mariann Taylor, Catherine and Helen O'Bryan and Master Taylor O'Bryan, and grand nieces Miss Sidney and Julia Thomas.
At the entrance of the dining room form the hall stood Mrs. J.T. Hoggard of Wilmington and Miss Virginia Sloan. As the guests were leaving they registered in the guest book gracefully presided over by Miss Marjoria Lewis and Miss Maybelle Neal.
Mr. and Mrs. N.W. Taylor are greatly loved in Beaufort. He has long been connected with the business life of the town, and has always been interested in anything that would make for the betterment of Beaufort and vicinity. Both have been very active in church and social life of the community and have kept open house for friends throughout the years. Everyone no matter how rich or how poor have always felt welcome in the home, at any time.
Mrs. Taylor was unusually lovely in a creation of gray lace with accessories to match. She wore a lovely corsage of yellow rose-buds. In the evening Mrs. Taylor were a pair of gold slippers, a gift of her grandson.
During the afternoon and evening, there were a number of lovely vocal solos, accompaniments played by Mrs. Joseph House. The program was as follows:
"When You and I Were Young, Maggie"--Mr. J.A. Vache.
"Love's Old Sweet Song"--Mrs. John Brooks.
"Sweet Miss Mary"--Mrs. H.M. Hendrix.
"Believe Me if All Those Endearing Young Charms"--M. Leslie Davis.
"Sweetest Story Ever Told"--Mrs. Buell Cooke.
"Drink to Me Only With Thine Eyes"--Mrs. Bayard Taylor.
A number of messages from loving friends in distant parts of the country were read, also the account of the wedding of Mr. and Mrs. Taylor fifty years ago, which had been preserved through the years in a scrapbook of Mrs. Taylor's.
The large spacious home was beautifully decorated for the occasion. Thousands of jonquils, trailing smilax and bamboo were used effectively throughout the house and over the whole lovely scent gleamed the soft candle light from myriads of yellow candles in brass candlesticks. Gold color was carried out effectively in all parts of the house, and in the refreshment. The gifts were displayed in the music room, on several large tables, each covered with lovely lace covers over gold.
The dining room was unusually lovely in its appointments. In the center of the dining table, which was covered with a beautiful lace cover, was a three-tiered wedding cake, with fifty lighted candles. Extending from the center to the candlesticks were streamers of yellow tulle, ending in fluffy bows. Yellow tapers burned in brass candlesticks.
Punch was served from the far corner of the dining room. The table was lovely in its decoration of bamboo and all over the lace cloth, which extended to the floor on all sides, were small bunches of jonquils and fern.
Just thirty-one years ago in October in the same home, Mr. and Mrs. Taylor celebrated the golden anniversary of Mrs. Taylor's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Edward S. Buckman. The home is fraught with many tender memories, Mr. and Mrs. Taylor having spent many of their married years in that house.
Several hundred guests called during the afternoon and evening, and Mr. and Mrs. Taylor were recipients of many lovely gifts. One remembrance that will be held perhaps most dear by Mrs. Taylor is a poem written by a little twelve-year-old friend, Mary Elizabeth Stevens, and attractively arranged, bound in gold paper reads:
Just fifty years ago today
They promised to love and to obey,
Their hearts were happy and filled with cheer,
A toast was drunk, "Health, many a year!
In t hat simple town they've lived together
Through darkness and sunshine and all sort of weather,
Their home has been blest with children most true
Their love has reached out
The whole country through.
Neither lock nor key has there
Been to their door.
Not a foot in that town but
Has danced on that floor.
When one goes there hungry,
They're sure to be fed.
When one goes there tired,
There's always a bed.
But there's something beyond this
That comes from above
It's greater than "welcome"
It's the essence of love.
So let us repeat those far away cheers
Health, God's blessing,
Many more years!
Monday evening Mr. and Mrs. Taylor had as their special guests at dinner, the bridesmaids and best man who have been spared to celebrate the anniversary with them. Mrs. Nannie Thomas, Miss Emma Manson, Mrs. Eva Journey of Mount Olive, Mr. Lee Taylor of New Bern and house guest and sister, Mrs. S.M. Buckman. During the evening the old scrapbook was brought out, one that has been treasured by Mrs. Taylor through the years, and many were the reminiscences enjoyed by all. In the scrapbook Mrs. Taylor has lovingly kept accounts of the happy and the sad events in the families of her own, her children and her friends.
The dining table for this occasion was lovely in its appointment, the center being a low bowl of jonquils, and gold china and gold-banded glassware, gifts for Mr. and Mrs. Taylor being used. A four-course turkey dinner was served.