Update: After multiple postponements, the house was auctioned in September 2021 and sold for $138,470 on November 16, 2021.
Prince Taylor bought a piece of land in Browns Summit from Ceasar and Jeannette Cone in 1903. It cost $164. The lot was described as “being lot no 1 Block C Ceasar Cone’s subdivision adjacent to the city of Greensboro.”
Prince built his house there in 1913, according to county records, but it may have been earlier (property records that old aren’t always exactly correct). He was a blacksmith, and he kept working until about 10 days before he died in 1953 at age 87. The home stayed in his family until his last surviving daughter sold it in 1987.
The house, at 4606 N.C. Highway 150 East in Browns Summit, has been scheduled to be auctioned twice, in 2020 and 2021. Both auctions were canceled. It was last sold for $115,000 in 2005. It has four bedrooms and one bathroom in 2,224 square feet. The lot is 1.15 acres.
The house is a classic vernacular Queen Anne. It has a porch across the front and a bay window on the first floor. As is typical with houses to be auctioned, the listing includes no interior pictures.
Prince and Georgia Floyd Taylor had at least four children. Based on hints from various sources, there could have been as many as seven, but details are few. James was a sergeant in the 164th Depot Brigade in World War I. Mamie was a teacher. George followed his father into the blacksmith trade. Annie, their last surviving daughter and perhaps the youngest, was born in 1899 and lived until 1992. I haven’t found anything about Prince Taylor Jr. except his name.
Georgia died in 1922 at age 51 or 52; the cause was listed as “heart dropsy” (possibly congestive heart failure) and cancer. She was originally from Kittrell in Vance County.
Prince’s obituary from the Greensboro Daily News, January 11, 1953:
Veteran Blacksmith Claimed By Death
Prince E. Taylor, 87 year-old Brown Summit Negro blacksmith, died Friday at his home following a short illness. The elderly blacksmith had worked at his trade for more than 50 years. He continued to work until the last day of 1952 and became ill on New Year’s Eve. He is survived by four daughters, two sisters and three grandchildren. Funeral will be conducted at 2 p.m. Monday at the Locust Grove Baptist Church. Burial will be in the church cemetery.
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