One thing I have found while researching the pork roll phenomenon, John
Taylor wins hands down as to historic longevity. John Taylor's product
goes back to England when a Taylor family member provided pork products
to the royal family. That fact, along with the fact that John Taylor was
direct descendant of the British Taylors, led to his setting up shop in
Trenton. First in the mid 19th century in an austere establishment in
the Academy Street area. In 1870 he moved into the
expansive farm property shown in this exquisite engraving from the year
1875 which I find was at the foot of today's Perrine Avenue in Trenton.
Little wonder that it was known far and wide back in the 19th century
as "Taylor Ham." I have also learned that It was John Taylor who
invented "pork roll in a bag.;" so popular in modern times.
Another
very interesting and little known fact: Back in the 19th century, Sand
Hills (today's Yardville) was a major pork shipping center receiving the
products from neighboring pork farmers and sending them north or south
from the Sand Hills railroad depot.
