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Riverside Park's Tell Taylor Monument is made up of three carved boulders, designed by Chester P. Smith in 1967. Each bolder carving memorialized aspects of Tell Taylor's famous song "Down by the Old Mill Stream". The carvings include the mill stream mentioned in the song, part of the musical score, and a short biography of Tell Taylor.

Monument

Monument

William Taylor

William Taylor

"Down by the Old Mill Stream" Cover

"Down by the Old Mill Stream" Cover

Newspaper Coverage of Monument

Newspaper Coverage of Monument

Postcard of Monument

Postcard of Monument

Merlin Pitt, from New York, came up with the idea for the monument when he came to Findlay. As a lover of Taylor's song, Pitt was "amazed.. that there was no appropriate memorial" for Taylor. Pitt partnered with the Women's Division of Findlay's Chamber of Commerce and the Findlay Garden Club to properly memorialize Tell Taylor and "Down by the Old Mill Stream." The monument was dedicated on August 25, 1968. 

Tell Taylor was a Findlay native born in 1867. Taylor was an actor and composer who saw success in both New York City and Chicago. While in New York City, Taylor starred in two Broadway musicals and helped          open a music publishing house called Tin Pan Alley. Tell Taylor Music Publishing House was opened during his time 

in Chicago. Taylor wrote "Down by the Old Mill Stream" in 1908, as he was fishing and thinking about a former love. While Tell Taylor left Findlay for a time, he came back to live out the rest of his days. Taylor passed away in 1937, after 61 years of a music filled life.

Research by: Josi Lieb, Ohio Northern University

"Betts Main Speaker At Dedication of Tell Taylor Memorial Site Here." The Republican-Courier Newspaper. Published 26 August 1968. Located at Findlay-Hancock County Public Library.

 

"Community To Honor Composer Tell Taylor In Memorial Dedication". The Republican-Courier Newspaper. Published 24 August 1968. Located at Findlay-Hancock County Public Library.  

Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 16 April 2020), memorial page for Tell Taylor (14 Oct 1876–24 Nov 1937), Find a Grave Memorial no. 8036353, citing Van Horn Cemetery, Vanlue, Hancock County, Ohio, USA ; Maintained by Find A Grave.

 

Findlay Ohio~Down By the Old Mill Stream~Song Memorial Rocks~Tell Taylor~1970s. HipPostcard. 2020. Accessed 16 April 2020. https://www.hippostcard.com/listing/findlay-ohiodown-by-the-old-mill-streamsong-memorial-rockstell-taylor1970s/5850053.

Misamore, Bruce. EarlyJas. 18 May 2011. Accessed 16 April 2020. https://www.earlyjas.org/Personalities/2011/OldMillStream.html.

"Taylor Memorial Funds Coming In". The Republican-Courier Newspaper. Published 22 March 1967. Located at Findlay-Hancock County Public Library. 

 

Tell Taylor. Touring Ohio the Heart of America. 2020. Accessed 16 April 2020. http://touringohio.com/profiles/tell-taylor.html.

"Tell Taylor Memorial Plans Launched Here By Civic Groups; $5,000 Sought". The Republican-Courier Newspaper. Published 11 March 1967. Located at Findlay-Hancock County Public Library. 

 

Tell Taylor Monument. Visit Findlay! Hancock County Convention & Visitors Bureau. 2020. Accessed 16 April 2020. https://visitfindlay.com/places/tell-taylor-monument/.

Image Sources(Click to expand)

Tell Taylor Monument. Visit Findlay! Hancock County Convention & Visitors Bureau. 2020. Accessed 16 April 2020. https://visitfindlay.com/places/tell-taylor-monument/.

Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 16 April 2020), memorial page for Tell Taylor (14 Oct 1876–24 Nov 1937), Find a Grave Memorial no. 8036353, citing Van Horn Cemetery, Vanlue, Hancock County, Ohio, USA ; Maintained by Find A Grave.

Misamore, Bruce. EarlyJas. 18 May 2011. Accessed 16 April 2020. https://www.earlyjas.org/Personalities/2011/OldMillStream.html

"Community To Honor Composer Tell Taylor In Memorial Dedication". The Republican-Courier Newspaper. Published 24 August 1968. Located at Findlay-Hancock County Public Library.

Findlay Ohio~Down By the Old Mill Stream~Song Memorial Rocks~Tell Taylor~1970s. HipPostcard. 2020. Accessed 16 April 2020. https://www.hippostcard.com/listing/findlay-ohiodown-by-the-old-mill-streamsong-memorial-rockstell-taylor1970s/5850053.