Resident Profile

Allerton House at Central Park - Resident Profile

Ellen (also known as Rose) and William Taylor, residents of Allerton House at Central Park in Weymouth will be celebrating their 64th wedding anniversary in October.  When asked how they met, Mr. Taylor's initial response was, "You don't really want to hear that tale, do you?" But with very little encouragement, he acquiesced.

In 1935 Mr. Taylor was signed by the Boston Braves and was playing in Nova Scotia on the Canadian American League. He was staying in a boarding house, very lonely and homesick. One afternoon his roommate and he happened to be at the Westville, Nova Scotia Post Office when a beautiful, petite, dark- haired girl came in. "I couldn't take my eyes off of her. I asked my roommate who she was, and he replied, 'Rose Chaisson', and I said 'she's mine'."  Mr. Taylor was so intrigued by her that he followed her out of the Post Office, but lost sight of her in the crowd before he could catch up with her. A week or two later, they met officially at a local dance, and continued to court for two years before they married.

Although Mrs. Taylor doesn't recall being 'stalked' by her future husband, she does remember how exciting it was to come to the States to visit him.  When Bill had returned to Weymouth and was working as a major league scout for the Boston Braves, Mrs. Taylor visited for what was supposed to be a two-week visit, staying with Bill's sister Ruth and her husband Joe, and stayed for six months.  She visited for lengthy stays, until she was "nearly deported", before Bill and she were married at St. Jerome's Church in North Weymouth.

When asked about their move to Allerton House, Mrs. Taylor considers herself and Mr. Taylor as 'exceptions to the rule'. "So often people move to assisted living when they're alone or after their health has declined. That's not the way Bill and I operate. We're a team. Nobody made this decision for us. We wanted to make this move together, as a couple, while we could enjoy everything Allerton House has to offer." 

Both Mr. and Mrs. Taylor are quick to point out that moving to Allerton House was a decision that did not come easily or quickly, Mrs. Taylor explains, "We both loved our West Yarmouth home.  We had been there for 30 years, and we adored Cape Cod.  But, as time passed, we agreed that to continue to live well and independently, we needed to make a change."

Mr. Taylor adds, "At first I was worried that this new lifestyle would be very regimented; that I'd feel like it was a camp.  Nothing could have been further from the truth.  I love having the option, when the spirit moves me, of going to the daily programs, especially the musical ones.  But you have total freedom here.  You have all kinds of choices.  The food is great and the staff is superb.  I grew up in Weymouth, and Ellen and I had lived in East, North, and South Weymouth before moving to the Cape.  We knew several people prior to our move.  That made things easier, but we've also made a number of new friends since we arrived."