progressive pottery

T

to Roseville's short-lived Progressive

Pottery Co. is the 1901 Ohio State Inspector of

Factories Report, which lists it as employing

three men manufacturing cooking ware, east of

Main Street in Roseville.

The exact location of the Progressive Pottery

appears to have been just west of the South Fork

of Jonathan Creek, north of Sioux Place, earlier

the site of the J.L. Weaver pottery and most rec'.:

ntly of the Cookson Pottery. Searching the

gravel access road immediately behind the existing

buildings reveals numerous sherds of pottery

identical to pieces of Progressive Pottery ware,

even including portions of the impressed marks.

The Jun~ 29, 1903, issue of

Record

Roseville, has sold his Progressive Pottery Co. to

James Miller, Charles Golden [1857-1918], and

James Armstrong. Valuable additions were to be

made by the new owners. The company was reorganized

(December 29, 1903

OJ.

sold their holdings to F.M. Rider [Francis M.

Rider 1862-1943] and Dr. G. W. W. Walker

[1828-1913]. "The new company will push the

business." (The inconsistency in first names of

Golden and Armstrong in these two notices is a

common problem in early trade journals.)

Some excitement and a tragedy occurred

when, on the second attempt to fire up the boilers

in the plant, the boilers turned red hot and were

ruined. Although there was no explosion, Alva

Rider [1854-1904], a farmer, fell dead

Clay Record,

Finally, a short time later, the Progressive Pottery

was incorporated with $10,000 capital stock

Top, a Progressive Pottery stoneware bowl (see the mark on Page 3); middle,

a very rare beanpot; and bottom, sherds from Jim's recent dig at the

pottery's site. The Progressive Pottery Company was located on the site of

the former Cookson pottery. [Photos courtesy of James L. Murphy.]