Louisville Stoneware facts for kids
Stoneware & Co. is a company that makes special pottery called stoneware. It's located in the Highlands area of Louisville, Kentucky. This company is very old, starting way back in 1815. That makes it one of the oldest stoneware makers in the United States!
Stoneware & Co. is famous for decorating its pottery with fun themes like the Kentucky Derby and Christmas. But they also have other cool designs, such as Noah's Ark, Primrose, and Pear. They can even make personalized items just for you. Besides dishes, they have also created things like bird baths and bird feeders.
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History of Stoneware & Co.
The company began in 1815 in Louisville, Kentucky. It was first called Lewis Pottery, named after its founder, Jacob Lewis. Over the years, the company had many different owners and names. Some of its past names included Bauer Pottery, Cherokee Pottery, and Louisville Pottery.
New Owners and New Names
In 1938, a man named John B. Taylor bought the company. He changed its name to the J. B. Taylor Company. This name lasted for many years. After John B. Taylor passed away in 1970, a ceramics engineer named John Robertson bought the company. He then renamed it Louisville Stoneware. Some of the old designs from those days are still made today!
Famous Artists and Designs
One well-known potter who worked for John B. Taylor was Mary Alice Hadley. She was also known as M. A. Hadley. She even started her own company in 1939, called Hadley Pottery, which is still making pottery today. Her pottery became very popular because of its unique hand-painted designs.
Louisville Stoneware has many different patterns. Some of their oldest designs are "Harvest" and "Vintage." Artists used to try out new ideas often. Sometimes, you can find these special, unusual pieces in antique shops. The company also makes custom pieces for events. Their Kentucky Derby items are very famous. They have also made designs for places like Cracker Barrel Restaurants and Kentucky Fried Chicken.
Some of the hand-painted designs you might see include Bachelor Button, Country Flowers, Hummingbirds, 12 Days of Christmas, and Noah's Ark. They also make decorative items like castles, birdhouses, and pet dishes.
Changes in Recent Years
In 1997, Christy Lee Brown bought the company. For ten years, from 1997 to 2007, Louisville Stoneware mostly sold its products directly to people in stores, rather than to other businesses. Most of their sales were in Louisville and Kentucky. There were plans to open stores in other cities like Chicago, Illinois, Cincinnati, Ohio, and Indianapolis, Indiana.
However, in 2007, the company had to let go of many employees. They then updated their visitor center and opened a temporary store at Oxmoor Center in St. Matthews, Kentucky. In July 2007, Stephen A. Smith bought Louisville Stoneware. The company's chief concept officer, Lisa Mullins, worked to sell their stoneware in more stores. They added three more locations in Louisville, and one each in Bardstown, Kentucky, Owensboro, Kentucky, and Cincinnati, Ohio. Stephen A. Smith has owned the company since 2007.
You can even take a tour of the factory on weekdays if you make an appointment!
Products Made by Stoneware & Co.
The special clay used by Stoneware & Co. comes from western Indiana. This clay is incredibly old, possibly up to 250 million years old! The dishes made at the factory are very useful. You can safely use them in ovens, microwave ovens, and dishwashers. They are also great at keeping your food warm.
Gallery
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The inside of the Louisville Stoneware visitors center (2008)
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A display showing how stoneware is made (2008)
See also
