The kiln was built by Prof. Joseph Molinaro and his students and is fired three or four times per year. The kiln is fired only with wood, which comes as scrap from a nearby sawmill. The pottery is loaded through the kiln mouth, with teams of people handing pottery to the person loading inside the kiln. Click on any thumbnail picture below to see a larger version.
Loading is an all-day affair, often going well into the evening.
A bonfire was built to both keep the loaders warm and to dry the kiln wash on the shelves. When the kiln is filled with pottery the door opening is bricked up and a small fire started. The firing begins overnight with the small fire, gradually building to a raging blaze the next day. Firing proceeds night and day. Close cooperation is needed between all the potters who are helping with the firing.