The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-09-07
ANCIENT ART OF POTTERY
1T SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN LOST IN
INDIANAPOLIS.
History of Pottery I'm This City Has
Never Been Tackled by a His
torian-Interesting Chat.

its product Is so thoroughly up-to-date that
it scarcely be classed as belonging
to the ancient pottery family.
There was time when Indianapolis was
noted in the middle West as a promising
field for artisans skilled in the fascinating
ceramic art, and many kilns were started
a-going in the old days by enthusiasts who
hoped TO the time when "Pogue's run
and Eagle creek clay would be famous the
world over. But with the complete destruc-
ton the other day of the old-time furnace
of bricks in order to make way for the erec-
ton of building the river on West
Washington street the last relic Of the by
gone pottery days In Indianapolis was
swept out of existence forever.
The history of pottery in Indianapolis Is
one subject at least that has never been
tackled by the Hooser historian, and 1t is
a subject not without its interest, too. The
first potter having the courage to enter &C
lively into the occupation of burning clay
in Indianapolis was the father of James
Dryer, whose curious little kiln In a low
piece of ground near the corner of Wash
ington and New Jersey streets-almost OPP
one of the distinct featurese Of the town
that the clay obtained from the banks of
Pogue's run where the little stream crosses
East New York street was excellent ma
terial for the making of the simplest forms
of glazed pottery and he turned out numer-
Gus jugs and milk crooks that were eagerly
sought after by people for miles about the
town, and many of these quaint products of
the old Dryer pottery are now to be found
in the kitchens of some of 1.-The oldest in
habitants." 1t was he, too, that was the
first to discover that suitable clay for burn
ing was TO be found in certain spots along
the banks of Eagle creek. The expert pot
ter makes a study of clay and will tell
you that no two clays are alike The Dryer
kiln was Of the ancient kind which is to
this day used in Damascus and other Bib
ical places famous for their ceramic indus
try, and his potter's wheel was of the sort
of implement whose construction dates
back into remote antiquity. The wheel was
a small circular board on top of an upright
spindle, to which rapid revolving motion
was communicated by a band passing over
a larger wheel. the latter wheel being
turned by the potter's foot in the same
manner that the wheels of sewing machines
are made to revolve.
AN OLD POTTERY.
Many Of the old indianapolis citizens will
recall the days when, as awe-stricken
youngsters, they stood about the old Dryer
pottery and watched. open-mouthed, those
good old milk jugs being slowly and care
fully manufactured. When the potter would
fashion any utensil he would take the neces-
sary portion of clay, throw 1t on the center
of tho wheel mt Tho fpcarS of ona bon Nd ON
the middle and the palm of the other on the
outside and then pressing both hands to-
gether. draw up the rude vessel in an in
slant. Then he would rectify the shape with
his hand on the outside and a wooden tool
on the in, until satisfied with the result,
after which he would cut it from the wheel
with wire and give it to one of the adj
miring boys present to carry off to the
drying place." while he proceeded with
another. The old-time method of glazing the
jugs and crooks consisted Of simply throw
ing common salt into the hot kilns which,
rising in vapors, diffused itself equally
through the cases containing the articles
and formed a sort of glass all over their
surfaces.
The second pottery established in Indian
apolis was started by an eccentric old Ger
man at the beginning of the civil war. He
| built his first kiln on East street, a short
| distance north of Washington, and after
| wards on South Meridian street, near the
| Belt Railroad, where he died after con-
| tinuing in his enterprise with little success
| for several years. He not only made rude
clay utensils. but modelled many little pieces
of statuary, mostly figures representing the
| M ic I'm
to be in the possession of a collector in In
| dianapois to-day-a little clay image of the
crucifixion, whose owner would not par,
with it for any amount of money. The ole
German was good deal Of an experiment.
alist and almost every penny that he earned
was spent in furthering his ambitious re.
| searches and attempts at new developments
in his art. Clay alone will not make good
| substantial vessels, for the pure clays wher
dry always crack, and the old man gave
nearly all Of his time to the study Of other
| soils to be mixed with the clays which he
obtained from Pogue's run and Eagle creek
1t was his lifelong desire to initiate sue
cesfully the pottery ware of the Chinese
| which he considered at the head of al
ceramic art in regard to quality of materia
and color But his dream of success wa:
| never to come true, and the old ideals
passed away without ever realizing hal
| his ambitions.
A SKILLED POTTER.
| DR.. w. 3. Fletcher who was a skillfu
potter himself in those early DAYS. anc
who is still able to burn clay in the mos
artistic manner, became greatly interested
in the old German and his work, and be
gan experimenting himself upon quite al
extensive scale. The doctor had just re
turned from Paris, where he had spsn
| two years studying medicine and at tn,
same time taking a course in the art O
pottery in the Ecole des Beaux Arts IL
built himself kiln and went to work t,
see what could be done with the clay
to be found here at home He was so sue
cessful in his experiments that two Eng
lishmen named Dawson and Thomas act
ing upon his suggestions, established
pottery on Brookside avenue Cor the man
ufacture of flower pots. fancy brick, orra
mental and glazed tile This was the frs
pottery Indianapolis had ever mad wher
machines were employed. The clays wer
those taken from the banks of Pogue'
run along Brookside avenue, mixed Wit
clays brought from Owen and Green coun
ties. The enterprise continued for fv
years. and was then transferred to Green
field.
DR.. Fletcher continued to burn clays jus
for the love of the work. ard during tn