According to the Paul R. Stewart Museum at Waynesburg University in Waynesburg, Pennsylvania, "The earliest potters in New Geneva, Pennsylvania were Henry K. Atchison, George DeBolt, and S. R. Dilliner, whereas sources disagree on who was the first to produce pottery in New Geneva. But while these potters operated around 1850, the New Geneva pottery industry was not competitive until the 1870s, and was also established later than the one located across the Monongahela River in Greensboro, Pennsylvania.
However, it was around 1872 that Alexander Conrad established a pottery in New Geneva (his pottery production rivaled the Hamiltons in Greensboro), which operated for a decade before it was sold to Charles W. Williams. Later on, Williams’ heirs sold the company to Robert T. Williams in 1889.
The second main pottery in New Geneva was founded by Leander B. Dilliner in 1873. For a few years this company was owned by the Eberharts—John P., Thomas P., and Adolph A. Eberhart at different times—and then it was eventually purchased by Charles W. Williams. Although, after Williams’ death, the pottery was briefly owned by D. D. Sandusky, and then sold to Robert T. Williams in 1890.
After 1890 Robert T. Williams controlled the pottery industry in New Geneva. In 1896 the Williams pottery was sold to Charles L. Williams, Arthur Robbins, Margaret Hamilton, and Isaac Herrington, during which many of the produced pieces from this period are marked C. L. Williams. But Arthur Robbins would ultimately acquire sole rights to the company, operating it until his death in 1915. This marked the end of the pottery industry in New Geneva.
But it should also be noted that a third New Geneva pottery was established in Springhill Township by James D. Eneix on land owned by Joseph E. and Leander B. Dilliner. Alpheus Frankenberry joined the business as Eneix’s partners between 1876 and 1878, during which pottery was produced with the label Eneix and Frankenberry. In 1879, Leander B. Dilliner sold his portion of the business to William Evans and the company then was known as Eneix and Evans."
Interestingly, archaeology collected from some of these stoneware sites in New Geneva is stored today at the State Museum of Pennsylvania in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
And aside from the expected utilitarian shapes made in the New Geneva and Greensboro area, some of the unusual stoneware forms that were manufactured include busts, doll heads, pudding molds and spaniels. Additionally, this area also saw some red earthenware production that dates to the early 1800s (and perhaps earlier).
Nevertheless, this excellent 20-gallon heavily cobalt-decorated stoneware crock marked "C.L. Williams & Co. New Geneva, PA" sold yesterday at Litchfield County Auctions in Litchfield, Connecticut. The circa 1890s jar survives in very good condition, whereas it sold for $4,900 plus the buyer's premium.
Furthermore, I learned today thanks to Jeff Christopher and Mike Pell that this is now the third 20-gallon crock bearing this same maker's mark that is adorned with the exact same decoration, and perhaps they were all decorated on the same day. One of those crocks last sold in 2005 for $8,800 plus the buyer's premium.
Note: For more information about this area's stoneware production, see an article written by Ronald Michael and Phil Jack for the October 1973 issue of Western Pennsylvania History Magazine, titled, The Stoneware Potteries of New Geneva and Greensboro, Pennsylvania. There are also some very good books that have been published on this subject.
Another source for some of the best stoneware made in this region is the Western Pennsylvania stoneware auction highlights page on Crocker Farm's website, which shows some of the most expensive objects that they have sold through the years: https://www.crockerfarm.com/highlights/western-pa-stoneware/.
Excellent Example of Stoneware From New Geneva, Pennsylvania
Please Stay Tuned...Much More to Come...
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