While recently researching various newspaper archives, I came across this interesting account, titled "Peabody's Potteries." that was published in the August 24, 1893 issue of The Boston Globe. The story cites the various types of clays that were used to produce a variety of shapes in Peabody, as well as the production process, among other subjects. Although, I found how the article began and finished quite interesting, seeing that by the time this story was published that quite a bit of local knowledge was reportedly lost about Peabody's early pottery production (which dates back to at least the 1730s). This kind of shows how quickly history can be forgotten or certain facts about what was once common local knowledge can quickly become lost through time.
The author began the story by writing, "About 50 years ago making pottery in Peabody and Beverly was a very important part of the occupation of the people of these towns. Once there were 16 potteries in Peabody alone. Today one can find but few traces of the work in that vicinity..." The author then ended the story by writing, "...This is what was done in Peabody by many people years ago, but few who live there can tell you anything about the process of making earthenware from Haverhill blue clay and Peabody and Beverly red clay."
Nonetheless, it's a good story and worth the read!
Furthermore, the later potteries that were still operating in this area during the time that this story was written was the Moses Paige Pottery in Peabody and the Charles A. Lawrence Pottery in Beverly, both of which are businesses that I have written books about. For anyone interested, here are links to purchase both of those books:
The Moses B. Paige Company: The Last of the Peabody Potteries: https://historicbeverly.net/product/the-moses-b-paige-company-the-last-of-the-peabody-potteries/
The Beverly Pottery: The Wares of Charles A. Lawrence: https://historicbeverly.net/product/the-beverly-pottery-the-wares-of-charles-a-lawrence/
Please Stay Tuned...Much More to Come...
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