An Example of 19th Century Red Earthenware Made at the Suess Pottery in Mill Grove, New York that Also Retains a History of Family Ownership

One of the subjects that will be discussed in my forthcoming 900 or so page Western New York book (that may be divided into two volumes) is the nineteenth century red earthenware produced at the Case-Suess-Johnson Pottery in Mill Grove, New York, a company that not a lot is documented about today. And yes the Johnson is Lorenzo Johnson, who had some involvement with this business, as well as the one he is much better known for that he operated in Newstead, New York.

I actually studied and photographed the archaeology from the site of this pottery business in June of 2023 at the storage facility of the Rochester Museum & Science Center in Rochester, New York. Furthermore, found in the 1970s inside of the original house that went with the pottery business, which still exists was a selection of colorfully glazed pieces of red earthenware that were made at the Suess Pottery. These objects had descended through family ownership to the current owner, although they are now owned by the Alden, New York Historical Society. There was also a glazing mill stone found leaning up against the barn, but I have not been able to locate its whereabouts today.

But this is an example of that type of production, which I think could be mistaken for red earthenware made in Ontario, Canada in the 1800s, whereas the glaze is also somewhat similar to types produced at the Alvin Wilcox Pottery in West Bloomfield, New York before 1860. This jar also survives with what is believed to be its original lid.

19th C. Red Earthenware Made at the Suess Pottery in Mill Grove, N.Y.

19th Century Red Earthenware Jar with Likely its Original Lid from Western New York

Reportedly Made at the Suess Pottery in Mill Grove, New York

Form and Glaze is Comparable to Wares Made in Ontario, Canada

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Photo Courtesy: Alden, New York Historical Society

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