After posting a story to this website last week about the late nineteenth and twentieth century Wingender family pottery in Haddonfield, New Jersey, where I also referenced some of the potteries that predated this circa 1890-1945 or so business, I learned about some of the history of this area's production that was published in 1910 in a booklet written by Sarah Crawford Hillman, titled, Historical Sketch of Potter Street in Haddonfield, New Jersey.
Aside from some great factual information, the booklet also included an image of the "The Old Haddonfield Pottery, Circa 1805-1905," which largely preceded the Wingender Pottery. This image was also used on a postcard that was published in 1906, with a caption that read, "Snowden Pottery. Haddonfield, N.J. Established 1805." The postcard was likely published, as a result of this pottery site ceasing production in 1904 and the Wingenders moving the business to another location in Haddonfield.
Interestingly, there was some first-hand information published in the booklet about the Wingender family's production and distribution, a subject that was also partly discussed in a first-hand account published by Edwin Atlee Barber (1851-1916) of the Philadelphia Museum of Art in 1896. However, Hillman's information greatly expands upon what Barber had already stated.
According to Hillman's booklet, "Richard W. Snowden had learned the trade of a Potter from John Thompson (in Haddonfield). Mr. Snowden here engaged in this business for over half a century, from 1816 until his death on October 20th, 1868. The Richard Snowden dwelling was erected later, of material, it is said, that formerly constituted a Chair Factory. The bricks from the old Market House on Main Street, that was suddenly demolished, one night in 1840, were purchased by Mr. Snowden and economically bestowed about the pottery and the dwelling.
William H. Snowden, son of the late Richard Sr., who claims to be the oldest resident now living in Haddonfield, who was born in the place, enjoys to tell that he was but one year old, when his parents moved into their new home, next to the pottery. Mr. Snowden makes no pretensions to having been as precocious as many youngsters of that age at the present day, and, therefore, fails to be able to recall any of the incidents attending the event.
Richard Snowden, Sr., died in 1868, and the pottery business was continued by his son, Richard, until his death, in 1883, when the pottery was leased by Barton Rixon, who had long been in the employ of Mr. Snowden. At this time a lathe was used to form the red earthenware vessels, and a horse to grind the clay. Many recall the lathe which was a machine consisting of a framework, bearing an adjustable center, between which a cutting tool is thrust against the work, shaping or turning it down, usually to some circular form.
A few years later, Charles Wingender & Bro. leased the factory. Under the enterprising management of these two brothers, who learned their trade in Germany, the business, along the lines of improved quality and methods of workmanship so developed, that, in 1904, they abandoned the old pottery and erected one of their own.
Upon the death of Jacob Roberts, Thomas Redman and John Gill, his executors, jointly with David Roberts, sold the estate to Richard W. Snowden before 1820, who had originally worked and learned the pottery trade from John Thompson. The Snowden family then produced red earthenware and possibly some stoneware until 1883 when the business was leased to Barton Rixon. Rixon's company did not last long, and the Wingenders then used the property from about 1890-1904.
With all of this said - is there any red earthenware (or stoneware) that can be associated with production at this site before 1890? I suspect that some of the red earthenware may appear to be Pennsylvania or Philadelphia influenced, seeing that Haddonfield is located only a few miles from Philadelphia across the Delaware River.
However, it should also be noted that like many businesses from this period, the Wingenders advertised and promoted themselves in 1910 (the year the booklet was published) as having been a continuation of previous potteries in Haddonfield, which they cited began in 1750. This eighteenth century production was likely red earthenware and there may have been a Philadelphia influence or similarity with some of the production.
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