A Print Showing William Henry Harrison's Log Cabin Being Drawn from Danvers to Salem, Mass. in 1840 and Some Related Political Themed Pottery

While working on my forthcoming 900+ page, tenth book, titled, An Early Industry of Household Wares: The Red Earthenware of Salem Village, South Danvers, Peabody and Salem, Massachusetts, I came across this print published in Harriet Sylvester Tapley's (1870-1962) 1923 book, titled, Chronicles of Danvers (Old Salem Village) Massachusetts, 1632-1923: https://archive.org/details/chroniclesofdanv00tapl.

The print is described as "The Famous Log Cabin Built For The Harrison Campaign In 1840; drawn from Danvers by forty yoke of oxen, and exhibited on Salem Common."

For a brief history: The Log Cabin Campaign was a presidential campaign tactic used by the Whig Party in 1840 to portray their candidate, William Henry Harrison (1773-1841), as a man of the people and to contrast him with the incumbent, Martin Van Buren (1782-1862). The Whigs used the image of Harrison living in a humble log cabin and enjoying hard cider to project an image of simplicity and connection to the common American, despite Harrison's wealthy background.

I would like to learn otherwise, although there is no known pottery from the Danvers and Salem area, which was produced for the William Henry Harrison campaign portraying any type of log cabin, etc. But these types of wares were manufactured in other areas, such as a circa 1840 red earthenware rundlet or barrel from New England, inscribed with a log cabin and "HARD CIDER." This object is shown below and was also published in my seventh book, titled, From One Town Came Many: The Red Earthenware Industry of Ancient North Yarmouth Maine: https://historicbeverly.net/product/94597/.

Additionally, a circa 1840 stoneware bank likely from Philadelphia sold earlier this year from the Rex and Patti Stark Collection of Massachusetts at Hake's Auction in York, Pennsylvania. This molded stoneware bank in the form of a log cabin and adorned with roof panels impressed with text that reads, "William Henry Harrison/President In 1841/With Tip And Tyler/We'll Burst Vans Boiler/Log Cabin" and "Harrison The Hero Of/Tippecanoe Fort Meigs And/The Thames Against Van/Buren The Demagogue/Of Kinderhook/Hurrah For Old Tip The/Farmer Of North Bend." Each side of the barrel is also inscribed with text, reading, "Hard Cider Boys" and "Log Cabin/ Tippecanoe/ Hard Cider. The bank sold for $53,971.41 including the buyer's premium: http://www.earlyamericanceramics.com/2025/04/a-circa-1840-stoneware-political-bank.html.

William Henry Harrison's Log Cabin Being Drawn from Danvers to Salem, Mass.

William Henry Harrison's Log Cabin Being Drawn from Danvers to Salem, Mass.

Published in a Book in 1923 Written by Harriet Sylvester Tapley

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19th Century Red Earthenware Political Rundlet Made in New England

Inscribed with a Log Cabin and a the Words "Hard Cider"

Made in Support of William Henry Harrison's Log Cabin and Hard Cider Presidential Campaign

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Photo Courtesy: A.A.A.W.T.

19th Century Stoneware Political Bank Possibly Made in Philadelphia

Otherwise Another American Manufacturer

Adorned with Political Script

Circa 1840

Measures 6 3/4" in Length

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Photo Courtesy: Hake's Auction

Please Stay Tuned...Much More to Come...