A Giant Circa 1860s-1880 Cobalt Decorated Stoneware Water Cooler Marked "James Hamilton / Greensboro, Pa / Eagle Pottery"

Back in the fall of 2013 I saw what I thought at the time was the largest piece of stoneware I had ever scene, a massive 30-40 gallon (possibly 40 gallon) heavily cobalt decorated stoneware water cooler in the collection of the National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C. I have since seen other massive examples of American stoneware, including some of the giant jars made by Dave Drake (ca. 1800-1873) in Edgefield, South Carolina, such as some that were displayed as part of the Hear Me Now exhibits at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City and the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. One of those Edgefield jars had previously sold at Crocker Farm in Maryland for $1.56 million: https://www.crockerfarm.com/stoneware-auction/2021-08-06/lot-1/David-Drakes-April-12-1858-25-Gallon-Poem-Jar-A-Very-Large-Jar-Which-Has-Four-Handles/.

Hear Me Now Articles Posted to this Website

MET Article: http://www.earlyamericanceramics.com/2022/12/now-on-display-at-met-in-new-york-city.html

MFA, Boston Article: http://www.earlyamericanceramics.com/2023/03/now-on-display-at-mfa-boston-hear-me.html

Nonetheless, the giant stoneware water cooler from Western Pennsylvania was marked "James Hamilton / Greensboro, Pa / Eagle Pottery." I remember it sat on a dolly, which was basically how staff working at the Smithsonian moved it around the storage facility. Stoneware production in Greensboro, Pennsylvania has a rich history, dating back to the first-quarter of the nineteenth century, although I always thought this was one of the more signifiant pieces known from this area of production.

According to the Burough of Greensboro, "James (1824-1880) and William “Leet” Hamilton (1815-1888) arrived from New Brighton, Pennsylvania, in 1850 and started a pottery manufacturing company of their own. The remains of their endeavors, which operated under the name James Hamilton and Company, can still be found along Water Street.

The original James Hamilton and Company did not last long, however, and in 1866 was sold to Leet’s son Frank (1846-1921) and a son-in-law named John Jones. Together Frank Hamilton and Jones expanded the business and began selling their wares on a grander scale. Hamilton and Jones was located on Diamond Street and for many years was the only rival to the cross-town operation of James Hamilton.

The company was also known as Star Pottery for a period of time, as well as the Union Works. The business continued to produce pottery for over thirty years and its reputation was widespread, although it never actually surpassed its rival in production. Eventually competition began to wear away at the profitability of the company, with a devastating fire in 1897 destroying the plant and forcing operations closed. Although the company attempted to move into the Williams and Reppert plant across town, efforts to start anew were futile. James Hamilton remained in control of his firm until 1880 when he sold it to Thomas Reppert.

In 1884, Reppert purchased the entire business from Williams, making himself the sole proprietor. Williams was able to buy back into the business once again in 1890. Together Reppert and Williams manufactured stoneware for dealers in at least four states. However, by the beginning of World War I, all significant production had ended and 1916 generally marks the end of stoneware manufacturing in Greensboro."

The "Eagle Pottery" was one of the stoneware company alias' used by James Hamilton, and some of the stoneware made under this name traveled, such as some wares that were shipped to Louisville and Maysville, Kentucky.

Louisville Example: https://www.crockerfarm.com/stoneware-auction/2024-07-26/lot-117/Fine-Eagle-Pottery-Greensboro-PA-Stoneware-Churn-w-Louisville-Kentucky-Advertising/

Maysville Example: https://live.pookandpook.com/online-auctions/pook/greensboro-pa-stoneware-crock-eagle-pottery-2172288

However, when James Hamilton passed away in 1880, his obituary published in the Waynesboro Republican on December 29, 1880, read in part, "He came here many years ago and he and his brother were the first to engage in the stone ware pot shop business which has developed into a grand trade. From the beginning he has been the senior member of the largest manufactory of stone ware to the place. A short time prior to his illness, he had joined a new partnership with William & Reppart, enterprising merchants of the place, and they were engaged in the construction of new and extensive buildings for the manufacture of stone ware on a more extensive scale."

Interestingly, an advertisement from the Eagle Pottery was published in a book written in 2015 by Michele Buday-Murray, titled, Around Greensboro, where it was stated, "That the Eagle Pottery challenges other potteries in the United States to beat the quality of Eagle's merchandise. Later advertisements from potteries owned by James Hamilton boasted as having the only two potters in the country who could consistently throw 50-gallon crocks."

Stoneware Water Cooler Marked "James Hamilton / Greensboro, Pa / Eagle Pottery"

This is the Picture of this Giant Water Cooler that I Took in the Fall of 2013

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19th Century Cobalt Decorated Stoneware Water Cooler

Likely 30-40 Gallons in Size (Possibly 40 Gallons)

Marked "James Hamilton / Greensboro, Pa / Eagle Pottery"

Circa 1860s-1880

Stands 41 1/2" Tall

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Photo Courtesy: National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian Institute

A Closer View of the Mark

"James Hamilton / Greensboro, Pa / Eagle Pottery"

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Photo Courtesy: National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian Institute

Advertisement from the Eagle Pottery in Greensboro, PA

The Company was Owned by James Hamilton

The Ad Cites Pottery 40-50 Gallons in Size

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Photo Courtesy: Cornerstone Genealogical Society

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