East Liverpool
The story goes that in the 1840, James Bennett, a 28 year old potter, originally from Staffordshire, England and who had been in America for just 5 years and had experienced all the highs and lows that life could possibly throw at him when he arrived at the small community of East Liverpool. At the time he was at what must have seemed like a long road to nowhere and was now headed back to where he started.
For whatever reason James Bennett decided to leave his family and friends back in England. During his youth there, he had begun to learn the pottery trade starting at the bottom as most apprentices do, and hoping to work his way up to being a master craftsman. For some reason, Bennett decided to take a different route coming to America.
During that time he married and moved west eventually coming to Troy Indiana where he found work as a potter for another Englishman just setting up shop. During the first 2 years in Troy, the Bennetts had 2 children who both died a few days after being born. Disease and stress sent his employer back to England, leaving the business to James. Try as he might after a year he knew this wasn't going to work. He and his wife decided to head back to the east coast where he hoped to find employment, trusting that the failing economy of the 1830s was over. Once again they boarded a river boat headed back to Pittsburgh.
got off the river boat he had been on at the small town of East Liverpool. As he walked about he took note of the soil, a thick fine clay that he had seen before, back in England. James recognized the opportunity that was before him and decided to take advantage. The clay was exactly the type needed for making all types of pottery including fine porcelain. In time the area supported over 200 pottery companies and was making 50% of America's ceramic output. East Liverpool became the Pottery Capitol of the Nation.
Today, directly across the river in the small town of Newell, is where the world famous Homer Laughlin China Co. is located, perhaps best known for its line of Fiesta Ware.
