Carroll Street Pottery

View this page as a PDF     

HOW TO USE THE DATABASE

The Database is organized by location, but you can find a pottery initially by searching for its name, which is at the top of the of the page with dates of operation below. Alternate names and the names of other potteries on the same site are noted at the top of the right-hand column, just above the pottery’s location.

The types of wares made appear below the pottery name in the left-hand column, followed by the references that informed these classifications.

Sample images of maker’s marks may be enlarged by clicking on the image.

Notes include a variety of information compiled from many standard sources and are presented as miscellaneous tidbits.

In the Gallery and Map Gallery in the right-hand column you will see historic images and insurance maps of the pottery’s facilities if available as well as historic advertisements and images of the wares made.

You can download more detailed information in all of these categories by choosing a PDF of the pottery’s full listing, which also includes the documentary sources. The PDF is text only and does not contain any images.  Data from the 1860, 1870 and 1880 industrial censuses area also included in the PDF if they exist for a given pottery. This data gives you a picture of the size of the pottery operation and the age and gender makeup of its work force.

You can help expand the database by contributing pictures and information. Contact POTS by the email address at the bottom of the page.

In operation    1878-1929

Wares

ElectricalGardenHardwareSanitaryTablewareToilet sets

Plumbers’ earthenware and under-glaze decorated tea, toilet and dinner sets, etc. (Industries of New Jersey 1882)

Sanitary earthenware, druggists’ ware, underglaze painted ware, scale plates, etc. (Woodward and Hageman 1883)

Plumbing and sanitary earthenware, druggists sundries, and specialties of every description pertaining to the plumbing trade (Quarter Century’s Progress 1887:278)

Sanitary earthenware, underglazed and overglazed decorated toilet ware, umbrella stands, jardinieres (Trenton Board of Trade 1900)

Sanitary earthenware (Industrial Directory 1901, 1906)

Vitreous chinaware (Industrial Directory 1909)

Chinaware (Industrial Directory 1912)

Sanitary earthenware (Industrial Directory 1918, 1927)

Notes

“The business carried on prior to 1872 was the manufacture of table ware. In that year they commenced the manufacture of sanitary earthenware. Previous to this time all the sanitary earthenware used in this country was imported, and persons desiring a special style or design were compelled to submit to great delays on account of the impossibility of personal interview with the manufacturer, and many new patented articles were abandoned after many futile attempts to have them made in Europe. This firm was the first to manufacture successfully druggists’ sundries, such as wedgwood mortars and pestles, evaporating dishes, and photograph trays, etc. etc., also the production of under-glaze decorated ware. The result of the efforts of Messrs. Thomas Maddock & Sons has dispelled that timid affectation which formerly led dealers to recommend their goods as ‘the best imported,’ and to encourage the consumer to purchase the best domestic articles. Another result is that the cost of the goods has been reduced fully fifty per cent.”

— Quarter-Century’s Progress of New Jersey’s Leading Manufacturing Centres. Dover. 1887. International Publishing Company, New York.

 

Selected References

Quarter-Century’s Progress of New Jersey’s Leading Manufacturing Centres. Dover. 1887. International Publishing Company, New York.

Thomas Maddock’s Sons Co. 1910.  Pottery: A History of the Pottery Industry and Its Evolution as Applied to Sanitation.  Thomas Maddock’s Sons Company, Trenton, New Jersey.

Thomas Maddock’s Sons Co. 1916.  Manufacturers of Sanitary Earthenware.  Thomas Maddock’s Sons Company, Trenton, New Jersey.

Thomas Maddock’s Sons Co. 1920.  Sanitary Plumbing Fixtures.  Thomas Maddock’s Sons Company, Trenton, New Jersey.

Thomas Maddock’s Sons Co. c. 1920.  Maddock Bathrooms.  Thomas Maddock’s Sons Company, Trenton, New Jersey.

Harney, W.J. 1929 “Trenton’s First Potteries.” Sunday Times Advertiser, July 7, 14, 21 and 28, 1929.

Van Hoesen, Walter Hamilton. 1973.  Crafts and Craftsmen of New Jersey.  Associated University Presses, Inc., Cranbury, New Jersey.

Goldberg, David J. 1998.  Preliminary Notes on the Pioneer Potters and Potteries of Trenton, N.J.: The First Thirty Years – 1852 – 1882 (And Beyond).  Privately published, Trenton, New Jersey.

Other firms at this site:

Other Names

Thomas Maddock & Sons Company; Thomas Maddock's Sons Company

Block and Lot:
10B; 11A; 12C/29, 103

Historic Street Address:
106 Ewing Street and Perry Street; Perry Street near Canal; 106 Ewing Street and 94 Carroll Street; Ewing & Ogden

Municipality:
City of Trenton

Image Gallery

Print of 1909 Maddock Potteries from above
1909 engraving of City Pottery (lower right) and Carroll Street Pottery (center)
1924 View from Thomas Maddock Quality Plumbing Fixtures Catalog K
1887 Maddock Carroll Street Pottery (Quarter Century's Progress p.278)
1887 reprint Maddock Carroll Street Pottery (Maddock Co. Pottery 1910 p. 39)
Carroll Street Pottery, c. 1920s
Thomas Maddock Engraving
Thomas Maddock Engraving
1929 Thomas Maddock's Sons Pottery
Commemorative Plate, porcelain with transfer print, made by Thomas Maddock's Sons' Company, 1905, 10 in diam. Made for an event of the "Trenton Master Plumbers Ass'n" on "Nov. 21st. 1905," the print in the center shows the key elements of the early twentieth century bathroom, including a sink, toilet and bathtub as well as tile walls and floor, stained glass window and decorative carpet (or linoleum?) over the tile floor. Collection of the New Jersey State Museum, CH1967.72
Salesman's Sample Toilet, vitreous china with painted wood seat, made by Thomas Maddock and Sons Company, ca. 1902 – 1929, 7.5 in H and 13.75 deep. Collection of the New Jersey State Museum, CH1986.52.2a,b

Map Gallery

Carroll Street Pottery 1881 Robinson Map
Carroll Street Pottery 1882 Haven Map
Carroll Street Pottery 1886 Sanborn Map
Carroll Street Pottery 1890 Sanborn Map
Carroll Street Pottery 1890 Scarlett & Scarlett Map
Carroll Street Pottery 1890 Scarlett & Scarlett Map
Carroll Street Pottery 1905 Lathrop Map
Carroll Street Pottery 1927 Sanborn Map
Map References

Robinson, E., and R. H. Pidgeon. 1881. Atlas of the City of Trenton and Suburbs New Jersey: From Actual Surveys and Official Records.  E. Robinson, New York, New York.  (Plate K: shown as “Carroll St. Pottery Thos. Maddock”)

Haven, C. C.  1882.   A New Real Estate and Insurance Map of the City of Trenton Including Chambersburg, Millham, and Parts of Ewing, Lawrence, and Hamilton Townships, Mercer County. E.P. Noll & Co., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  (Shown as “Wellington & Co.”)

Sanborn, D. A. 1874.   Insurance Diagrams of Trenton. Corrected to 1886.  D.A. Sanborn, New York, New York.  (Plate 14: shown as “Carroll St. Pottery”)

Sanborn‑Perris Map Company.  1890.   Insurance Maps of the City of Trenton, Mercer County, New Jersey. Sanborn‑Perris Map Company, New York, New York.  (Plate 13: shown as “Thomas Maddock & Sons Pottery”)

Scarlett & Scarlett.  1890.   Scarlett & Scarlett’s Fire Insurance Map of Mercer County.  Scarlett & Scarlett, Newark, New Jersey.  (Plate 51: shown as “John Moses’ Glasgow Pottery”)

Lathrop, J. M. 1905.   Atlas of the City of Trenton and Borough of Princeton. A.H. Mueller & Company, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  (Plate 8: shown as “Thomas Maddock’s Sons Co.”)

Sanborn Map Company.  1908.  Insurance Maps of the City of Trenton, Mercer County, New Jersey, Volume 1. Sanborn Map Company, New York, New York.  (Vol.1, plate 8: shown as “Carroll St. Pottery” on Mulheron’s Alley and included in the “Thomas Maddock’s Sons The Moses Plant” Carroll St. complex)

Sanborn Map Company.  1927.  Insurance Maps of the City of Trenton, Mercer County, New Jersey. Sanborn Map Company, New York, New York.  (Vol.1, plate 49: shown as “Thomas Maddock’s Sons Co. The Moses Plant”)

Franklin Survey Co.  1930.  Real Estate Plat‑Book of the City of Trenton and Borough of Princeton, Mercer County, New Jersey. Franklin Survey Co., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  (Plate 29: shown as “Thomas Maddock’s Sons”)

1880 Census

Name in censusThomas Maddock
Capital100000
Number of hands95
Males above 1680
Females above 156
Children9
May to Nov hours10
Nov to May hours10
Skilled wages2.5
Ordinary wages1.5
Total wages in year41600
Full time months12
Value of raw material25000
Value of product90000
Number of engines1
Horse power40