East Trenton Pottery
In operation 1867-1906
Wares
White granite, stone porcelain, and decorated ware, a specialty being made of hotel ware (Industries of New Jersey 1882:152; Woodward and Hageman 1883:860)
Dinner, tea and toilet sets (Trenton Evening Times, January 31, 1884)
Opaque china, thin ware, hotel ware, white granite, c.c., and decorated ware, tea sets, dinner sets, toilet wares (Quarter Century’s Progress 1887:273)
Notes
“In 1867, Mr. C.S. Cook became the sole proprietor and continued the business up to August, 1873, when the East Trenton Pottery Company was formed and incorporated by an act of the Legislature. Mr. C.S. Cook was then chosen President and Treasurer and Mr. W.M. Marshall was made Secretary, both gentlemen serving down to the present time. Under the new management various alterations, enlargements, improvements and extensions have been made to the works, until now they rank among the foremost in the country. The manufactures are white granite, stone porcelain, C.C. and decorated ware, hotel ware being made a specialty. The premises are 275 x 300 feet in dimensions, on which is erected nine commodious stone and brick buildings, three stories in height. The engine is of forty-horse power and serves to heat the premises by means of steam pipes. Six kilns are in use and the ware here produced enjoys an excellent reputation throughout the land, Employment is given to one hundred and fifty hands. There are sheds, stables, railroad-switch, canal basin, etc.”
—Industries of New Jersey, Trenton, Princeton, Hightstown, Pennington and Hopewell. 1882. Historical Publishing Company, New York, New York, Newark, New Jersey and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Selected References
Industries of New Jersey, Trenton, Princeton, Hightstown, Pennington and Hopewell. 1882. Historical Publishing Company, New York, New York, Newark, New Jersey and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Woodward, E.M. and John F. Hageman. 1883. History of Burlington and Mercer Counties. Everts and Peck, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
“East Trenton Pottery. The Productions of an Old Plant.” Trenton Evening Times, Thursday, January 31, 1884.
Harney, W.J. 1929. “Trenton’s First Potteries.” Sunday Times Advertiser, July 7, 14, 21 and 28, 1929.
Abramson, D.V. and T. Karschner. 1978. “An Inventory of Historic Engineering and Industrial Sites, Trenton, New Jersey.” On file, New Jersey Historic Preservation Office (NJDEP), Trenton, 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
C.S. Cook & Company; East Trenton Pottery Company; East Trenton Pottery Works
Block and Lot:
213A/1-3
Historic Street Address:
New York Avenue and Mulberry Street; Mulberry Street and Delaware and Raritan Canal; Mulberry Street and Pennsylvania Railroad; 457 Mulberry; 491 Mulberry
Municipality:
Lawrence Township; Millham Township; City of Trenton
Image Gallery
Map Gallery
Map References
Everts & Stewart. 1875 Combination Atlas Map of Mercer County. Everts and Stewart, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Shown as “Moor & Richey’s Pottery”)
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 R: shown as “East Trenton Pottery”)
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 “East Trenton Pottery C.S. Cook Prest.”)
Sanborn, D. A. 1874. Insurance Diagrams of Trenton. Corrected to 1886. D.A. Sanborn, New York, New York. (Plate 16: shown as “Cook’s East Trenton Pottery Co.”)
Bourquin, F., and C. C. Haven. 1873-1880. Enterprise Land Company plan of building lots and manufacturing sites lying between Brunswick Avenue and Clinton Street, East Trenton, N.J. Enterprise Land Company, Trenton, New Jersey. (Shown as “East Trenton Pottery Co.”)
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 19: shown as “East Trenton Pottery Co.”)
Scarlett & Scarlett. 1890. Scarlett & Scarlett’s Fire Insurance Map of Mercer County. Scarlett & Scarlett, Newark, New Jersey. (Plate 63: shown as “East Trenton Pottery Co.”)
Lathrop, J. M. 1905. Atlas of the City of Trenton and Borough of Princeton. A.H. Mueller & Company, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Plate 15: shown as “East Trenton Pottery”)
1870 Census
| Name in census | C. S. Cook & Co. East Trenton Pottery |
|---|---|
| Capital Invested | 60000 |
| Type of power 1 | Steam |
| Horsepower 1 | 40 |
| Machine name 1 | Press |
| Machine name 2 | Jiggers |
| Machine name 3 | Pans |
| Machine name 4 | Steam Engine |
| Machine quantity 1 | 1 |
| Machine quantity 2 | 4 |
| Machine quantity 3 | 7 |
| Machine quantity 4 | 1 |
| Raw material type 1 | Flint |
| Raw material quantity 1 | 150 tons |
| Raw material value 1 | 2250 |
| Raw material type 2 | Spar |
| Raw material type 3 | Clay |
| Raw material type 4 | Coal |
| Raw material type 5 | Total |
| Raw material quantity 2 | 200 tons |
| Raw material quantity 3 | 500 tons |
| Raw material quantity 4 | 1000 tons |
| Raw material value 2 | 3000 |
| Raw material value 3 | 5000 |
| Raw material value 4 | 5000 |
| Raw material value 5 | 15250 |
| Product type 1 | White crockery of all description |
| Product value 1 | 50000 |
| Male hands above 16 | 30 |
| Female hands above 16 | 10 |
| Children | 10 |
| Yearly wages | 20000 |
| Months operating | 10 |
1880 Census
| Name in census | East Trenton Pottery Co. |
|---|---|
| Capital | 100000 |
| Number of hands | 200 |
| Males above 16 | 100 |
| Females above 15 | 25 |
| Children | 75 |
| May to Nov hours | 10 |
| Nov to May hours | 8 |
| Skilled wages | 2.5 |
| Ordinary wages | 1.25 |
| Total wages in year | 65000 |
| Full time months | 9 |
| 3/4 time Months | 3 |
| Value of raw material | 60000 |
| Value of product | 140000 |
| Number of engines | 1 |
| Horse power | 120 |