Mercer Pottery
In operation 1868-1875
Wares
White granite and c.c. ware, also decorated goods, stone, porcelain and hotel ware (Mains and Fitzgerald 1877)
Crockery and dinnerware (Goldberg 1998)
Notes
“The Mercer Pottery was built in the year 1868. It is one of the finest and most substantial structures in the city. Composed of stone, with slate roofs, entirely new, and having been erected all at one time in the most modern and approved form, the buildings have as great a capacity as and better facilities than some larger establishments. When in full operation, it is able to produce $15,000 worth of ware per month. During the first eight years, the works were controlled by Mr. J.F. Thompson, the late Mr. J.G. Brearley and others, under the firm name of The Mercer Pottery Company.”
— Mains, Bishop W. and Fitzgerald, Thomas F. 1877-1879. Mains and Fitzgerald’s Trenton, Chambersburg and Millham Directory: Containing the Names of the Citizens, Statistical Business Report, Historical Sketches, a List of the Public and Private Institutions, Together with National, State, County, and City Government. Bishop W. Mains & Thomas F. Fitzgerald, Trenton, New Jersey.
Selected References
Everts & Stewart. 1875. “The Pottery Interest.” Combination Atlas Map of Mercer County. pp.xi-xii.
Mains, Bishop W. and Fitzgerald, Thomas F. 1877-1879. Mains and Fitzgerald’s Trenton, Chambersburg and Millham Directory: Containing the Names of the Citizens, Statistical Business Report, Historical Sketches, a List of the Public and Private Institutions, Together with National, State, County, and City Government. Bishop W. Mains & Thomas F. Fitzgerald, Trenton, New Jersey.
Quarter-Century’s Progress of New Jersey’s Leading Manufacturing Centres. Dover. 1887. International Publishing Company, New York.
Jervis, William P. 1897. “A Book of Pottery Marks.” Press of Hayes Bros., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Harney, W.J. 1929 . “Trenton’s First Potteries.” Sunday Times Advertiser, July 7, 14, 21 and 28, 1929.
Jasper, Joanne. 1996. Turn of the Century American Dinnerware 1880s to 1920s. Collector Books, Paducah, Kentucky.
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.
Conroy, Barbara J. 1999. Restaurant China: Volume 2. Collector Books, Paducah, Kentucky.
Other firms at this site:
Other Names
Mercer Pottery Company
Block and Lot:
39-1B/1
Historic Street Address:
Railroad Avenue near North Clinton Avenue; Railroad Avenue opposite Ott Street; Railroad Avenue near Perrine; 39 Muirhead Ave.; 19 Muirhead Ave.; 30 Muirhead Ave.; 27 Muirhead Ave.
Municipality:
City of Trenton
Map Gallery
Map References
Beers, F. W. 1870 Map of the City of Trenton, New Jersey. F.W. Beers & Company, New York, New York. (Illegible)
Everts & Stewart. 1875 Combination Atlas Map of Mercer County. Everts and Stewart, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Shown as “Mercer Pottery Co.”)
1870 Census
| Name in census | Mercer Pottery Co. |
|---|---|
| Capital Invested | 50000 |
| Type of power 1 | 1 Steam & Hand Engine |
| Horsepower 1 | 25 |
| Machine name 1 | Grinding Pans & Jiggers |
| Raw material type 1 | Clay |
| Raw material quantity 1 | 500 tons |
| Raw material value 1 | 4800 |
| Raw material type 2 | Flint |
| Raw material type 3 | Feldspar |
| Raw material type 4 | Coal |
| Raw material type 5 | Chemicals |
| Raw material type 6 | Total |
| Raw material quantity 2 | 300 tons |
| Raw material quantity 3 | 200 tons |
| Raw material quantity 4 | 1350 tons |
| Raw material value 2 | 5100 |
| Raw material value 3 | 3800 |
| Raw material value 4 | 3850 |
| Raw material value 5 | 3000 |
| Raw material value 6 | 23550 |
| Product type 1 | C & C & White Granite Ware |
| Product value 1 | 51770 |
| Male hands above 16 | 60 |
| Female hands above 16 | 25 |
| Children | 25 |
| Yearly wages | 26000 |
| Months operating | 6 |