Monument Pottery

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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    1896-1929

Wares

Sanitary

Monument porcelain ware, such as baths, French and Roman shape, sinks, laundry tubs, water closets, urinals, lavatories, hospital slop sinks, basins, and sanitary ware (Trenton Board of Trade 1900)

Plumbers’ porcelainware (Industrial Directory 1901)

Porcelain goods (Industrial Directory 1909)

Sanitary earthenware (Industrial Directory 1912, 1918, 1927)

Porcelain sanitary ware (Industrial Directory 1931)

Notes

“The Monument Pottery Company are the only producers of the celebrated Monument Porcelain Ware, such as Baths, French and Roman shape, Sinks, Laundry Tubs, Water Closets, Urinals, Lavatories, Hospital Slop Sinks, Basins and Sanitary Ware of all descriptions.” 

— Trenton Board of Trade. 1900.  Industrial Trenton and Vicinity.  George A. Wolf Publishers, Wilmington, Delaware.

Selected References

Trenton Board of Trade. 1900.  Industrial Trenton and Vicinity.  George A. Wolf Publishers, Wilmington, Delaware.

Monument Pottery Company. 1903.  Monument Porcelain.  Trenton, New Jersey.

Monument Pottery Company. 1905.  Porcelain Plumbing Goods.  Trenton, New Jersey.

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.

Robinson, Dorothy and Bill Feeny. 1980.  The Official Price Guide to American Pottery & Porcelain.  House of Collectibles, Orlando, Florida.

Other Names

Monument Pottery Company; Monumental Company; Monument Pottery; Trenton Sanitary Specialty Company; Trenton Sanitary Specialty

Block and Lot:
46-A4; 46-A5

Historic Street Address:
600 Ingham Avenue; Ingham Avenue and Pennsylvania Railroad

Municipality:
Ewing Township

Image Gallery

Monument Pottery, 1900 Industrial Trenton (Wolf p. 79 top)

Map Gallery

Monument Pottery, 1905 Lathrop
Monument Pottery, 1908 Sanborn
Monument Pottery, 1927 Sanborn Map
Map References

Lathrop, J. M. 1905.   Atlas of the City of Trenton and Borough of Princeton. A.H. Mueller & Company, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  (Plate 17: shown as “Monument Pottery 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 62: shown as “Monument Pottery Co.”)

Sanborn Map Company.  1927.  Insurance Maps of the City of Trenton, Mercer County, New Jersey. Sanborn Map Company, New York, New York.  (Vol. 3, plate 314: shown as “Monument Pottery Co.”)