Salt Pottery

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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.

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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.

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In operation    c.1870s

Wares

GardenHardwareOther

Flower pots, jardinieres, urns, cremation jars and stove pipe collars (Harney 1929)

Notes

“In the early Seventies, John Salt and his family were operating a small one kiln pottery on Pine Street, between Pennsylvania and New York Avenues. This is said to have been erected by a Mr. Ellis. The Salts manufactured a fine grade of flower pots, jardinieres, urns, cremation jars and stove pipe collars. It was the only pottery of its kind near Trenton. They procured their clay from Heath’s Meadow on the Shabbaconk Creek.”

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

Selected References

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

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

John Salt; Salt Pottery

Block and Lot:
217E; 217F/874; 217G/1065; 217H

Historic Street Address:
Pine Street between New York Avenue and Pennsylvania Avenue

Municipality:
Lawrence Township