Marblehead, MA — MARBLEHEAD POTTERY

Marblehead, Massachusetts

Marblehead Pottery was made in several Marblehead locations

Marblehead, Massachusetts is a natural harbor. It was first settled in 1629. The town broke away from Salem in 1648 and was separately incorporated in 1649. The earliest settlers were fishermen. Front Street, the eventual home of Marblehead Pottery, was one of the town’s earliest streets. Marblehead claims to be the Birthplace of the American Navy since the 1775 crew and owner of the Hannah were from Marblehead. 4386 residents were counted in 1776.

Marbleheaders ferried George Washington across the Delaware River for his attack on Trenton. After George Washington visited Marblehead on October 29, 1789 he commented that the town “had the look of antiquity.” Fishing continued until the disastrous Great Gale of 1846. Shoemaking was a major local industry in the mid-1800s, employing up to 2000 people at several factories. Many of the employees were young women from Nova Scotia. After fires wiped out the shoe industry the town embraced its role as a summer sailing and boating resort and Boston suburb. The population in the 2010 census was 19,808.

1912 Map of Marblehead

rrr1112192

Note

The property of Edwin D. Tutt
12 Goodwin Court
111 Front Street

The Devereaux Mansion was further west of the area covered by this map

First Handicraft Shop - an old Cobblers Shop (1904)
Second Handicraft Shop - former BayView Yacht club at the entrance to Marblehead Harbor
12 Goodwin’s Place (1905-1911 or 1915)
Devereux Mansion / Sanatorium - Beach Street (1912 or 1915-1923)
Marblehead Pottery Shop - 111 Front Street - (1915-1936)

Second Handcraft Shop - (1905-1911)

According to Gail Hercher, the first pottery “plant” was a small building at 12 Goodwin Court. The shop was said to contain “one kick wheel, a turning lathe (for trimming), and a six-burner kerosene kiln’ Next to the area in which the staff worked, there was another room for drying.”

Marblehead Harbor

Devereux Mansion / Sanitarium

Screen Shot 2012-05-28 at 3.15.20 PM.jpg

Marblehead Potteries Shop

Dr. Hall sold Marblehead Pottery to Arthur Baggs in 1915. The same year, a retail sales office was established at 111 Front Street adjacent to the 12 Goodwin’s Place site.

Front Street has evolved over time.

111 Front Street

At one time 111 Front Street was the home of the Mass Humane Society No 10. Men from the Mass Humane Society rescued sailers from ships that had wrecked near the town. The Society’s rescue boat was mounted on a transport wagon. A very large door in the front of the building allowed volunteers to quickly move the transport wagon carrying the rescue boat in and out of the building.

The building was the retail home to the Handcraft Shop (approx. 1904-1908), then to both Marblehead Potteries and the Handcraft Shops (approx. 1908-1915) and then to the Marblehead Potteries retail store (1915-1936). The building was demolished in 1940. The second floor window matches well the photo of Arthur Baggs in front of the building - though the first floor clearly underwent extensive alterations to accommodate the pottery store.

Photo from Marblehead Historical Commission. — Photo from Marblehead Historical Commission.

Image after separation of Marblehead Pottery under ownership of Arthur Baggs. Image reproduced with permission from Marblehead Historical Commission — Image after separation of Marblehead Pottery under ownership of Arthur Baggs. Image reproduced with permission from Marblehead Historical Commission

The middle building is 111 Front Street circa 2010.