Randolph County AlArchives News.....Bogg's Rock Mills Pottery September 2, 1949
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/al/alfiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Linda Ayres http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00031.html#0007674 March 23, 2023, 1:45 am

Roanoke Leader September 2, 1949
A familiar landmark to most of the old-timers of this county is the Boggs 
pottery plant at Rock Mills. 
Built 48 years ago, the small, one-room, frame house still stands today just 
west of Rock Mills right on the highway. 
Many a traveler has stopped at this pottery and watched some member of the Boggs 
family turn native clay into a beautiful pot, jug, chum, or vase. But no longer 
can the skilled craftsmen be seen molding their products at the same old place. 
The pottery has been idle for a number of years. 
Everything Still There 
The burner (or kiln for burning the molded clay) is behind the old building. And 
in front is found a grinding mill, similar to and old syrup mill, where animal 
power was used to turn paddles that extracted impurities and air bubbles from 
the clay. 
The recent war caused the pottery to close when the turners took up other jobs. 
Although it was reopened briefly after the war, the pottery soon had to close 
again when the supply of local clay was exhausted. 
This does not mean that there is no more good pottery clay left in the Rock 
Mills vicinity. It is present in abundance along Gus Creek. The problem there is 
how to remove it in good condition. High waters and sand deposits in recent 
years have made this source of clay difficult and unprofitable to cultivate. 
Started After Civil War 
The story of pottery-making in Rock Mills goes back to Civil War days. W. E. 
Boggs says clay was first turned there by his grandfather two years after the 
Civil War. From that time the Boggses have continued to turn pottery every year 
until the recent war interfered. 
Mr. Boggs tells of making a trip with his father to deliver three wagon loads of 
pottery down around Selma. Only five years old at the time, Mr. Boggs says their 
48-year-old pottery was built while he and his family were away on the delivery 
trip. 
Time To Learn? 
Mr. Boggs began his career as a turner while he was still a young boy. When 
asked how long it takes to learn the craft, Mr. Boggs replied, "It takes about 
as long as it does a boy to get an eighth or ninth grade education". An 
apprentice works on small articles tides until he is able to turn a gallon-size 
container. Almost each year he should learn to turn a pot one gallon larger than 
the previous year, until he reaches the five-gallon size. 
Experienced turners seldom break a piece of pottery. But anyone else has a high 
rate of breakage. Those who fear breaking a piece usually break the most. Some 
years ago, Mr. Boggs relates, a man unskilled in the craft was employed to help 
unload pottery. While he earned 35c in wages, he broke $1.40 worth of goods. For 
their first 13 weeks of turning in Perry County, the Boggses had a total of only 
five pieces broken. 
Asked about breakage in hauling finished pottery, Mr. Boggs explained that the 
pieces are loaded on the truck as close together, as possible. Then there is 
nothing to do but let them rattle. When the truck encounters rough spots in the 
road or crosses a wooden bridge, the terrific clattering is enough to make an 
inexperienced driver fearful that he has smashed up his entire cargo. Really 
there is little cause for alarm. If the truck is loaded properly, breakages in 
transport are rare. 
Still A Hand Craft High-speed machinery and other inventions which brought about 
mass production in industry have caused almost no change in the making of 
pottery. Although some electric machines are used now, pottery making remains a 
hand craft, requiring highly skilled turners to produce fine pottery. 
The Boggses have some electric equipment, but most of the time they use a board 
propelled by a foot pedal to get the highest quality products. This is the type 
board which was always used at the Rock Mills pottery. 
Teacher Offers 
During the depression years a federal relief agency tried hard to get W. E. 
Boggs to instruct large classes in pottery-making. He never accepted, he says, 
because it is impractical to teach a large group to turn pottery a hand craft 
which takes years to learn. One who has mastered the craft can walk into any 
pottery plant in the country and find good employment. No longer can this county 
boast of a pottery manufacturing industry within its bounds, but as long as 
there are Boggses, Randolph County, and especially the community of Rock Mills, 
can always be called the hub of Alabama pottery-making.

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/al/randolph/newspapers/boggsroc2224gnw.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/alfiles/

File size: 5.0 Kb