The video links we've provided have triggered some questions from readers, and recollections for me.
The KDKA video is about a commemorative crock we make to celebrate the naming of our city. The Pittsburgh region was vital to our nation's move west. From our three rivers, the expansion was downhill all the way to the Gulf of Mexico. Take a boat down the Ohio to the Mississippi, buy a Conestoga wagon, a team of horses, a ton of supplies, maybe a cow, and it was flat land all the way to the Rockies. Because of this strategic location, the point was an outpost, then a fort, and later a city, long before it was named Pittsburgh. The city's semiquincentennial celebration was spectacular. The Allegheny Conference organized a series of events culminating with a fireworks extravaganza that made even Pittsburgh's heralded pyrotechnic displays look commonplace.
See for yourself. The year long celebration was so comprehensive, we decided to participate with a commemorative of our own that is available at
zotterthepotter.com and at the
Sen. John Heinz History Center .
We are currently doing a 250 piece for Culpeper VA, if you or your organization has a special anniversary or celebration give us a call, our crocks are fantastic fundraisers. One of our outlets sold about 1,000 pieces for the Frederick MD Bicentennial and an historical organization in Falls Church VA sold 400 pieces for their 200th anniversary.
The Pittsburgh 250 Crock is a throwback to our "town commemoratives" years, and so is the
You Tube video. From the mid-seventies to the early nineties we made pots with a town name, an appropriate logo, and sold them through gift shops in all fifty states. Our largest client was the Leggett Department Stores, a Mid-Atlantic States based chain. The Ron Hankison video played at our pottery displays in 28 Leggett Stores. It was received so well the Leggett brothers had me give live demonstrations, with a lot of media exposure, in many of their stores. I packed up my wheel, some clay, and headed off to cities as far north as Frederick Md and as far south as Wilmington NC. It was quite an effort, a huge success, and a lot of fun. One thing is for certain, Ron's video played a big role in our pottery displays' success, but when all is considered it is only one of many ways Ron has helped us along the way. Thanks again Ron.
I hope this window to the past filled in the blanks, it sure has triggered memories. I have a lot of "tour stories". The tour was the beginning of our personalized pottery line that celebrates weddings, anniversaries, and many other special occasions. It was the Leggett Stores that had the first display where you could order a personalized marriage crock. From there, several national mail order catalogs picked up the line and before we could have anticipated, the town line was phased down to major celebrations like Pittsburgh 250 and corporate level promotions. The personalized line has been our primary effort since the mid-nineties.
Thanks for tuning in,
Walt...
Zotter The Potter
