The Past
7
thePeorian.com
BEFORE WORLD WAR I
(1877 – 1919)
In 1877, six brothers from the
Black Forest region of Germany
emigrated to Morton, Illinois. The
small village was booming with
growth so they established a kiln
near a superior yellow clay pit
that produced drainage tiles and
bricks. The Rapp brothers success
grew rapidly with the building
city.
The Rapps began to branch
out into utilitarian goods such as
bowls, crocks, jugs and pitchers.
They used a heavy, brown water-
proof, reaction-free glaze to cover
their goods. It was similar to the
Rockingham glaze made famous
by Peoria Pottery. One often finds
a “splatter-effect” glaze to make
the pieces more decorative.
By 1917, with World War I
starting and many employees
enlisting, the Rapps shut the
pottery down during the war
years.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 8
220
Pennsylvania St. at Clinton along
the Penn-Central Railroad tracks
Rapp Brothers Brick
and Tile Company
1877 – 1936
Rapp Brothers Pottery Works
1878 – 1915
Morton Earthenware Company
1915 – 1917
Cliftwood Art Potteries
1920 – 1940
Midwest Potteries Incorporated
1940 – 1944
315
W. Jefferson St. along the
Santa Fe Railroad tracks
Morton Pottery Company
1922 – 1969
(
Rapp Brothers ownership)
Morton Pottery Company
1969 – 1972
(
Cowan & York ownership)
Rival Manufacturing Company
1972 – 1975
Lincoln Stoneware Incorporated
1975 – 1976
503
W. Jefferson St.
American Art Potteries
1947 – 1950
103
N. Morton Ave.
American Art Potteries
1950 - 1963
MORTON POTTERIES
Locations and Timeline
Examples of the Rockingham Glaze from Morton Pottery Works.
