In
the 1830's, some 60 folk potters operated shops within a four
mile area of Mossy Creek in White County, making it one of the
largest communities of potters in the South. Names like Dorsey,
Craven, Pitchford, Davidson, Brownlow, Warwick, Chandler, and
Anderson to name a few. These potters did not mark or sign their
pottery as it was not important and a waste of time to them.
Who could have known what it would have meant later?
The
Potters of this time were just as important to the community
as a blacksmith or a wagon maker. Without their pottery, no
one could preserve the food they needed to get through the winter
months. Potters would barter a lot of the time. There wasn't
much money around at that time and the potters needed produce.
The potters would trade their ware for whatever that person
had to trade; such as trading a bushel of beans, or a chicken
or two, for a churn or jar.
In
1892, John
Milton Meaders took advantage of the large clay deposit
on his land and built a small log pottery shop and kiln. He
then hired William Dorsey and Marion Davidson to turn ware and
teach his oldest sons, Wiley,
Caulder
and Cleater.
The older boys in turn taught the younger boys, Casey,
L.Q.
and Cheever.
The
boys worked in their daddy's shop until they married and went
out on their own. Wiley built a shop across the creek from the
home place. Cleater built a
shop on the north end of Cleveland. Caulder moved out west to
become a railroad man. Casey moved to North Carolina. L.Q.
worked at the other's shops and hauled the ware for sale. Cheever
the youngest son stayed and took over the running of his daddy's
shop.
In
1920, with the start of prohibition, and with glass and tin
easier to get, the need for pottery became less and less. When
the Great Depression hit and no one had cash to buy anything,
most of the pottery shops were forced to close. But Cheever
Meaders was determined to continue to hold on and sell
his wares even at a nickel a gallon.
During
the 1930's, the road in front of Cheever's shop became a US
highway, making it the main road from Canada to Florida. Tourists
would stop on their way to the beach and check out the pottery
shop. Gift shops started stocking his pottery to sell to the
tourists. Even though Cheever's customers were different, his
work remained unchanged. Using the old ways to make his ware,
he continued making the same type of pottery. The exception
being face jugs. Will Hewell, of the Gillsville family of potters,
worked in different shops in White County during the early 1900's.
He taught Cheever to make face jugs. Cheever felt the pieces
were a waste of time, but they were making money.
During
this time, a trend towards an artistic approach to their work
appeared in the Meaders shop. Arie
Meaders, Cheever's wife, started working in the shop
and put a decorative touch to the pieces by adding grapes, flowers,
and birds. She later had Cheever set up a wheel and began to
turn for herself. Arie's most creative work was a collection
of purely decorative birds and chickens.
In
the mid 1960's the Smithsonian Institution filmed a documentary
on Meaders Pottery. This was shortly before Cheever's death
in 1967. Unable to do much work at this time, his son Lanier
took over the family tradition. Lanier was influenced by his
Mother's style. He became most famous for his face jugs. Many
were sold to the Smithsonian creating a large demand all over
the county.
Today
the old shop stands empty, but the tradition is far from dead.
Many family members still turn in their own shops. Cheever and
Arie's children kept the skills they learned as children at
their parents knees, and in later life picked up the craft again.
Some of the other early Meaders' children and grandchildren
are continuing the tradition as well.
Please
check our family
tree and represented
artists sections to find out more.
