1824 saw the opening of Dummer's Glass Works on Communipaw Cove,
west of Washington street and south of Morris Canal. The site is now
occupied by the sugar house. The flint glass of these works, started in
1824, has never been excelled. In 1825 the Jersey Porcelain and Earthen
Ware Company was incorporated in the Town of Jersey, County of Bergen.
Under the Act of Legislature George Dummer, Timothy Dewey, Henry
Post, Jr., William W. Shirley and Robert Abbatt, Jr., were named as
incorporators. In 1826, at the exhibition of the Franklin Institute in
Philadelphia, a silver medal was awarded to this pottery for the "best
china from American materials." This pottery is exceedingly interesting
from the fact that it was the pioneer in America along several lines;
it was the first to manufacture porcelain, for which French workmen had
been brought over. For three years they manufactured porcelain of good
body and excellent glaze. About 1829 Messrs. D. and J. Henderson bought
the works and manufactured flint stone ware of superior quality.
In 1833 David Henderson organized the "American Pottery Manufacturing
Company," for the purpose of manufacturing various kinds of pottery.
By Act of Assembly of January 18th, 1833, the following commissioners
were appointed to solicit stock subscriptions: David Henderson, John
V. B. Varick, Robert Gilchrist, J. Dickinson Miller, of Jersey City,
and Edward Cook, George Tingle and J. Steele, of New York. During
the seven years following there was made at this pottery the first
successful competition with England in the manufacture of a buff
or cream colored ware of excellent quality, and for the first time
in America was adopted the English method of printing transfer in
decoration. During the Presidential campaign of 1840 there was made
here a large eight-sided water pitcher of cream colored ware; on
the four front panels were black under glaze prints of a log cabin
above the legend "The Ohio Farmer," and below a portrait bust of
W. H. Harrison, with the American Eagle. The mark on the bottom in
black under glaze was a flag with the inscription, "American Pottery
Manufacturing Company, Jersey City."
In Jennie Young's "Ceramic Art" it is said that at the old Jersey City
Pottery the "throwing and turning of earthenware upon the English
principle was first performed in America by William and James Taylor."
About this time Daniel Greatback, a member of a family of noted English
potters, and at one time a modeller for the Ridgeways of Cauldron
place, England, came to this factory and designed many ornamental
pieces. For its first embossed ware the factory received a medal from
the Franklin Institute. One style, a spittoon, was of a glazed white
ware with raised white figures on a blue ground, the upper surface
fluted and solid blue. About 1850 the name was changed to "The Jersey
City Pottery." Many of the best potters in the United States learned
their trade here. After several changes, Mr. John Rouse and Mr.
Nathaniel Turner became proprietors of the pottery. Mr. Rouse came
from the Derby works, England, and Mr. Turner from the Staffordshire
potteries at Tunstall, England. They made porous cups for telegraphic
purposes and many ornamental forms in white biscuit and glazed ivory
white for decorators. One of the most graceful forms was the Worcester
vase, a reproduction of an old pattern at the Worcester works in
England. Among others were four different sizes and varieties of Toby
jugs, a pitcher with rope and anchor design, a figure of Christ, and
Apostle jug; some, if not all, designs of Greatback. On many of the
wares portraits were modelled in relief, that of Daniel O'Connell was
among the best. The pottery property was sold in 1892 and the old
buildings destroyed. It is said that many priceless old moulds were
thrown out upon the meadows and broken up. Mr. John O. Rouse still
manufactures porous cups within two blocks of the site of the old
pottery.
Previous to 1829 there were but few manufacturing interests in Jersey
City. In that year several factories were established here, and since
1840 they have steadily increased until they are now so extended and
varied, that in a sketch of this limited character they can only be
lightly touched upon. While many business firms began here, others
have removed to this city from other places; notably the Lorillard
Tobacco Factory, which, started in New York in 1760, has grown to be
the largest of its kind in the country. It is also a leading company in
its care for the three thousand and more of its employees, providing
a library, evening schools, sewing classes, and dispensary, besides
the most careful sanitary precautions. The Sugar House, whose output
approximates seven thousand barrels a day. The Colgate's Soap and
Perfumery Works started in New York in 1806, but have been in Jersey
City for many years.
The Dixon Crucible Works, started by Joseph Dixon, the inventor of
the Graphite Crucible, first established at Salem, Mass., in 1826,
removed to Jersey City about 1850. Mr. Dixon introduced his invention
in numerous factories in America and Europe, but the one in Jersey
City, with its importations of graphite from Ceylon and Bohemia, its
ownership of graphite mines in New England and New York State, and of
a great cedar working plant in Florida, is the only factory in the
world where all graphite products, crucibles, pencils, stove polish and
lubricants are manufactured under the one management.
About 1830, Mr. Isaac Edge established a factory for the manufacture of
fireworks, which grew to be the largest in the country, and was widely
known in Europe and South America. He was the inventor of the scenic
fireworks, so popular to-day, and his manufactory was a training school
for American pyrotechnists.
Jersey City can boast a long list of inventors, from Robert Fulton
down; Professors Morse and House were residents of Jersey City while
evolving the telegraph; and in many of the factories and foundries are
numerous inventions of the mechanical experts connected with them; for
instance, the weaving and knitting machinery of the fire hose factory
are the inventions of Mr. D. L. Stowe, an officer of the company and a
resident of Jersey City. The Thompson and Bushnell Foundry Company are
inventors of numerous valuable patents in their line; the list might
be extended far beyond our limit. The first Stock Yard and Transit
Company in the country was opened at Communipaw in 1866.
I have found the statement that the "first bell made in a mould from
blistered bar (cast) steel was made May 27, 1827, at Jersey City."
Also that the Kamschatka, "the largest war steamship in the world,
in November, 1840, received her machinery at Jersey City." I have
been unable to learn to what nation the Kamschatka belonged, nor what
foundries furnished her machinery, and made the bell.