The Valley of Heart's Delight
HOMER KNOWLES
KNOWLES POTTERY SCHEDULED TO OPEN IN
SANTA CLARA , CALIFORNIA
1922*
HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY 476
SURNAMES: Stockdale, Marshall,
Prominent among the newcomers in Santa Clara whose natural
ability, record for professional and social accomplishments, and
promise of future value to the community, have contributed to assure
them the warmest welcome, are Mr. and Mrs. Homer Knowles, the former an
expert in the pottery trade, and the latter distinguished as a direct
descendant of John Marshall, ex-Chief Justice of the United States. Mr.
Knowles was born on July 6, 1884, and grew up at East Liverpool, Ohio,
and he was educated at Trinity School, in New York City, at the
Peekskill Military Academy, and at St. Paul's College, in New York. He
finished his education by traveling in Europe, seeing the Old World
extensively; for he was fortunate in an affectionate, cultured and
indulgent mother. She was Ida Stockdale before her marriage; and she
was born at Georgetown, Pa., the daughter of the president of the
Dollar Savings Bank, at Pittsburgh, and president of the Pittsburgh
& Cincinnati Packet Company. In 1900, Mr. Knowles came to
California for six months to look around; and today finds him settled
in one of the most progressive cities, the leading pottery manufacturer
of California.
On August 27, 1902, Mr. Knowles was married to Miss Alma Marshall, a
daughter of Attorney E. D. Marshall, of Chester, W. Va., who has
recently settled in Santa Clara; and this fortunate union has been
blessed with three children; Gail, Alma and Homer. Each of the children
are endowed in some exceptional and promising manner.
The Homer Knowles Pottery Company, of which Mr. Knowles is both
president and general manager, manufacture dinner-sets and hotel
dishes. It was conceived of at East Liverpool, Ohio, Mr. Knowles' place
of birth and his former home, and it was incorporated under the laws of
Delaware on June 17, 1920, with a capitalization of $750,000. The
pottery plant is located on a plot of six and a half acres on the
Alviso Road, just north of the Santa Clara city limits, and ground was
broken for the factory on April 14, 1921. The cornerstone of the main
building, 159x355 feet in size, was laid on June 9, Mr. Knowles drew
all the plans for the factory, as well as for the five upright kilns,
and he will probably install one tunnel kiln, 321 feet long, with the
capacity of ten uprights. An entire shipload of English potter's clay,
the largest single shipment ever received by an American potter, was
consigned to and has recently been received by him at the Santa Clara
pottery; it contained 3,684,000 lbs. of the desired-for material, and
was shipped by way of the Isthmus, through the Panama Canal. The
English clay can be laid down at Santa Clara very much cheaper than at
East Liverpool, Ohio, and from this fact alone it will be seen that the
new dinner-ware pottery, which is expected to be in operation in 1922
and to employ some 225 men and women, will be most favorably located.
It has been estimated that several thousand people attended the
official ceremonies marking the laying of the cornerstone, when there
were notable speakers. The president, Homer Knowles, delivered a short
address of welcome and introduced Judge Charles A. Thompson of Santa
Clara as chairman; and then the Rev. Noel Porter, rector of Trinity
Episcopal Church of San Jose, made the presentation speech. This was
responded to on behalf of Santa Clara, by Father Timothy L. Murphy,
president of the University of Santa Clara. A. K. Frye, of San
Francisco, industrial agent of the Southern Pacific Railroad Company,
spoke of the advantages to a community of her industries. The
ceremonies were opened with a parade, led by a band and a squad of
motorcycle police.
The site for this property at Santa Clara was selected after
approximately twenty cities in California had been visited, and as the
plant will be situated within the yard limits of Santa Clara on the
main tracks of the Southern Pacific at the intersection of the main
Coast line to San Francisco, and the main tracks of the Southern
Pacific at the intersection of the main Coast line to San Francisco,
and the main western division to Oakland, there will be a spur track
with an outlet at both ends, and a spur with a capacity of ten cars at
the works. The plant is also on the main State Highway between San
Francisco and Los Angeles, forty-three miles from San Francisco and 427
miles from the Southland metropolis. As an investment for California
money this company should prove a great attraction. Billions of dishes
are in daily use, millions of them are broken and replaced each day,
and the Eastern potteries are unable to supply the demand.
Mr. Knowles, the president and manager, belongs to a family of potters.
His grandfather started the business in 1853, and his father, the late
Homer S. Knowles, one of the greatest potters of his time, commenced
business when he was fifteen years old. Together, they made the
Knowles, Taylor & Knowles Company, famous in every town and
city in the United States. The name Knowles, whenever found on domestic
ware, has long signified as much as the name Haviland on French china.
The members of the board of directors are; Homer Knowles, Irwin E.
Pomeroy and W. H. Cook of Santa Clara; C. E. Marcum of Los Altos; W. J.
Dougall and Frank L. Hoyt of San Jose.
The advent of the Knowles family to California adds as materially to
the social and religious life as it does to its industrial and
financial life. Mr. and Mrs. Knowles adhere to the Episcopalian faith
and Mr. Knowles is the treasurer of the Episcopal Church at Santa
Clara. He is a member of the Chamber of Commerce of Santa Clara, and
the Commercial Club of San Jose. He is also a member of the California
State Automobile Association, and the transportation Club of San
Francisco, and is an associate member of the American Ceramic Society.
In politics he is a stanch Republican and a personal friend of
President Harding.
Transcribed by Marie Clayton, from Eugene T. Sawyers' History of Santa Clara County,California, published by Historic Record Co. , 1922. page 476
*Transcribers Note:I have found a reference on the internet that Lehner's Encyclopedia of U.S. Marks on Pottery, Porcelain and Clay, notes that this plant went bankrupt in 1923.
November 28, 2004
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