Stangl Pottery Mold Rescue – 1997                           

By Diana E. Bullock-Runge

In October, 1997, Rob was given the unique opportunity as a Stangl Pottery historian and preservationist to remove the original Stangl molds which had been stored in a turn-of-the-century warehouse in Millville, NJ since the cease of Stangl production in l978. This building was slated for demolition and for the sake of preserving them; Rob embarked on a Stangl mold rescue. Many of these were distributed to the Trenton City Museum and the State Museum of New Jersey for their historic displays.

Rob, with the help of his 77-year-old grandmother and myself made several trips throughout October and November of that year to Millville in an attempt to rescue as many historically important molds as possible. It was filthy backbreaking work but one of the most worthwhile projects I have ever been involved in doing. Sadly, the effects of years of neglect and a leaking roof and improper packing nearly twenty years before had left many of the molds in disastrous ruin. In spite of this, there were still thousands of molds worth preserving.

 

In addition to the Stangl molds, saggars, and ware-boards stored in this building, Frank Wheaton jammed it full of fantastic architectural relics, bits and pieces of Americana gleaned from local historic dwellings, post offices, commercial buildings and railroad stations. Realizing the full value of the contents of this building, which also included several mountainous piles of Wheaton bottles, I contacted Mr. Wheaton and proposed a liquidation of these goods under my company’s direction. He quickly agreed and these relics were transported off-site and auctioned off. Despite torrential rainfall that day, we attracted hungry bidders from seven states. Once again, history was preserved as these wonderful things found new homes and did not suffer the wrecking ball.

 

Besides the molds distributed to the two Trenton museums, several hundred were donated to the Stangl/Fulper Collectors Club for their use, but they face an uncertain future as continuing funds for their storage may no longer be allocated. Still, hundreds more have been safely stored on family property for Rob’s ongoing research for his various historically important educational projects and future books.

Recently, we received word from the new owners of Wheaton Industries that the building still stood. Although greatly deteriorated and in threat of collapse, we were allowed just one more trip inside. With hardhats and steel tipped shoes we ventured into the cavernous building but were ever mindful of just how dangerous our surroundings were. A few bumps and skinned shins later we emerged with enough molds, saggars and other tools of the pottery trade to create our planned "living" museum display. More details of that trip can be found in the November Newsletter of the Stangl Bird Collectors Club at www.stanglbird.com.

 

Seen in the accompanying photos are views of the exterior of the building as well as the interior with its stacks and stacks of molds, saggars and ware-boards. We were able to save many of the things you see here but too, too many will face the wrecking ball. Stangl History lives there!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 




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