Folk Potters Trail

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Leads you to men and women recognized
as linked to a 200-year tradition of
crafting pottery once essential for
household use and now valued and
collected as distinctive folk art.
EAST
O
GE
R
The Folk Potters Trail of Northeast Georgia
takes you through rural landscapes, along
creeks and rivers and includes homesteads that
have been handed down for many generations.
Meeting these potters, viewing and collecting
their work will connect you to a unique
heritage of American and Southern folk art.
Published by the
FOLK POTTERY MUSEUM
OF NORTHEAST GEORGIA
NORTHEAST GEORGIA
HISTORY CENTER
GA Hwy. 255 N
4 miles southeast of Alpine Helen
Open Mon–Sat 10 am to 5 pm, Sun 1 to 5 pm
706-878-3300 ext 307
www.folkpotterymuseum.com
322 Academy Street, NE,
just off business U.S. 129 in downtown Gainesville
Open Tues–Sat, 10 am to 4 pm
770-297-5900
www.negahc.org
B
ecause of its rugged terrain, much of northeast Georgia remained relatively
isolated and in a frontier-like situation into the early 20th century. Farming
was essential to provide food and shelter. Nearly all residents had to
engage in some farming activities to provide for their own families.
Until electricity was available for refrigeration, and glass containers
and other modern conveniences came along, folk pottery was as
essential for daily living as shelter. It was necessary in and around
the home for preparing, preserving and storing food and drink. Most pottery
shops employed several potters to keep up with this demand that came
primarily in the fall during the harvest season.
Pottery making became a family business—needing to call on
all available hands at busy times, even bringing in part-time help
as apprentices. To attract loyal customers, potters developed
special shapes, glazes, and decoration to distinguish their work.
These traditions have been handed down through generations to
the present day and are characteristic of the potters featured in
this brochure.
to
Atlanta
85
85
23
384
51
105
82
98
II
335
15
n
Rive
r
59
51
Mi
dd
98
Nicholson
441
Commerce
106
123
51
17
Danielsville
Br
oa
d
281
Carnesville
59
Lavonia
17
328
Riv
er
Royston
17
29
Hartwell
51
77
I
85
Lake
Hartwell
Lula-Gillsville
From Interstate 85 exit at U.S. 441 near Commerce, drive 9 miles north on
U.S. 441; 2.2 miles north of GA Hwy. 51, cross divided highway at Berlin
Road, turn south, 2nd house on right; pottery at bottom of driveway
Steve Turpin – Turpin Pottery
2500 U. S. Highway 441, 706-677-1528
Roosters, animal figures, face jugs
Open Mon-Thurs, 9am-4pm; Fri-Sun, please call first
From Interstate 85, take exit 177, turn right on GA Hwy. 77; follow 8.2
miles to Kelly Road, turn left; follow 1.3 miles to Stop sign and dead end at
Beacon Light Road; turn left; .1 miles to #2281
Clint Alderman – Clint Alderman Pottery
2281 Beacon Light Road (northwest of Hartwell), 706-377-2858
Please call first
Face jugs, roosters, utilitarian ware
Franklin
Springs
29
106
85
Toccoa
er
Riv
le F
or k
Tu
ga
lo
Yonah Lake
Banks Crossing
85
Hudso
17
ALT
17
13
441
23
Tugalo Lake
Tallulah
Falls
Lakemont
23
Hollywood
Homer
441
Russell
Lake
Cornelia
197
Jefferson
82
Maysville
52
OLD
441
OLD
441
Clarkesville
365
Gillsville
Lula
ee
ch
197
Demorest
115
17
Pendergrass
323
52
Braselton
129
115
17
ALT
255
255
er
985
Oakwood
53
23
384
255
365
52
254
Gainesville
129
284
129
75
Helen
Rabun
Riv
Sugar
Hill
211
985
Flowery
Branch
53
Lake
Sidney
Lanier
60
284
Clermont
115
Cleveland
129
ALT
75
348
Batesville Lake
Seed
Lake
ee
on
Oc
Buford
347
369
52
129
75
356
197
Lake
Burton
Fork
400
19
19
60
19
400
Dahlonega
ClevelandMossy Creek
180
of Northeast Georgia
Folk Pottery Museum
N O RT H E A S T G E O RG I A
River
Suches
r
Etowah Rive
River
ee
esta
t
Ch
ver
Chat
tah
oo
Ri
Soque
North
FOLK POTTERS
75
Trail
129
356
Batesville
of Northeast
Georgia
Folk Pottery
Museum
255
i
Helen
255
ALT
17
75
ALT
60
129
19
255
384
75
255
Cleveland
’s Cove R
Jenny
d
McAfee Rd
A
i
Po
st
Rd
75
Hwy
115
52
284
D
B
C
254
E
129
197
Cornelia
G
F
it t
Sk
284
365 441
384
365
sM
ount ain Dr
283
52
105
Westmoreland Rd
Clermont
283
Clarkesville
OLD
441
115
Skitts M ountain Rd
52
115
Lothridge Rd
Leatherford Rd
Tesnatee Gap
Valley Rd
17
23
441
52
60
Athens St
129
Lula
1
oad
eR
Lin
ty
un
Co
53
52
6
i
Gainesville
Northeast Georgia
History Center
985
129
323
51
Bell Rd
23
365
5
Sims Harris
3
2
323
4
Homer
Gillsville
7
Diamond Hill Rd
Rd
Old Gillsville Rd
8
52
B
255
ALT
17
75
Cleveland - Mossy Creek
Folk255Potters
384
ALT
75
255
Cleveland
’s Cove R
Jenny
d
i
McAfee Rd
A
Po
st
Rd
75
Hwy
115
52
284
D
B
C
254
E
284
F
365
sM
ount ain Dr
283
23
B
B. Ruby Meaders Irvin
E
E. Whelchel Meaders
C
C. Jessie Meaders
1563 Post Road, Cleveland
706-865-2887
Please call first
Roosters, face jugs, snowpeople
Gainesville
2425 Highway 75 South, Cleveland
706-865-3960
Please call first
Small
jugs, chicken and animal
985 face129
pieces; grape glaze designs
Athens St
1132 Westmoreland Road, Cleveland
706-865-3802
Please call first
Face jugs, utilitarian ware
Lula
F
F. Reggie Meaders, Flossie Meaders
365
9405 Skitts Mountain Drive, Cleveland
770-983-3260
Please call first
Churns, pitchers, vases, bowls, owls,
roosters, hogs
Sims Har
51
oad
eR
Lin
ty
un
Co
919 Leatherford Road, Cleveland
23
706-219-3645
Please call first
Roosters, hens, baby chicks, doves
D. Mildred Meaders
D
441
52
1249 Jennys Cove Road, Cleveland
706-219-4278
Please call first
129
Ring jugs, animal figures, face jugs
53
197
Cornel
G
A
A. Lin Craven
60
365 441
384
it t
Sk
Clermont
52
105
Westmoreland Rd
129
283
Clarke
OLD
441
115
Skitts M ountain Rd
52
115
Lothridge Rd
Leatherford Rd
Tesnatee Gap
Valley Rd
17
52
323
Bell Rd
129
ris R
d
G
G. David Meaders, Anita Meaders
Diamond Hill Rd
323
9401 Skitts Mountain
Drive, Cleveland
706-892-9784
PleaseGillsville
call first
Pitchers,
jugheads, roosters,
Old Gillsville Rd
utilitarian ware
52
H
52
52
284
Lula - Gillsville
Folk Potters
60
Athens St
129
Lula
1
53
52
i
6
Gainesville
985
211
323
51
Bell Rd
23
365
oad
eR
Lin
ty
un
Co
5
441
5
Sims Harris
3
4
2
323
Gillsville
7
Diamond Hill Rd
Rd
Old Gillsville Rd
8
52
129
1.
1 Michael Crocker, Melvin Crocker, Pauline
Crocker Crocker Pottery – Georgia Folk
Pottery Center
6345 W. County Line Road, Lula
770-869-3160
Face jugs, snake jugs, grape pots, flower
vases, utilitarian ware
Open Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm; call first on Sat;
closed Sunday
55. Roger Corn
County Line Jug Shop
7703 W. County Line Road, Lula
706-677-4328, 706-677-1385 – Please call first
Tea pots, coffee pots, face jugs
Oakwood
82
66. Chester Hewell, Harold Hewell, Grace Hewell,
53
Flowery2.2 Jeff Standridge
Sims Harris Road, Gillsville
Branch 669
706-677-2219
Please call first
Face jugs, utilitarian ware
3.
3 Wayne Hewell
Wayne Hewell Pottery
415 Bell Road (off Sims Harris Road), Lula
706-677-3996, 770-530-5677
Please call first
Swirl pottery, pitchers, utilitarian ware
Pendergrass
85
Braselton
4.
4 Mike Perdue
529 Bell Road (off Sims Harris Road), Lula
706-677-5287
Please call first
Face jugs, utilitarian ware
Nathanial Hewell, Matthew Hewell, Eli Hewell
Hewells Pottery
6035 Georgia Highway 52, Gillsville
770-869-3469
Face jugs, rooster bowls,
grape pots, utilitarian ware
Open Mon-Thu, 7:30am-5pm;
Fri-Sat, 7:30am-4pm;
closed Sunday
82
77. Mary Ferguson; Stanley Ferguson
15
335
Jefferso
7468 Old Gillsville Road, Gillsville
770-869-3262
Face jugs, roosters, pigs, jugs with
snakes and spiders
Open Mon-Sat, 9am-5pm; Sun 1-5pm
88. Dwayne Crocker
Dwayne Crocker Folk Pottery
6717 Diamond Hill Road, Gillsville
770-869-0088
Roosters, face jugs, decorated ware
Open Mon-Fri, 10am-5pm; Sat, noon to 4pm;
closed Sunday
More than a Welcome . . .
This trail follows rural and scenic routes.
Begin at the Folk Pottery Museum of Northeast Georgia,
283 Georgia Highway 255 North,
with the full story and display of northeast Georgia folk pottery and where
staff will assist with directions and information.
(706-878-3300, www.folkpotterymuseum.com)
Visit local welcome centers in Alpine Helen
(800-858-8027, www.helenga.org) or Cleveland
(706-865-5356, www.whitecountychamber.org) for information on lodging,
food options, services and other area attractions.
e
Southern gateway to Trail at Northeast Georgia History Center,
322 Academy Street, NE, just off business U.S. 129 in downtown Gainesville,
with extensive display of northeast Georgia folk pottery
(770-297-5900, www.negahc.org).
Visit nearby Gainesville-Hall County Convention and Visitors Bureau
(888-536-0005, www.GainesvilleHallCVB.org) for information on
lodging, food options, services and other area attractions.