Ballard Family Potteries
In 1854 the three Ballard brothers of Burlington, Vermont, Orrin L, Alfred K, and Hiram N. took over the old Thompson & Co. pottery in Gardiner, Maine. They operated the Gardiner facility for about a year and produced wares with the incised mark BALLARD & BROTHERS/GARDINER ME.
Following this experience, Orrin and Alfred moved to Portland, Maine, where in 1855 they established a pottery at 100 Green Street. The 1856 Portland directory lists them at that address and describes them as “Manufacturers and Wholesaler Dealers of Stone Ware of every description, which they offer to the trade on the most reasonable terms.”
In 1859 Orrin and Alfred moved back to Burlington and made pottery together until 1867. Their mark was O.L. & A.K. BALLARD/BURLINGTON, VT. After 1867 Alfred continued to operate the pottery alone in Burlington, making stoneware until 1872. He used an incised mark reading A.K. BALLARD/BURLINGTON, VT.
Reference note by p4A editorial staff, revised November, 2012.