In 1855 Alson Vail and a man named Lewis started an earthenware pottery in Berlin with a bear purchased from Mr. Cough from the Traveling Pottery to promote the new business. An 1858 Berlin City Directory lists the pottery location on Union Street near Pearl Street. It lists Alson’s brother Tracy as his partner and Mr. Lewis is no longer listed. The 1860 Census includes two potteries in Berlin. The second was operated by Thekemas Sherwood and his son. An 1860 newspaper mentioned that Henry Tolman purchased a pottery and in 1863, Cole and Hunter purchased one of the two Berlin Potteries. Read the Article
