Pewabic Celebrates 40 Years as a Nonprofit Organization
Pewabic Pottery photographed before 1912
After our co-founder Mary Chase Perry Stratton’s death in 1961, and a period of transition that included the pottery serving as a satellite campus for Michigan State University, a group of Pewabic supporters gathered together to form the Pewabic Society, Inc. This nonprofit organization sought to carry on Pewabic’s legacy as an important historical, cultural, and educational icon in the city of Detroit.
This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Pewabic Society Inc. taking ownership of the pottery. As we explore the past four decades of Pewabic’s history, we look to celebrate the artists, historians, educators, and supporters who banded together to carry Pewabic into the 21st century.
BE A PART OF THE CELEBRATION!
If you have any photos, videos, or memories of Pewabic, we would love for you to share them with us. Share your stories, photos, video, and other related materials through the comments below, via email to news@pewabic.org, send us a direct message on Facebook or Instagram, or mail them to Pewabic Pottery, Attn: Pewabic Stories Project, 10125 E Jefferson Ave, Detroit, MI 48214.
Detroit Free Press article published in 1967 covering the MSU acquisition of the pottery
8 Responses
Amy Crow
Loved taking a tile making class at Pewabic back in 2000. I used the tiles to update our Royal Oak home’s vestibule and redid the old 1950 backsplash with purchased tiles from Pewabic. Nice to include part of Detroit’s history into our home!
Michele Hubbard
Had to have my passport renewed in downtown Detroit and wait until 4pm for pick-up. I decided to drive to the Pewabic Factory, which was on my Michigan bucket list. Due to severe storms (August 2019), the factory lost electricity and was closed for a couple days! I had a few items I wanted to purchase, but ended up doing so online. A favorite gift is the Red Wings hockey ornament! Thank-you for maintaining a high quality and historically significant operation.
Karen Adams
Born in Cottage Hospital, attended GP South High School and U of M Ann Arbor, frequented the Guardian Building and roamed the DIA, made my life indelibly stamped and colored by the vibrant beauty of Pewabic.
JULIE Bush
I have two pieces of Pewabic-a tile of the beauty and bounty of Michigan and a Chevrolet Corvette tile. My favorites.
Agnes Gira
memories.
Agnes Gira
Old man loved that Raku Party.
His first attempt,he amazed himself.
We lost him in December 2020.
The vases are still here and evoke fond mmories.
genevieve a haggerty
I love my winterberry vase, given to me a couple Christmas’ ago from Patrick. It now is a featured art piece in my living room all by itself. Sometimes it even gets a complimentary filler. Spectacular color and design!
Leave a comment
Comments will be approved before showing up.
Also in Blog
Guide To Our 32nd Annual House & Garden Show Weekend
Pewabic Stands the Test of Time
Celebrating the Life and Legacy of Co-Founder Mary Chase Perry Stratton
“Aretha Franklin, Rosa Parks, Gilda Radner, Martha Dodge, a list that screams Detroit’s defining women. Often one person is left off that list…Mary Stratton, the mother of Pewabic Pottery.” explains WWJ 950’s Zach Clark in a segment for International Women's Day this year. Zach Clark took a look at the century-long legacy of one of Michigan's finest artists with Pewabic’s Education Director and Archivist Annie Dennis and the Detroit Historical Society’s Manager of Education and Public Programs Kimmie Dobos Wolfe. You can listen to the full story here.
As we honor the 155th anniversary of Mary’s birth, we are thrilled to celebrate her life, legacy and impact on Detroit, Michigan, and beyond.
Pam Sienkiewicz
May 20, 2022
By any chance, might anyone know if the Pottery was commissioned to create any items for the Haven Hill estate of Edsel and Eleanor Ford in Oakland County?
Pam Sienkiewicz, fohravolunteers.org