Pinecroft Pottery and Tearoonm – A Step Back in Time and a Rotary Link

 

Brenda Smith, granddaughter of the founder of the acreage that comprises Pinecroft toured us through the pottery works and told us the history of the property and businesses.  Her grandfather, Arthur Caverly, began to develop the land by planting 85 thousand pine trees in 1921.  Hoping to replicate the look and feel of a beloved Muskoka landscape, Arthur went on to build 3 cabins. 

 

The first cabin is now used as a Bed and Breakfast.  Cabin # 2, a larger abode was completed in 1934.  Grandfather Arthur was a Rotarian in Aylmer and hosted meetings in this space for several years.  Termed the “Cabin in the Pines”,  the building now houses the very busy Green Frog Tearoom and store.  When WWII caused gas rationing, Rotary meetings of necessity became more centralized to the city of Aylmer.  A third cabin was built for a brother and is the nearest building to the pottery.  Arthur’s son (Brenda’s father) became a Rotarian and was president of the club.  He was the Ontario Energy Minister at one time and was instrumental in the establishment of the Lake Erie Pipeline. 

 

Pinecroft Pottery

The pottery has been active for 71 years and as such is the longest continually running pottery business in Canada.  Arthur Caverly’s daughter Selma was a teacher in Kingsville and in Lucan before joining the Canadian Navy during WWII.  After the war, monies were available for schooling and she chose to learn about ceramics at a school in Quebec.  There she met Jimmy from Medicine Hat, Alberta who had survived D-day and the war to come home to Canada. He and Selma opened the pottery business in 1948 and were married in 1949. They were given the main cabin (#2) in which to work.  The pottery business boomed and Pinecroft was selling to a large number of shops in Canada. 

 

Brenda gave us a tour and introduction to the types of kilns used in firing the pottery.  A huge wood-fired kiln which requires 28-35 hours of attention is fired about 7 times a year but only in the spring and fall.  Otherwise the climate is too cold or too hot for such an endeavour. Groups of potters wishing this type of firing stoke the kiln around the clock in shifts.  The specific type of wood makes a certain kind of ash which falls on to the pots as they are fired.  The kiln holds 600 pots.  The process is time-consuming and intensive and thus wood-fired pottery costs much more to produce.  Pinecroft also features propane powered kilns and electric kilns. The first firing is in a bisque kiln.  The second firing occurs after the powdered glaze is reconstituted and a thin layer applied to the pot.  The second firing in a propane kiln would take 14 hours and reach a maximum temperature of 2350 degrees F. The kilns are monitored during firing as the type of kiln can change the percentage of oxygen required.  Adjustments can be made at certain stages in the process.  Pyrometric cones which look somewhat like 3 small scythes on a platform, each about 2.5 cm long, are inserted in holes in the door of the kiln to check the temperature. Originally clay from Canada, Hamilton and eastern Canada was used in the pottery.  Raw clay could be purchased in Canada today but is expensive and has to be mixed.  These days, clay that is prepared and ready for use is purchased in Georgia.

 

A Family Affair

When Selma and Jimmy were ready for succession planning, in the late 1970’s, they turned to the family.  They asked their niece Brenda and nephew Tony to consider running the pottery.  Brenda had graduated from UWO in psychology.  She had a good job but decided to take a 1 year sabbatical and in her words “I never went back”. After establishing himself in the Pinecroft business, Tony opened another business Gleeson Brooke Pottery in Wiarton.  These days Brenda runs the main location, creating beautiful pieces and overseeing classes and groups who come to use the kilns.  Tony’s love is teaching and he travels the world doing so but also comes home to help with the business.  When they first started, Brenda and Tony went to the Banff School of Fine Arts for a summer to expand their knowledge and skills. Nowadays, Brenda’s daughter manages the kitchen at the Green Frog Tearoom, her son is the bookkeeper and her husband bakes the bread.  What a versatile family!

 

Tearoom

The Tearoom was opened in 1978 to cater to those groups who needed refreshment when visiting Pinecroft.  Initially tea, muffins and homemade bread were served.  Compare that to today’s gourmet feast!

 

The lunch and tour were thoroughly enjoyed by Rotarians and guests (Donna, June, Catherine and Maggie). Thanks Barb for the inspiration to plan this outing.  Good job!

 

HAPPY FINS FROM 17JUL19

Malcolm1: 50th anniversary of Man on the moon

Trish1: family birthdays in July

 

Connie won the 50/50 (slim pickins)

 

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