Homer Laughlin China

After a 8:30 am departure from the lodge at Oglebay Park, we drove north on Rt. 2 to our visit locations.  Half of our group visited the Museum of Ceramics in East Liverpool, Ohio and the other half went to Homer Laughlin China across the Ohio River in Newell, West Virginia.  The group at the museum learned that, because of the intense heat and humidity, the museum would be closing for the day.  Similarly, the group at Homer Laughlin was unable to take the facility tour because of the heat in the production area. 

However, there was good news.  As the group at Homer Laughlin was leaving, we met the marketing manager, Dan Williams, who arranged for our whole group to hear their ceramic chemist, Michael, who would give us a thorough tour of the production area and an in-depth discussion of the processes for making Fiesta dinnerware and other Homer Laughlin products.  We were very pleased with our tour.  
We saw many china items being produced using a variety of techniques from preparing the raw materials to packaging the product for distribution.  Perhaps the most impressive aspect of the production was the high degree of quality control.  Items are inspected at every stage of production and those that do not meet the high standards are rejected.  The china can be recycled at any time prior to firing so items that are imperfect are sent back into the mix of raw clay, feldspar, silica and other ingredients making up the slip that goes into Homer Laughlin china.  

Even though the inspection standards are high for the final product, there was surprisingly little waste since most defective product is removed prior to firing and is sent to recycling.  Our hosts at Homer Laughlin couldn’t have been more accommodating.  The factory tour was brutally hot between the ambient outside temperature and humidity as well as heat from the furnaces and kilns.  However, getting such a close view of production was a once in a lifetime experience.  We all visited the (air conditioned) gift shop and everyone was quite pleased with the purchases for the day.  We were able to buy some quality china at excellent outlet prices.

The commitment of Homer Laughlin China to the community was apparent.  The company had the bridge between Newell, WV and East Liverpool, OH built.  They also had many utilities constructed in the town.  Their employees tend to stay with the company for many years and often entire families work at Homer Laughlin.  While we were touring the factory we saw a very diverse workforce who seemed to enjoy their job producing tableware.

While we were in the area, we made a quick stop at the Beginning Point for the US Land Survey.  This marker is the point from which all surveys west of the Ohio River would be measured.  This point was established in 1785 as the point of reference for most of the country.

We left Homer Laughlin around 5 pm and drove down Rt. 2 to Cheddar’s Restaurant where we had a great meal and excellent discussion from the day’s adventures.  We will be checking out of Oglebay in the morning and going to Pittsburgh after visiting Mosser Glass in Cambridge, Ohio.

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