Collections and Exhibitions

Thomas and Alice Stahl House

spps 14 ch02 - thomas - alice stahl home.jpg

This building was the residence of Thomas & Alice Stahl from 1907 to Thomas’ death in 1942. In 1908-1909, Thomas built the two-story addition onto the original building. This addition contained a new kitchen area on the first floor and additional bedroom space on the second floor. A bathroom was installed on the second floor of this addition in the 1930s. After Thomas’ death, Alice continued living here until she sold the Stahl’s Pottery property to Russell Stahl in June 1957.

The original part of this building is a traditional mid-nineteenth century Pennsylvania German “Kuche-Kammer” (meaning “kitchen and common area”) structure. The kitchen area in the 1908 addition, which is being restored to its appearance during the 1930s and 1940s, includes many original family furnishings.

View of Thomas and Alice Stahl House Circa 1907. Thomas Stahl and son, John, in the foreground.

spps 15 ch02 - stahl house kitchen.jpg — Kitchen in the Thomas & Alice Stahl House, Kitchen Addition added 1908.

spps thomas and alice house - kitchen 1949 002 (640x638).jpg — Kitchen in 1949, with Thomas’ Great-Grandson, Aurel Arndt

spps thomas and alice house - living room 1950 001.jpg — Alice Stahl in the living area of the home (“Krammer” area) in 1950

The Potting Shed

A barn on Thomas’ farm was transformed into workspace for the brothers' pottery revival.  A stone, two-story building with a two-and-one-half story wooden addition, the barn had two rooms downstairs – one for a workroom and the other for a clay… — A barn on Thomas’ farm was transformed into workspace for the brothers' pottery revival. A stone, two-story building with a two-and-one-half story wooden addition, the barn had two rooms downstairs – one for a workroom and the other for a clay processing area. A wobbly set of wooden stairs in the stone structure led to the exhibit room, and a space above the first floor of the addition served as storage for seconds and rejects.

The Kiln

About twenty feet behind the barn, stands the round, stone and brick, bee-hive kiln. Four fireboxes, equidistant around the base, are constructed of brick. Entrance to the firing chamber is obtained by using a set of wooden stairs, centered between two fireboxes facing the potting shed. Two iron bands surround the kiln and are held in place with wooden wedges which are removed during firing to allow the kiln to expand. An open shed with a peaked roof covers the kiln.