Roseville in Perry County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Nelson McCoy Pottery Company
19101990
In 1910, Nelson McCoy Sr. established the Nelson McCoy Sanitary Stoneware Company on Gordon Street in Roseville. The company made utilitarian stoneware using regional and local clay. In 1933, the company name became the Nelson McCoy Pottery Company and production was shifted to decorative wares. Nelson McCoy Sr. was President until 1945, Nelson Melick from 1945-1954, and Nelson McCoy Jr. from 1954-1981. The constantly changing product lines were expanded in the 1950s as the annual output grew to ten million pieces. With five hundred employees, the company became the nations leading artware pottery. The pottery had a tremendous influence on the local economy as well as on the lives of its employees. The plant closed in 1990 after eighty years operating under the Nelson McCoy name. The products of this successful company remain highly collectible.
Erected 2014 by McCoy Pottery Collectors Society and The Ohio Historical Society. (Marker Number 19-60.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Ohio Historical Society / The Ohio History Connection series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1910.
Location. 39° 47.96′ N, 82° 4.947′ W. Marker is in Roseville, Ohio, in Perry County. It is at the intersection of Ohio Route 93 and West Athens Road, on the right when traveling north on Ohio Route 93. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 7849 W Athens Rd, Roseville OH 43777, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Ohio’s Hocking Hills. It is also in the American Midwest, in Appalachia, and specifically in Northern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, and the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 9 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Safety Follows Wisdom (approx. 4.6 miles away); Birthplace of Thomas A. Hendricks (approx. 4.7 miles away); Milligan, Ohios Icebox (approx. 5 miles away); Deerfield Township (approx. 7.7 miles away); Congressional Medal of Honor Recipients of Perry County (approx. 8.8 miles away); Duty Honor Country (approx. 8.8 miles away); Veteans Memorial (approx. 8.8 miles away); Perry County Desert Storm Memorial (approx. 8.8 miles away).
Also see . . .
1. McCoy Pottery History. “During the late 20's and into the 30's the Pottery produced products that were fired with blended glazes and the designs were predominately dominated by, leaf and berry motifs. These glazes were earthy tones of brown and green. Many glazes were limited to the green and were more common and less expensive. They made these in mass throughout the 30's, reproducing the same successful designs which were functional which had an appeal to the public because they were inexpensive, attractive and every day usage pieces.” (Submitted on August 25, 2018.)
2. The History of Nelson McCoy Pottery. McCoy Pottery Collectors Society website entyr (Submitted on November 12, 2020, by Robert Baughman of Bellefontaine, Ohio.)
Credits. This page was last revised on July 14, 2022. It was originally submitted on August 25, 2018, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 1,127 times since then and 60 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 25, 2018, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.

