Morton in Tazewell County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Morton Pottery Co

315 W. Jefferson St

September 18, 2026

1. Morton Pottery Co Marker

Inscription. Morton Pottery was founded in 1922 by the sons of Andrew Rapp Sr.: Andrew Jr., Henry, William, Samuel, Solomon, and Nathan. The company produced many unique kitchenware, utilitarian and decorative ceramic items including ashtrays for Everett Dirksen, elephants for Republican candidates and a special donkey for Joe Kennedy (brother of JFK). Morton Pottery was sold to retail stores nationwide including S.S. Kresge, Montgomery Ward and Sears Roebuck Co. In 1929 it was the only factory producing colored kitchenware. A piece of Morton's colored pottery appears in the MOMA collection in NYC. Morton Pottery sold several times between 1969 and 1976, before closing permanently.

This historical marker made possible by grants from Morton Chamber of Commerce, Morton Community Foundation, and Morton Community Bank.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1922.

Location. 40° 36.74′ N, 89° 27.838′ W. Marker is in Morton, Illinois, in Tazewell County. It is at the intersection of Pershing Street and W Jefferson Street,

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on the right when traveling west on Pershing Street. The marker is located on the west side of the Morton Public Library. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 315 W Pershing Street, Morton IL 61550, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Illinois River Valley

and in Greater Peoria.

It is also in the American Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: The Town Crier (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); Illinois Terminal System (approx. ¼ mile away); William E. Aupperle Rotary Marker (approx. 0.6 miles away); Allentown Union Hall (approx. 5.3 miles away); Glendale Cemetery Veterans Memorial (approx. 6.4 miles away); Tremont Courthouse (approx. 6.4 miles away); Henry F. Ganzhorn (approx. 6.8 miles away); Abraham Lincoln (approx. 7 miles

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away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Morton.

Credits. This page was last revised on September 21, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 19, 2026. This page has been viewed 7 times since then. Photo 1. submitted on September 19, 2026. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.