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operations of the pottery. This kiln has parallel
walls made from common red brick. They were
designed to channel the flow of hot air through
the structure and to prevent cross drafts that
might damage the wares during firing (Smith and
Watrin 1986:140; Sweezy 1984:64).
The second kiln is a circular design. This kiln is
shown on the 1893 fire insurance map which
indicates that it was 30 feet high. Archaeologi-
cal excavation revealed its base was 17.44 feet
in diameter (Rogers 1999:4). This kiln design
was known as an updraft kiln, and the 30-foot
height suggests that it may have had two levels.
Evidence of fireboxes could be identified archae-
ologically by the presence of deep red burned
earth, charcoal, and ashes (Rogers 1999:4).
Archaeologists also identified a huge waster
midden along the riverbank that measured 140
feet in length, 40 feet in width, and was over 6
feet deep in places. It contains a dense deposit
of stoneware sherds, some whole vessels, kiln
furniture and fabric, and brick. In general, it
was found that the stoneware discarded in the
upper midden area dates from the later years
of operation. It primarily contains wares of the
“middle range” of production, such as milk pans
and bowls.
The waster pit is a round-bottomed pit contain-
ing a dense deposit of stoneware sherds (primar-
ily wheel-thrown), kiln furniture, and kiln fabric. munities. Establishing a gristmill held more than
Maker’s marks on sherds in this pit are from the
Parker and Hanback operation of the pottery in-
dicating that it is associated with the early years developing towns this way in 1856:
of operation, around 1866 to 1871. After the
company changed partnerships, the Parker and
Hanback stamp would probably not have been
used (Rogers 1999:5).
The Bonaparte Pottery is significant for its asso-
ciation with the late nineteenth century pottery
industry of Iowa. It was part of an important
local industry that often went hand-in-hand with
Iowa’s coal mining industry and generally fol-
lowed the frontier westward through Iowa. The
archeological and architectural components at
the Bonaparte Pottery are very well preserved
and provide important information about this
site. They also help to fill in information gaps
about pottery production, features types, and
site utilization that are not well documented
at other sites. The linear kiln, in particular, is
an unusual type of kiln to survive in such good
condition. It provides data about this type of kiln They recognized that having one would draw
and its actual use that might not otherwise be
available (Rogers 1999:7).
FLOUR MILLING 1840–1940
The rush of settlers into Iowa brought wheat
farming into the Mississippi Valley. By 1859, Iowa
had become the seventh leading wheat produc-
ing state (Schmidt 1920:401). Like the pottery
industry, flour milling was seen by the founders
of new towns and villages as a key ingredient
for the growth and development of their com-
ordinary importance. The editor of the Cedar
Rapids Times saw the gristmill’s significance to
One good flouring-mill is worth more to any
village than all the county seats in Iowa. The
county business calls men to a town for the
transaction of a peculiar class of business, which
usually leaves them with little disposition, and
often times with less ability, to purchase their
family supplies. A commercial and manufacturing
town, on the contrary, draws such funds into the
legitimate channels of trade, and deposits wealth,
and that, in turn, gives influence and power.
Courthouses and jails are but the monuments
of man’s depravity, while the hum of machinery
is the unmistakable voice of progress, and aids
the dawn of that period when all shall win their
supply by honest toil, and plenty smile at all fire-
sides” (Parker 1856:121).
Consequently, it was common to see Iowa towns
offering “bonuses” to secure a flouring mill.
trade from their farming neighbors. When a
town obtained a mill other commercial services
such as banks, stores, and hotels were soon
to follow, complementing the mill’s trade with
other services (Soike 1989:3).
In the 1840s and 1850s farmers in eastern Iowa
counties led in producing wheat. Gradually, this
began to shift westward. Railroads again played
a role. Large milling plants with the newest
steam-powered technologies were established in
Minneapolis and Kansas City. These companies,
with advertised brands like Pillsbury and Crosby-
Wasburn could produce fine white flour which
became very popular with housewives and
grocers. Just as pottery was replaced in popu-
larity by clear glass containers, fine white flour
came into demand over coarser, less consistent,
The University of Iowa Off ice of the State Archaeologist 39