Manufacturer: Maddock Pottery
User: Folger's Hotel – Reading, Pennsylvania
Date of examples: circa 1900-1911
Notes: Folger's Hotel was located on North 5th Street, in Reading, Pennsylvania. It was operating in 1901, when Walter Folger was the owner. Around 1910, it was rebuilt with 75 bedrooms. A postcard view of the dining room shows that it could seat about 84. When it burned down on November 4, 1911, there were 50 people in the dining room.
Maddock Pottery produced American body china with the hotel crest of an eagle holding a banner. Within the banner is a small shield with Walter Folger's overlapping "FW" monogram in red. A surviving celery tray was made on Lamberton body china. Matchbox holder/ashtrays can be seen on the dining room postcard view.
Sources:
New Castle News, November 4, 1911 – Article about fire
Baltimore Sun, November 5, 1911 – Article about dining room and fire
Contributors:
Author and photos: Larry Paul