Manufacturer: Maddock Pottery Co.
Name of user: Keeley's Palace of Sweets, Madison, Wisconsin
Distributor: Albert Pick & Co.
Date of example: Circa 1904 – 1919

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Notes: In 1897, James Yarnell Keeley opened his Palace of Sweets at 109 State Street in Madison, Wisconsin. It quickly became popular with students at the nearby University of Wisconsin.

Roof garden seating for 80 was opened in 1899. In 1904, Keeley relocated to larger quarters at 112 State Street. The new building contained multiple dining rooms: the soda fountain and candy store were on the ground floor; a dance hall, with stage was on the second floor; and the basement was where the candy was made.

An additional dining space, with Craftsman-style furniture, was opened in 1907. This made it possible for Keeley's to serve 500 customers at one time. A fire in 1914 did considerable damage to the restaurant, but by the end of March, the damage had been repaired and the restaurant had been redecorated, with a balcony that increased the seating capacity by 60, added at the rear of the store.

In October 1919, Keeley quit the retail sale of candy and concentrated on the production and wholesale part of the business. The Palace of Sweets restaurant was sold to F. S. Rodger and moved to smaller quarters at 20 N. Carroll Street, on Capitol Square.

The restaurant closed in 1926. Keeley died in 1936 at age 70, but Keeley's brand candy continued to be sold in drug stores until 1957.

Maddock Pottery produced china crested with "Keeley's" in outlined and shaded green lettering. This transfer crest is flanked mid-rim with a green line and orange pin lines with curlicue – curved – ends. Albert Pick & Co. was the supplier. A 1908 menu contains a different script for "Keeley's Cafe" logo, so china with that design may have been made a few years later. Keywords: Keeleys Keeley's

Sources:
University of Wisconsin archives – History, interior and exterior photographs, and 1908 menu
Wisconsin in History – Interior photograph showing soda fountain down right wall
Madison Capital Times, Mar 12, 1962 – History of restaurant, article by Frank Custer
Madison Wisconsin State Journal, June 6, 1907 – Enlargement article
Madison Wisconsin State Journal, January 13, 1914 – Fire article
Madison Wisconsin State Journal, October 9, 1919 – Quit retail business article
Madison Wisconsin State Journal, February 20, 1936 – Keeley estate article
Madison Sunday State Journal, March 22, 1914 – Reopening article

For more info:
Keeley's Ice Cream (unrelated), by Mayer China

Contributor:
Larry Paul: author