C. C. Cole
Charles C. (CC) Cole (1887-1967) worked with his brother Everette from 1927 to 1933. At the death of their brother Clarence in 1937, Charles took over pottery production at the Steeds, North Carolina, shop that had originally belonged to their father, Ruffin Cole. An unfortunate accident shortly after the acquisition ended C.C. Cole’s pottery-making career. He was bitten by a copperhead snake and lost the use of his thumb.
The snake bite did not deter C.C. Cole from expanding the business. In 1939, he bought James Teague’s pottery shop near Seagrove and moved his production facility there. That site remained active until 1973 when it closed. During its existence, C. C. Cole Pottery was one of the early manufactories to convert to electric-fired kiln, motorized potter’s wheels, and belt sanders for cleaning a pot’s “dirty bottom.”
Before World War II, Cole’s shop produced fine art pottery for gardeners, homemakers and tourists. After the war, Cole’s shop produced beautiful hand-made variegated glaze honey jugs for wholesalers. They also hand-turned earthenware candleholders in the shape of sugar bowls and creamers for a Southern Pines, N.C, firm.
In 1952, C.C. Cole hired his daughter Dorothy and her husband Walter Auman to work for him. One year later the Auman’s left to establish Seagrove Pottery. Despite the rigors of establishing a new shop, Dorothy continued to work part time for her father for a number of years.
Reference note by p4A.com Contributing Editor Pete Prunkl.