Dryden Pottery

  In 1946 Jim Dryden founded Dryden Pottery with a kiln in a Quonset hut in Ellsworth, Kansas.  He was a World War II Veteran and borrowed the money through the G.I. Bill to get his start. He created molded products from Kansas Clay and volcanic ash. His products had a beautiful glossy glaze that was long lasting and durable.  He sold them in his fathers’ hardware store in town.  It wasn’t long before his pottery was noticed and he began selling to Macy’s of New York and on the Santa Fe’ Railroads; Fred Harvey Restaurant.

  Jim Dryden did very well in Ellsworth; from 1946 – 1956 around 600 stores stocked his pottery. In 1956 he started to look for another location that would attract more tourist traffic. In 1956 he moved his bussiness to Hot Springs Arkansas. The clay there was high quality and in combination with the quartz made a beautiful glaze. He kept his business in Hot Springs and it is still going strong today. His son and grandsons continue to make new and beautiful glazes to carry on the Dryden name.