Niloak Pottery

Sales of the unusual Missionware were very good, leading the company's investor/owners to put large amounts of money into expanded facilities throughout the 1920's. Like many American potteries, however, the Depression found them overextended financially, and to contain costs the Missionware line was slowly discontinued in favor of cheaper productions. A glazed and molded line of pottery was introduced known as Hywood. (See Photo above.) Even this popular line of pottery did not help the investors, who eventually sold the company back to Charles Hyten. During World War II, production was changed over to the making of clay pigeons for the Army.

Charles Hyten died in a drowning accident in 1940. In 1945, shortly after the end of the war, a devastating fire swept through the factory from which it never truly recovered. By 1947, Niloak Pottery had ceased production.

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