 Tom Jones grew up in Fairhope and became interested in pottery in high school when he studied under master potter Edith Harwell. After graduating he was offered a scholarship from Mississippi College in Clinton, Mississippi. Later he returned to Fairhope where he taught pottery and folk dancing at his alma mater, Marietta Johnson School of Organic Education. In 1980, Tom and his wife Pam, opened their first shop in Daphne, Alabama. The pottery was manufactured from their home until more space was needed. In 1983, Tom moved all of his equipment and tools to the site of the present location of the pottery at Clay City. Ann, Tom's mother, joined the business in 1982 as bookeeper and managing the retail area. She is the official greeter of the pottery, explains the function of different pieces, and helps customers with their purchases. Tom Jones Pottery is located off Baldwin County Highway 33, in an area known as Clay City which is appropriately named for its rich clay deposits and long time manufacturing of brick and tile. The first Clay City pottery works was located on the banks of Fish River around 1850. After being flooded several times plus the increased popularity of glass and tin cans, t hat pottery was closed around 1900. In 1940 a new pottery building was located further from the river, yet close enough to receive coal shipments brought up river on barges. The coal fed the Bee Hive Kiln which remains intact at the present pottery but is no longer used. Some of Tom's handmade products are created from the same clays that were used in the earlier pottery endeavors but now the pottery is fired in a modern "fiber" kiln fueled by natural gas to a temperature of 2400 degrees. All of the ware is lead free, most is oven, microwave, and dishwasher safe. The pottery studio is located approximately 8 miles from Point Clear, 7 miles from Fairhope, 23 miles from the tunnels in Mobile and 50 miles from Pensacola, Florida. Visitors are always welcome!
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