Potters, Crooks and a Pretty Boy

The Potter's Bank and Trust Co.

Crook's Easy Terms of Credit

Sturgis House

East Liverpool was the last town I visited in Ohio last fall.  The city has quite a history.  At one time East Liverpool was the ceramics capital of the United States.  Over 300 potteries produced more than half the ceramics for the country.  Lotus Ware porcelain, produced by Taylor and Knowles is considered the finest porcelain ever produced in the country.

I didn't know it at the time but I happened to visit East Liverpool on the 74th anniversary of one of the most famous events in town history.  I didn't notice any commemorations, in fact downtown was quiet as could be.  On October 22nd, 1934 Charles Arthur "Pretty Boy" Floyd was shot and killed outside of East Liverpool, ending his short reign as Public Enemy Number One.  Floyd's body was brought to the Sturgis Funeral Home, above, where thousands of people viewed the remains before it was taken to Oklahoma.  Today the Sturgis House is a bed and breakfast.

Comments

[Dane]

I'm always surprised when I'm reminded that they took Pretty Boy down in Ohio. Somehow it just seems too exciting for it to have happened here.

[Joe]

I don't know much about Pretty Boy, other than the Woodie Guthrie song. Certainly they were more exciting times than this item from yesterday's police blotter "Joyce Kitzmiller, South Bandy Road, Knox Township, reported Wednesday someone drove through her cornfield."

[Dane]

Ha! That's excellent. Cornfield thugs are a little more our speed.

Wait, a former funeral home is now a bed and breakfast? I'm jotting that one down for future weekend plans.

[Romy]

Did you ever hear the story of Pretty Boy Floyd in BoGreen?

[Joe]

I do not know that story!