While driving past the former Times Recorder building on Fourth Street, you may notice a large mosaic on the front wall that depicts workers gathering and printing the news. That tile was manufactured by Zanesville's Mosaic Tile Company, which according to a Zanesville News article dated Sept. 2, 1951, was the world's largest tile manufacturer.
With its abundant supply of top-quality clay, Muskingum County was an obvious site for building a tile plant. In 1875, F.H. Hall began what would later be named the American Encaustic Tiling Company. Thomas W. Lewis, in his three-volume set, "Zanesville and Muskingum County" from 1927, stated: “In 1877 they furnished the tile for the floor of Muskingum's new courthouse, charging the contractor $1 per square foot. Foreign tile would have cost him $1.25.” This tile still covers the courthouse's floor. Mosaic Tile For Pool
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The article continued: “Large as their market and production were, progress was too slow.... So they became contractors as well as makers, laying tile all over the country and guaranteeing its durability. This was a masterstroke. The plan and the tile won their way. Orders poured in. The plant couldn't make enough to fill the orders, although new floor space had been added.”
Sadly, the company shut its doors in 1932 during the Great Depression. Local historian Norris F. Schneider, in his popular book, "Y Bridge City," commented: “Both in Muskingum County and in the nation, 1932 was 'the cruelest year of the depression.' Thousands of people were out of work, and they could see no hope of work to come. When they stopped buying, stores laid off more clerks and bought little merchandise, and factories closed for lack of orders.”
The Times Recorder's book, "Zanesville: 200 Years" from1997, explained how a local rival tile company was established: “The Mosaic Tile Company was incorporated in September (1894) by chemist Karl Langenbeck and artist Herman C. Mueller, who had left A. E. Tiling Company and persuaded a group of investors to back the new company. David Lee was elected president, William Bateman, vice president, and William Shinnick, secretary and treasurer. A five-acre site was donated on Coopermill Road and 30 employees began manufacturing tile in a few months.”
Mosaic products were even installed on a luxury liner, The S. S. America was built in 1939 and 1940 for the United States Lines. A Times Recorder article dated Jan. 5, 1940, brought the following good news: “Zanesville, far inland though it may be, will have a very personal interest in the new United States liner 'America' when her giant turbines feel the first surge of steam this spring. Now in the final processes of fitting at shipyards in Newport News, Virginia, the future Yankee 'queen of the seas' will carry locally-made products in her vitals when she plies the waters of the world. Through information released yesterday, it was learned that clay products of the Mosaic Tile Company will be used in the $17,000,000 vessel's natatorium and also in her kitchen.”
According to Norris F. Schneider, in "Muskingum County Men and Women in World War II" from 1947, ”Late in 1944 Zanesville citizens became interested in the construction of a victory ship named Zanesville. The Mosaic Tile Company made a tile plaque bearing the picture of the Y Bridge and a brief history of Zanesville to be hung on the ship.”
During the 1950s, the Mosaic Tile Company was still doing well financially. As a matter of fact, in the aforementioned Zanesville News article, the author, Ralph Conley, stated: “The Mosaic Tile Company is the world's largest tile plant. Employing 1,500 persons, the huge Zanesville industry covers six acres. Mosaic tile can be found in the finest hotels, hospitals, museums, theaters, homes and other types of buildings throughout the world. The product is known all over the globe.”
Besides having quality products, sales were enhanced by advertising. Here is an example: “This Mosaic Ceramic Tile countertop won't burn, won't scratch, won't dent, won't stain... or wear out! Sizzling skillets, sharp knives, and strong fruit acids can't hurt wonderful Mosaic ceramic tile! And it costs less to live with! You'll never need to spend a penny to refinish or replace it! Cheer up your house with the colorful luxury of Mosaic ceramic tile. Choose from dozens of lovely colors … soft pinks, cool greens, exciting blues, yellows, tans, grays! THE MOSAIC TILE COMPANY. America's largest manufacturer of ceramic floor, wall, and countertop tile.”
The 1951 Zanesville News article stated: “Floor tile was the main product of the company for many years. But in 1900, a limited line of plain wall and trim tile for wains-coating purposes was added. Since that time, many other lines have been added. Today, Mosaic Tile manufactures a complete line of tiling for any purpose.”
Sadly, by the mid-1960s, troubling rumors about closing the plant began floating around the city. The Times Recorder made it official on Oct. 28, 1966: “The Mosaic Tile Company plant on Pershing Road will be closed. It was announced Thursday at the firm's main office in Cleveland. It was a difficult decision to make, but it had to be made strictly for economic reasons,' a company spokesman told the Times Recorder.”
In 1963, the company was employing about 1,000 men and women. A few months before closing, employment still stood at 700. The company's closing represented a loss of about $3.5 million in payroll and a loss of prestige for the citizens of Zanesville and Muskingum County.
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Marble Mosaic Tile Lewis LeMaster is a retired school teacher of the Zanesville area.