Flood of 1993 Turns Up Major
Archaeological Find in Bonaparte

Donnie and Marilyn Thomas were residing in Cedar Rapids in 1992, when they purchased the Bonaparte Lumber Yard, located along the Des Mines river in Bonaparte, Iowa.

Although the large three-story lumber barn and other buildings upon five lots had set empty for 10 years, their ambition to modernize the office building for a retirement home, became their goal.

Each Sunday was spent in Bonaparte working on the building until it was completed to a point they were able to move into their new dwelling.

However, on May 28, 1993, their endeavors were thwarted when the great flood of 1993 consumed the entire property.

Although nature had been destructively cruel, it also had a day of working wonders.

Funded from a grant from the State Historical Society, through the Department of the Interior, and the National Park Service, the flood prompted a crew of 6-8 people from the University of Iowa Archaeology Department, who began an excavation project upon the property during the summer of 1994.

"We knew the property had been the site of a pottery factory years ago," Marilyn Thomas said, "But little did we know it was as extensive as it has turned out. No one ever cared about investigating into what was here."

The Parker-Hanback-Wilson Pottery factory, in existence from 1866-1895, began to surface, exposing "Bonaparte Pottery," and what is believed to be the only remaining early pottery works in Iowa.

"Stacks of milk crocks were found when the crew began digging," Marilyn Thomas said, "And the river bank is solid pottery."

Two kilns were uncovered, one being 30 feet in height, with the possibility of two more in existence.

According to Thomas, the company also made their own brick.

Within a 260 page Archaeological investigation book which was compiled throughout the excavation, fire insurance maps of the Bonaparte Pottery site from Sanborn [1893] were located in Des Moines, which assisted the University crew.

Thomas said the crew started early and worked late, and she supported them by washing pottery pieces that were being removed.

"One area about the size of a grave was measured by centimeters, which gave them an idea of how much tonnage was put out over a period of time," she said.

Five different stamp marks were discovered, with stamps found on 2 to 6 gallon crocks, all of which were useable.

The pottery factory began as a hand-thrown factory, then molds were made in order to put out larger orders. "The old barn was full of plaster molds," Thomas said. "All kinds of pottery hand tools, complete with finger marks, were found."

"One five-foot trench was packed full of shards, which are pieces of clay used to separate the pottery to keep it from sticking."

Thomas said, "We haven't even touched the surface of finding it all," as it is estimated at least 4 1/2 of the 5 lots to be full of pottery.

In 1896, the site became a lumberyard, and through the years additions were added to the main barn.

An area in the middle of the lumber barn measuring 35 x 32 feet, lined of brick, indicated where the pottery has been made. Hand prints can be seen on the walls where potters had wiped off wet clay.

Buried by flood sediment within the dirt floor of the basement, the crew uncovered a circular track created by horses, which had been used to power the pug mill that ground clay into a powder for pottery making.

Newspaper advertisements found through research, from the Birmingham Enterprise [1871-77] and Bentonsport Signal [1886-88] declared stoneware of all kinds, flower pots, drain and cistern tile. Three different styles of fruit jars were made, with the first style in possession of the Thomases.

After the 1993 flood, Marilyn Thomas purchased jacks to stabilize the barn, but said, "It needs a new roof and beams. The middle of the barn needs to be restored to its original state, and made into a museum, but we need help."

Thomas envisions a potter being brought in to start the Bonaparte Pottery again, and says, "There is room in this barn for shops of any kind."

According to Thomas, the University wants to resume excavation, but there has to be grant money available to go ahead.

Prior to the purchase of the property, although the couple resided outside of the county, they were both former Van Buren County residents.

Donnie Thomas says, "We bought this mainly for a retirement home, but we've worked harder on this place than any job we ever had!"