Jackson China Incorporated
In 1905, Emanuel A. Fischel and his brother Louis opened Bohemian Art Pottery in Falls Church at the former site of the Crystal Glass Company. They produced floor tile, garden ornaments, and terra-cotta products. By 1913, the company was in financial difficulties and in an effort to save Bohemian they contracted with Warwick China of Wheeling, West Virginia. Harry William Jackson, brother of Charles E. Jackson, president of Warwick, moved to Du Bois in 1914 and established Jackson China Company in partnership with Emanuel. Jackson China Company rebranded to Jackson Vitrified China Company in 1916 when they began using a new type of natural gas kiln in place of the traditional wood and coal kilns.
Tragedy struck in 1924 when Harry Jackson and salesman William Darden were both murdered by pottery designer John Souccob in a dispute over payment for dish pattern drawings. After murdering Jackson and Darden, Souccob turned the gun on himself and committed suicide. After losing his partner, Fischel became president and general manager until 1943.
Philip Distillator purchased controlling shares in Jackson China in 1946 and soon began production of Royal Jackson fine translucent China. In 1976, all Jackson assets and name rights were purchased by Newman Industries of England. Delco International Products Corporation of New York bought the rights to Jackson molds, patterns, and marks in 1981. Jackson China operations ceased in 1985 when the company was unable to fund the cleanup of lead contamination at the manufacturing site and the discharge of sewage into adjoining wetlands.
