History of Edgecomb Potters

Edgecomb Potters was born from faith and grew strong in the love and passion of Richard & Christine Hilton. Born into a family of antique dealers, Richard's appreciation and talent for spotting good art started young. When he met Christine, he was a communications major at Emerson College. After a friendly basketball accident put the energetic Richard in a cast for several weeks, he started playing with Christine's pottery wheel. Under Chris' tutoring, Richard quickly became a master with clay.

In the 1970's a great American art and craft movement was sweeping the country. The couple often thought about opening their own pottery and craft store, and when they spotted the red school house on an annual road trip to Boothbay Harbor, they knew it would be the perfect place. The Potters Place was opened in 1976, and within a year it was renamed Edgecomb Potters. Richard and Christine were married and their life of passion began. With no heat, running water or bathrooms, the couple made due with very little. The couple would sit on their back steps together in the evenings and relax after a hard day's work. Richard prayed, "Dear God, please just give me a little bit of success."

Richard learned about glazing as quickly as he had picked up sculpting with clay and soon he was known as the "Glaze Master". The Hiltons built kilns literally from the ground up, mixed glazes and quickly established a local following.

During a show, In a major snowstorm in Burlington Mass Tina Riviere from Boston gave Richard her card and told her that they were implementing a new idea in Boston where craftspeople could park their carts in Faneuil Hall and sell their products. He called her later that week and soon started the weekly trips to Boston. He would load up his cart and sleep at a relative's house in the area for the weekend. This endless cycle of sleepless nights making pots and traveling back and forth helped expand Edgecomb Potters' customer base into Boston, New York and beyond as folks visiting the city from around the country purchased his pots and learned about the company. Richard and Christine worked tirelessly through the weeks, days and nights making and selling pottery. Eventually, they made enough money to build their first home, hire employees and start expanding. Richard was determined to leave his mark on the world. He received international recognition, awards and accolades for his glazes. He perfected the ancient Kyoto Forest glaze, created new vibrant colors and giant crystals, all of which pushed ceramics forward as an industry. Richard was well known around the world as a leader in his field, but he was known to those close to him as so much more. His closest friends and family knew him as giving and full of laughter. His great hight and smile were fitting for his strength, joy and gentle nature.

Richard always believed that his success was a gift from God and never took it for granted. As the business grew, the Hilton's felt that it was imperative to give back in whatever way they could. Richard donated time to the church and became a spiritual leader in his Christian community. He was everything that a true Christian and follower of Christ should be; patient, loving, giving, friendly and kind. The Hilton's donated to local shelters, and other non profit organizations such as the Root Cellar, Central Africa Vision, Hope House and several charity auctions. Although he worked hard for the success of his business, Richard never lost sight of the things in this world that were truly important such as Christ, family, love, hope and giving. He held these things up high as a testament to who he was. He was much like a lighthouse that way; holding the important things to the light in hopes that they would guide us in the right direction as well.

Recently, after hearing of Richard's passing in March, customers have started coming into the Edgecomb store and telling us stories. They remember the first piece of pottery they ever bought and how it glistened in the sun on the porch outside of the school house. They tell us of how Richard's smile and lively conversation brightened up their whole day. How intelligently he spoke of his work. One woman said she would come in when she was feeling down just because she knew he would be there with a smile, a big hug and a funny joke to cheer her up. You didn't have to be Richard's best friend, wife or sone to know his contagious smile and how palpable his love was. Richard was an entertaining leader. Whether he was at church, work or home, he enjoyed bringing a smile to others' faces and it showed through the products he created, the parties he threw and the lives that he touched.

Although Richard Hilton is no longer with us, Edgecomb Potters is not moving forward without him. We are not without his spirit and spirituality. His ideas, ethics, passion, strength, humor, generosity and love continue to exist in everything we do and drive us towards the future.

"…The grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God." 
2Cor 4: 15