World’s Largest Teapot – Chester, West Virginia
After languishing on my life’s To Do list for some time, I’d made my way out to Chester, West Virginia and saw the world’s largest tea pot in the summer of 2015. At that time, the big pot was undergoing renovation. It’s handle and signage were not visible.
Fast forward nearly a decade to a winter’s day driving back east when I had the opportunity to stop at the pot once more. This time the old tea pot was in fine fettle – returned were its handle and the lettering which lets passers-by know what glory they are beholding.
World’s Largest Teapot – Chester, WV
Right on the grounds is a shadowbox with two pages posted. The pages detail the history of the Chester Teapot! The contents of which are transcribed below:
HISTORY OF “THE WORLD’S LARGEST TEAPOT”
1938 – Measuring 14 feet high and 14 feet in diameter, the Chester Teapot was constructed by William “Babe” Devon. The Teapot started its life as a gigantic wooden hogshead barrel for a Hire’s Root Beer advertising campaign. Devon purchased the barrel in Pennsylvania and had it shipped to Chester where it was set up on Carolina Avenue, which is also State, Route 2. A spout and handle were added at this time and the wooden barrel was covered with tin to form the teapot’s shape. A large glass ball was placed on top to make the knob of the “lid”. The Teapot stood in front of Devon’s pottery outlet store. Local teenagers were hired to sell concessions and souvenirs from inside the Teapot.
1947 to late 1960s – After being closed for two years during World War II (when gas rationing caused a decrease in traffic, the Teapot and Devon’s pottery business were sold to Mary Wucherer and Rhelda Cain in 1947. Food was again sold out of the Teapot until the late 1960’s when it was used to sell lawn and garden items as well as china and novelty pieces.
The Teapot had been painted blue and white by this time and was sold to Cecil and Alice Fletcher who continued to sell pottery and other gift items from it for many years before they finally closed both their business and the Teapot.
1984 – The Teapot sat abandoned until 1984 when C&P Telephone purchased the land. The building of the former business was demolished and the Teapot was in danger of being scrapped. Geneva Hill, a Chester native, brought citizens to action to save the Teapot from destruction.
1987 – C&P Telephone offered to donate the Teapot to the City of Chester. A restoration committee was formed by Councilwoman Anne Ford and the town overwhelmingly approved the restoration of the Teapot and fund-raising plans were made. The Teapot was moved to various places in Chester while the $3000 restoration funds were raised. Repair work eventually began on the floor and roof joints. The exterior tin of the Teapot was sandblasted for cleaning, but it caused wrinkling in some places. As the repair work continued there was much debate between the State Highway Department and various townspeople over where the Teapot should be permanently located. This debate continued for a number of years during which time bad weather created new problems. It was at this point that Ford’s committee was disbanded and further restoration attempts were halted.
Early 1990s – The Chester City Council votes to provide funds toward the restoration of the Teapot after Councilman Frank DeCapio offered to take responsibility for its rehabilitation. The Teapot was moved to a location adjacent to the Jennings Randolph Bridge Ramp, a heavily trafficked area at the junction of State Route 2 and U.S. Route 3. The property and a fence were donated by the State. A concrete pad upon which the Teapot would sit was donated by the Tri-State Pottery Festival Association. Through the spring and summer of 1990, retired general contractor Sayre Graham, Mayor Roy Cashdollar, and other volunteers finished the Teapot’s restoration. Graham removed the old dilapidated tin and replaced it with a rolled roofing tin which duplicated the original design. Vinyl was placed in between the widths of tin to help with expansion and help prevent wrinkling. The doors and windows were reframed and sealed shut. The floor and many of the wooden staves of the frame were replaced as well. A new spout was cut from plywood using the original as a pattern. It, along with the original handle were covered with new tin and placed back on the Teapot. The original glass: of the Teapot’s “lid” had long since disappeared [unknown text] had taken its place. A new plastic ball was ob [unknown text] was painted back to its original red and white [unknown text] grounds around the Teapot were landscaped and the Teapot was officially dedicated at a ceremony held in Chester’s community center on October 12, 1990.
2014 to 2015 – Two decades pass with normal wear and tear taking its toll.
Having raised funds for other town projects the town council appointed Chester native Susan Badgley Hineman as the Project Manager to raise $15,000 required for a complete renovation. With the assistance of volunteers, Susan was able to utilize social media via the Internet to raise the entire amount in only six months. To ensure the safety of the Teappot’s future, she requested that an annual Teapot Day be held when festivities could generate funds for the Teapot’s ongoing maintenance. The first annual Teapot Day was held in Chester, West Virginia on Saturday, August 8, 2015.
