Historic discoveries can be found in the most unlikely of places.
No one understands that sentiment better than York-town man Johnie Hinson who found a ceramic pedestal created by famed ceramic artist Frederick Hurten Rhead (1880-1942), dating to 1902.
Back in October, Hinson was helping his friend, Mitch Hartman of Providence Forge, clear property Hartman purchased in Hayes with the intention of rebuilding on the land. The two inspected the dilapidated house and one of the two sheds for anything salvageable they might like to have before tearing down the structures. On a whim, Hinson decided to check the second shed and found a nice-looking ceramic pedestal.
Hinson took the pedestal to his daughter’s house, but she did not like it. After placing the ceramic pedestal on his own porch, Hinson’s wife asked him to remove it.
“I liked it,” said Hinson. “They didn’t.”
Upon further inspection, Hinson saw Rhead’s full name etched into the base of the pedestal along with the year 1902, making ...