The Place

In 1873, Decker moved to Tennessee, where he settled in the Chuckey Valley, in Washington County, three miles west of Embreeville and eight miles south of Jonesboro along the Nolichuckey River.  [Today the location is approximately one mile below Taylor’s Bridge near Lamar Elementary School.]  For the first three years, Decker rented a pottery shop from General Alfred E. Jackson and Isaac Taylor.  No doubt attracted by the beauty of East Tennessee’s mountains and abundant rivers, Decker eventually purchased land along the Nolichucky River.  Decker built his home, and his pottery business, keeping the name of Keystone.  

In 1874 Decker purchased a second tract of land, a contiguous forty acres along the Nolichucky.  The abundance of natural resources from his one hundred acres of land, which was described as a mountainside of timber…added to the presence of abundant clays of several types and iron, lead, and manganese to be had from the Unaka Mountains would be sufficient to support his business by supplying wood for building, fuel for the kiln, and clay for the pottery.

Evidence of the diligence and work ethic of Decker, in addition to the success of his pottery business, was related in an 1894 article in the Herald and Tribune entitled, “One Day in Happy Valley.” The general manager expounds upon the warm hospitality of Decker, and the beautiful setting of the house, located on a bench about half a mile back from the river, and perhaps about fifty feet above the level of the bottom land...a fine lot of plants and flowers, such a collection as indeed rare in the country.

Decker is described as a substantial, prosperous farmer with “as fine crops of corn as ever grew out of land…evidence of painstaking labor; the fences are in good condition, land under cultivation usually clear of weeds, and an appearance of thrift everywhere. The view from the house is grand, embracing a good portion of the valley.  Mr. Decker has a fine farm, under an excellent state of cultivation, and his buildings are well calculated to protect not only the family, but the stock on the farm.

In the photo are two men are standing in the doors of the workshop, possibly William and Charles, Jr.  Three more men are standing on the roof to the right.  The kiln is visible in the center.  Smoke is coming from the chimney on the far right.  Three people are standing in front of the house.  An apple or peach tree orchard is visible in front of the house.

Decker, and some of his family members, gather in front of his home in this photograph around 1900.  Decker is standing behind a large yard ornament featuring a bird.  On the front gate post, is the figure of a human head with striped glass marbles for eyes and a blue mustache.  This ornament was made by Decker's son, William, who was known as "Uncle Billy."

While Decker was certainly a hardworking man, as evidenced in the description of his property in the Herald and Tribune in 1895, being one of the best cultivated farms on the river, he also knew how to have fun and is well known for his generous disposition, and capacity to furnish pleasure to his friends.  When he settled into the Chuckey area, his pottery became the gathering place for local square dances and winter hoedowns, where the Decker’s, and others, provided music and hospitality.  Dorothy Hamill stated in a newspaper article that there was an unusually live community life.  F. H. Decker, grandson of Charles Decker, recounted that during the winter while the kiln was fired, a dance was held every Wednesday and Saturday nights.  Decker’s son [Henry "Dick"] was a great fiddler and also played the banjo and guitar. Refreshments of apples, cider and homemade grape wine were provided.

Mary Dent Swingle, who at the age of 17 taught the Decker and Dent children at a private school, related to Dorothy Hamill of the Johnson City Press-Chronicle that she remembered the excitement, and how people came from all over for the dances from Jonesboro, all along the river, and even Johnson City. The floor was cleared at the pottery so there was room for the dances.  There were big crowds, too.  Dick Decker played the fiddle and Tom Turner the banjo.  The young ones took part in the square dances, while the older folks would sit around and watch.  Swingle also related that on special occasions, her father, W. T. Dent, built a huge platform in the yard as a dance floor.  Japanese lanterns were strung on the grounds, and long tables set up for refreshments - freezers of homemade ice cream and a multitude of cakes.  The Decker and Turner music team were on hand.  The entire community attended.