Gorham Silver Presentation Pitcher
from Miles Greenwood to Stephen Burton Greenwood

Presented his long-time business partner with this pitcher on December 10, 1864. The specific celebrated occasion is unknown.

The jugs patriotic ornamentation hints at honoring Burton's military service or his role in the company's success during the Civil War. It was also in 1864 that Burton became the first mayor of the newly-incorporated Village of Avondale. American, Circa 1864

A silver presentation piece in the form of a water pitcher with attached ornaments in the form of an eagle with a shield and American flag over rifles and swords, a shield with a helmet and various weapons including a bow and arrow and swords, and a standing figure of Liberty with the American flag, inscribed "Presented to Stephen H Burton by Miles Greenwood, December 10, 1864", marked for Gorham and 490.

Stephen Henry Burton 1816-1885 was an iron-works owner who settled in Avondale, a prestigious nineteenth century Cincinnati neighborhood. Burton eventually became the first mayor of Avondale and an Ohio state senator a street and a school were named in his honor. Burton's wife Martha suggested the name Avondale for the village, because a stream behind the Burton home reminded her of the Avon River in England. Prior to coming to Cincinnati, Burton, a native of New York, found himself in Texas during the Texas Revolution in 1835. He and his fellow troops were captured and at first were ordered to death by General Santa Anna. However, a work plan was devised to replace the execution order, and Burton escaped in disguise, returning to his native New York before relocating to Cincinnati in 1844.

In the Queen City he entered an iron-works partnership, first with a Mr. Lockwood, and then with Miles Greenwood 1807-1885, the presenter of this pitcher. Greenwood founded Eagle Iron-works in 1832, which was eventually the largest iron-works in the Midwest. During the Civil War the Iron-works was an important producer of munitions for Union trips, including iron anchors for pontoon bridges, gun-carriages, caissons, cannons, and even turrets for ironclad ships. Southern sympathizers, known as Copperheads, tried to burn down the Eagle Iron-works multiple times during the Civil War.

Miles Greenwood is also known for being a co-inventor of the first practical steam fire engines in the United States during the 1850s. Cincinnati became the first American city to form a professional fire brigade on April 1, 1853, and Greenwood was named the first Fire Chief. Greenwood's Eagle Iron-works manufactured the steam-powered engines which could pump water in just ten minutes, which was much faster than previous engines. Greenwood was motivated to improve firefighting after losing his factory to a fire.

Greenwood presented his long-time business partner with this pitcher on December 10, 1864. Although we do not know the specific occasion for such a gift, its patriotic embellishments hint at honoring Burton's military service or his role in the company's success during the Civil War. It was also in 1864 that Burton became the first mayor of the newly-incorporated Village of Avondale.

Date: December 10, 1864

Measurement: height 11.5

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