Osage Clayworks is a one-of-a-kind type of place. The best way to describe it is that it's part craftman's store, part museum.
The building is the old historic stamps and general store for the community -- and was built in 1901. When the current owners bought the building, they also bought all of the old artifacts in it, including old post-office boxes, the safe, display cases, and historial items in the old display cases.
Meanwhile, among the artifacts, Newt Lale and his wife Amy McGehee make and sell their own handmade pottery. The pottery is hand crafted, lead-free, and oven, dishwasher and microwave safe. The pottery features a host of different serving trays, vases, pitchers, plates, bowls, mugs, sugar bowls, egg yolk separators and all kinds of interesting things for your kitchen in a variety of different color combinations.
As you wander through the store you'll no doubt see many interesting artifacts to keep your attention, along with the pottery that you'll certainly want to buy. And while you're looking, Newt will definitely ask you where you're from. They also make special orders.
Osage Clayworks is a great little stop along the way to wherever you're going and worth a stop in. It's a one-of-a-kind type of place, that while sometimes it feels a little cluttered, is unique in capturing the past, and present, of rural Arkansas.
Osage Clayworks is just south of Highway 21 at the intersection of Highway 103 near Alpena -- just a short drive from Ponca, Harrison, or Eureka Springs.
