Oliver Sebring

Sebring, Ohio was founded by the Sebring brothers, a family from East Liverpool, Ohio. They owned and operated many pottery businesses. The Sebring family dreamed of building their own pottery town, one that would bear their name and stand as a memorial to their work and ideals. The Sebrings made frequent excursions through Ohio, Indiana, and Pennsylvania in search of a desirable site to build not only potteries but a new town. They finally decided upon an area in Mahoning County, 80 miles west of Pittsburgh and five miles east of Alliance; "The most elevated and healthful tableland of our state."

In April of 1898, work began on the factories, stores, and homes that would become known as "Sebring." Sebring was not a boom town proposition, but an enterprise carefully planned. Miles of paved streets, sanitary sewers with a modern disposal plant, electric lighting, two telephone systems, and comfortable homes made Sebring one of the most pleasant industrial spots in Ohio.

The five beginning potteries employed approximately 3,300 workers. The pottery industry flourished for many years, and at one time Sebring was known as the"Pottery Capital of The World." Other industry came to Sebring as well. Two cooperage factories served the various potteries, making the barrels and boxes for the packing of the pottery products. Other companies included a manufacturer of porcelain electric fixtures, a company that made enameled kitchenware and lighting reflectors, and an automobile tire company. In 1912, Sebring became the site of a factory which produced a motor car, far ahead of it's time.

From these beginnings Sebring has remained a small, pleasant town with friendly people, safe streets, and beautiful public parks. Although only a few pottery "decorating" firms still remain, other types of manufacturers have located here. Sebring is hopeful that others will discover, as the Sebring brothers did, that Sebring is "the most elevated and healthful tableland of our state."