3550 - Crystal Lake, Illinois, United States of America

The sender also works in middle school/junior high, like me. He is a councillor, which, in my opinion, is one of the harder jobs in a junior high. The problems that middle schoolers either have, or perceive to have, is outstanding, and in some cases, heartbreaking. Kudos to the sender for being a councillor! 

Crystal Lake is a small city of about 40 000 people located about 72 km north west of Chicago. It is considered to be a part of the Chicago Metropolitan Area, nicknamed Chicagoland. Chicagoland has almost 10 million people living in an area of 28 000 square km.

Crystal Lake is home to the American Terra Cotta Tile and Ceremic Company, which would be of interest to my pottery making mum. It was founded in 1881. It was located just north of Crystal Lake and all the employees came from Crystal Lake. Drain tiles, brick, and architectural items were produced here. It reminds me of Medicine Hat's early history with ceramics. Much of the underground infrastructure in the older parts of the city still use terra cotta pipes for water and waste water. Some of these pipes are 100-120 years old. 

Teco created and fabricated architectural glazed terra cotta that was used on buildings designed by Louis Sullivan and Frank Lloyd Webber. In Crystal Lake today, many of the older buildings display architectural glazed terra cotta on their facades.

The company also experimented with clays and glazes in an effort to design a line of pottery which led to the introduction of Teco pottery. Many of the pieces were also designed by Frank Lloyd Webber. This only lasted a few years and today Teco pottery is in the collection of many museums and sought after by art collectors. Teco pottery was produced in 1902 and only produced for a few years. Again, reminded me of Medalta Pottery in Medicine Hat. Medalta Pottery is also found in museums and sought after by art collectors.