We are dedicated to establishing and maintaining longterm relationships with our customers in order to provide valueadded glass solutions. The west virginia town of harpers ferry was the site of john browns illfated 1859 raid on the federal armory there. They promoted liquor sets even through prohibition. The history of natural gas in west virginia archives.
West virginias flag displays a rock containing the date june 20, 1863, the day west virginia became a state. They are one in interest, one in results, almost one in reality. West virginia, among the lowest states in population in the country, is the ninth in her glass production. Glass industry in wheeling in 1886 wheeling wv history. In 1893, he emigrated to kokomo, indiana, in the us, where he established the first american factory to produce sheet glass for stained glass windows. In the early years, colorless glass was their main production line producing blown glass tumblers and pressed tableware. While those interested in the regions local history will enjoy the chapters dealing with the west virginia glass towns, the book will appeal primarily to academic.
With us being a local business our prices are competitive and. Museum store the museum of american glass in west virginia. Our most senior window manufacturing expert has over 38 years of experience in the glass industry. Alley, his collectable marbles and childrens toy glass dishes. Oglebay institute glass museum wheeling 2020 all you. The company was renowned for the use of color in their glassware. The new company was located in west virginia and named after the kanawha river at first kanawha produced colorless cut and etched glass items. At the same time, railroads had improved transportation in.
Explore the wares glass shop business page in buckhannon, wv. Custom window fabrication for your home and business. Rene zabeau was a longtime officer in the west virginia federation of labor from the 1940s to the 1960s, and joseph powell was president of the state aflcio for more than two decades. The book is a richly textured history using period images to tell the story of what has been a significant industry in the state, an industry that employed tens of. West virginia glass company is the only glass company in the state of west virginia to manufacture our own windows onsite. Oglebay institute glass museum wheeling 2020 all you need. A history is widely considered one of the finest books ever written about our state. Examples are blenko art glass, fenton glass, mosser glass, etc. We are emphasizing education on the history of the great american glass industry. In may, 1992, the weston area glass history and study group came together.
Carriage house glass offers visitors a unique, firstclass shopping experience, along with glass blowing demonstrations and a noted early glass and china museum on. The companys filing status is listed as voluntary dissolution domestic. Dean six spent the past 20 years collecting fascinating. It opened in 1901 in new martinsville, west virginia. Daves glass is a local business serving that is ready to serve you. In several segments of the glass industry, west virginia companies led the nation. The 10 best museums youll want to visit in west virginia. Ken foneswolf is a professor of history at west virginia university. West virginia glass outlet has the largest selection of first quality hand made glass. West virginia is famous for its history in the glass industry.
A place where examples of thousands of products can be viewed and compared and where the stories of people and processes come to life. Morgantown new dominion, 6 november 1912 and 5 january 1917 and frederick, cinder heads in the hills. Although glass was made here much earlier, west virginia became an important glass manufacturing state at the end of the 19th century. West virginia tourism find your version of heaven almost.
The louie glass company was established in weston to produce quality, handformed, mouthblown stemware and glass articles. Fenton art glass until recently was among the worlds foremost producers of handmade art glass. Indeed, the glass industry produced important leaders for the states labor movement. Keeping west virginia glassy since 1965 west virginia glass company is located at. Museum of american glass in west virginia 1,819 photos 54. I had no idea that it was a popular place for glass factories. The new martinsville glass company was an american manufacturer of decorative glass products.
History of his familys involvement in the wv glass industry over 50 years. The new company was formed by men from west virginia who were experienced in the glassmaking business. Carriage house glass opened in 1992 and honors the west virginia glass industry. By 1901, the morgantown glass works had about 600 employees and had branch offices and salesrooms in a. West virginia glass specialty company is a west virginia domestic c corporation filed on october 31, 1929. They started their company in northwest ohio to take advantage of newly. Visitors may watch a video which provides an overview of the company history. Using west virginia as his setting, the author traces the rise and fall of what he calls the development faith, a belief in the promise of a hightariff, highwage economy as a path to prosperity. Collecting blendo from the west virginia glass specialty company.
West virginia glass specialty company in weston, wv. Congress granted statehood to west virginia on june 20, 1863. Identifying kanawha and fenton hob nail pattern glass. Glass industry in 1886 daily intelligencer article glass. Founded by austrian native louie wohinc and fellow immigrant glass workers, the firm was one of several related westonarea glass companies. The museum of american glass in west virginia was established in weston, west virginia, in 1993 as a nonprofit organization with a goal to discover, publish and preserve whatever may relate to the glass industry in west virginia, the united states of america or where ever else glass has been manufactured. Glass industry in wheeling in 1886 research wheeling wv history.
This is an updated version of the outofprint duncan novelty book. The glass industry in the early colonies was a very important venture that provided goods,employment,and needed other industries related to the glass industry for the entire villages that grew up around the glass houses. Our museum examines the rich history of some of americas most famous glass factories, while at the same time carefully understanding the impact that the hundreds of smaller and often time forgotten glass houses made on the history of the glass industry. This book is a thorough examination of the rise and fal of the glass industry in west virginia with all it political implications. National glass association 1945 old gallows road suite 750 vienna, va 22182 866dialnga 3425642 ext. Blenko glass company milton 2020 all you need to know. Through the group is where i found billy creekmore.
Fenton art glass factory gift shop in williamstown, wv the following was a tour from our book watch it made in the u. Historical american glass shows you where,when and sometimes why the factorys produced the articles of glass they did. May 24, 2020 looking to get inspired on your trip to west virginia. Keeping west virginia glassy since 1965 west virginia glass company is committed to providing the highest quality glass products, superior service and the most courteous and knowledgeable staff.
At this early stage, marsh, rankin, and hill, werent able to build a plant, but they found an existing plant that was vacated. A banner ribbon includes the state motto mountaineers are always free. From 1906 to 1917, west virginia led the nation in natural gas production. No matter what youre looking for or where you are in the world, our global marketplace of sellers can help you find unique and affordable options. See more ideas about glass company, glass and west virginia. Check out the best museums in west virginia to visit in 2020. Around wheeling has grown up in the past generation a glass production industry which. Great history of wheeling and the glass making industry. In addition to the history of coop flint, this book also includes information. The parkersburg plant of corning glass works was originally built by the defense plant corp. Who we are museum of american glass in west virginia. The registered agent on file for this company is earlo pertz and is located at rt. I live in charleston and theres a group here that meets once a month to discuss a west virginiarelated book. Corrections to existing glass books oral history of a glassworker clubs.
Dedicated to sharing the diverse heritage of american glass. Our company has a long history of providing outstanding customer service and quality products to our customer base throughout west virginia, ohio, pennsylvania, maryland, kentucky, and indiana. We have been manufacturing windows inhouse since 1983. It began operations in fostoria, ohio, on december 15, 1887, on land donated by the townspeople. The clarksburg site was chosen for several reasons. Industry, labor, and political economy in appalachia. The building is reminiscent of a precivil war carriage house that once stood in the hilltop area. In this as in other industries, however, no line can be drawn between the industry in wheeling and that in the neighboring towns. We envisioned a vibrant cottage industry in west virginia where jobs, market opportunities, training, and educational resources abound for west virginias artists, artisans, crafts people, and food producers, and our rich cultural heritage and artisan skills and traditions are preserved and strengthened for future generations of west virginians. Most important was the abundance and availability of natural gas and sand. However, from 1917 to 1934 production declined significantly and then increased until about 1970. Using west virginia as his setting, the author traces the rise and fall of what he calls the development faith, a belief in the promise of a high. Museum of american glass in west virginia, weston, wv. See and explore west virginias distinct travel regions, from the rolling hills of the midohio valley to the elevated peaks and plateaus of the potomac highlands.
In pressed glass tableware, west virginia was home to about 15 percent of the plants operating in the united states between 1825 and 1980, and between 15 per cent and 21 percent of the flat glass industry between 1947 and 1963. In a deft combination of labor and business history, glass towns complicates these answers by examining the glass industrys potential to improve west virginias political economy by establishing a base of valueadded manufacturing to complement the states abundance of coal, oil, timber, and natural gas. Fayette county history sources west virginia department. The emergence of a significant glass sand industry in the eastern panhandle and the growing availability of cheap fuels, especially natural gas, provided the natural resources critical to glassmaking.
Wares glass shop buckhannon, wv business information. The morgantown glass works was founded in 1899 near the seneca glass company of morgantown, west virginia where it produced hand blown glassware of high quality. Nov 15, 2018 1996 ronald l harris appointed as director of the office of miners health safety and training. Yet that is what ken foneswolf, professor of history at west virginia university, accomplishes in his book glass towns. At first kanawha produced colorless cut and etched glass items. The jefferson glass house of follansbee was incorporated february 25, 1907, by j d sinclair, h g darkman, a g lee, and james porter of steubenville, ohio and a g frokme of wheeling, west virginia. The growth of the glass industry for its earliest introduction. Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search. Morgantown weekly new dominion, 10 and 31 october and 12 december 1917. It was formed in 1993 for charitable, educational and scientific purposes to discover, procure, publish and preserve whatever may relate to the glass industry in west virginia, the united states of america. Sep 26, 2018 explore suerico12s board c wv glass company weston, wva. About the west virginia museum of american glass, ltd. Glassworkers also helped shape politics in their communities.
Wilson is a family owned, fullline glass and architectural aluminum distributor. This company did not make glass but decorated glass for elegant glass makers such as duncanmiller and heisey. West virginia tourism office 1900 kanawha boulevard, east charleston wv 25305 united states building 3, suite 100, state capitol complext charleston wv 25305 united states west virginia tourism office. Ornaments, friendship balls, witch balls, ring holders wedding gifts. Sorry, there are no tours or activities available to book online for the dates you selected. In 1891, a group of immigrant glass artisans and businessmen from german settled in seneca county, ohio. Webs the book of his life and businesses father of wv. The west virginia archives and history web site offers detailed information on the states history, outlines the documents available in the state archives, and provides. The glassmaking craft has been a staple in west virginia for more than 200 years, and nearly 500 companies have set up shop throughout that history. The museum of american glass in west virginia was established in weston. The west virginia museum of american glass provides this and much, much more. West virginia glass outlet main street merchants main. It was one of the states largest industries during its boom, because we had all the raw materials right here in our mountain backyard. The new company was located in west virginia and named after the kanawha river.
Wv glass has over 80 styles of wv handblown wine and bar ware glass. After nearly 100 years, blenko still crafting colorful glass. Wv glass co, 11521 rt 58, sligo, pa holds a license and 1 other license according to the pennsylvania license board their buildzoom score of 92 ranks in the top 32% of 125,106 pennsylvania licensed contractors. West virginia 174 books meet your next favorite book. View all restaurants near oglebay institute glass museum on tripadvisor.
West virginia glass outlet has a large selection of new and vintage glass from more than 25 factories and studios. Each region has its own distinct character defined by natural features, cultural heritage and rich history. Chelsea keller marbles the advent of marblemaking machinery in the early 20th century helped bring the industry to west virginia, which already had a robust glass industry. Very interesting collection of different wv glass companies. Below them are two rifles with a liberty cap on top the rifles. Immerse yourself into worldclass art, exciting history, and mindbending science.
In the process i have been studying the objects and the kanawha catalogs to which i have access. Museum of american glass in west virginia wikipedia. Appalachian glass appalachian glass appalachian glass appalachian glass 304 2691030. See more ideas about glass, west virginia and west virginia history. Imagine a museum dedicated to the region and nations rich glass heritage. They initially made tableware but quickly expanded into vanities, bare ware, lamps, and more. Magwv contact info museum of american glass in west virginia. In the last year and a half, i have been seriously collecting glass made by the kanawha glass company of dunbar, west virginia. The greater parkersburg area boasts several nationally known attractions including the fenton art glass company, blennerhassett island historical state park, and the oil and gas museum, to name a few. Glass industry in 1886 daily intelligencer article. Situated in morgantown, west virginia, the seneca glass company 18911983 manufactured over 1,000 handcut crystal glassware patterns on handblown glass, more than any other glass company worldwide. While not every image we have has been scanned into this database, it showcases a small selection of our many photographs, glass plate negatives, tintypes. The plant was located at the south end of follansbee adjoining the railroad tracks, g. In his clear, eminently readable style, williams organizes the tangled strands of west virginias past around a few dramatic eventsthe battle of point pleasant, john browns insurrection in harpers ferry, the paint creek labor movement, the hawks nest and buffalo.
The west virginia museum of american glass is located in weston, lewis county, west virginia. Both are very important in the glass making industry. The belgian window glass workers of west virginia charleston. Their license was verified as active when we last checked. Wheeling decorating company located in wheeling, west virginia, decorated glass, pottery and porcelain with gold and enamels, engravings and lithographs from 1900 to 1962. Glassauto, plate, window, etc windshield repair glassbeveled, carved, etched, ornamental, etc. An overview of the colorful glassware made by wv glass specialty from 1956 until 1987.
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