The Quadricentennial Celebration
Four Hundred Years of Glassmaking in America!
by Milbra Long and Emily Seate
In 1607 English settlers established the first successful colony in Jamestown,
Virginia. They brought with them glass artisans in anticipation of starting a glass
business to help pay for their voyage. According to recorded history, they started
constructing a furnace in 1607 and in 1608 produced glass, the first industry in America.
When the United States began making plans to celebrate the 350th anniversary of
the founding of the Jamestown colony (1607-1957), key personnel in the glass industry
at that time joined together to create a Glasshouse for the newly envisioned Jamestown
Island Colonial National Historical Park. Carl H. Gustkey, president of Imperial Glass
Corporation, Mr. W. F. Dalzell, president of the Fostoria Glass Company, Inc., and T.
Clarence Heisey, president of A. H. Heisey and Company were the original committee
for this project. They were later joined by Richard B. Tucker, retired vice-president of
Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company, Harry H. Cook, international president of the
American Flint Glass Workers’ Union, and William H. Blenko, president of Blenko
Glass Company. These men chartered the Jamestown Glasshouse Foundation, Inc. in
1956, and succeeded in funding and building a glasshouse to specifications not seen or
used in America for several centuries.
Every effort was made to construct an authentic glasshouse, true to the original
insofar as was possible from historical and archeological records. The Glassshouse was
the first exhibit of the Jamestown Festival begun and the first completed. Local
materials were used in the construction including hand-hewed oak logs weighing as
much as two tons. Workmen weaved small branches for the wattle of the walls, daubed
the wattle dry with straw, and thatched the roof with swamp reeds and rushes. The
only concession to modern times was the natural gas-fired furnace. Once the
Glasshouse was a reality, members of the Flint Glass Workers’ Union were on hand in
seventeenth century costume to staff the factory. It has been reported that a glass
“shop” from the Fostoria factory also went to man the Glasshouse during the
celebration of the opening of the Jamestown Festival Park, and no doubt other glass
houses participated.
Today much of the original Jamestown settlement has been restored and is part
of the National Parks system. Some areas, including the park itself, have already hosted
special celebrations and programs to commemorate the four-hundredth anniversary of
the founding of Jamestown settlement. Queen Elizabeth visited Jamestown earlier this
year to honor those early settlers.
From this early beginning, glassmaking has had a remarkable influence on life
styles and economics. As our country evolved from settlements to colonies to an
independent nation, glass products were designed and manufactured to fill our needs.
Early on bottles and jars for preserving and storing foods and medicines, window glass,
candlesticks and lamps for lighting homes comprised the bulk of production.
Hundreds of glass companies have contributed every kind of glass imaginable, and
given employment to thousands of families, enriched our culture, and provided a
creative outlet for artists, designers, chemists and business entrepreneurs.
The Museum of Glass Made in America, Inc. proposes that our
entire nation celebrate the four-hundredth anniversary of our first industry (1608-2008).
Both indivuals and groups can celebrate glass by setting elaborate tables for family and
friends, or giving special programs on the history and use of glass. The Museum of
Glass Made in America has asked that the State of Texas lead the way by proclaiming a
Quadricentennial Celebration of Glass beginning January 1, 2008, and lasting all year.
The Museum of Glass Made in America has received a proclamation from the Governors
of the State of Texas and the State of Colorado honoring the Quadricentennial
Celebration (see News).
We hope that other states will follow with their own proclamations.
Whatever you do as individuals or groups, we hope you will let us share your
celebrations by sending photos and brief write-ups to us at information@mogmia.com.
Note: Portions of the above article were taken from the “Report of the 350th
Anniversary Celebration Corporation” and Fostoria Tableware: 1944-1986 (Collector
Books, Paducah, Kentucky).
The Museum of Glass Made in America, Inc., a not for profit corporation under
IRS code 501(c)3, has as its purpose the preservation of the total history of the glass
industry in America. MOGMIA, P.O. Box 389 Alvarado, TX 76009
Authors of the Fostoria, the Crystal for America series, Milbra Long and Emily
Seate are pleased to announce a Second Edition of Fostoria Stemware dedicated to the
Quadricentennial Celebration.