Historical society to feature antique glass in exhibit
Thompson Glass: Ruby flash, a popular type of glassware made by this Uniontown company.
At right, the Gallatin Pitcher is very rare. Its origin was discovered in a 1930s antiques’ periodical.
The Gallatin Pitcher is very rare. Its origin was discovered in a 1930s antiques’ periodical.
The Gallatin & Co., also called New Geneva Glass Works, was in operation from 1797 to 1847. The company primarily made tableware and bottles. The three items shown are a bowl, bottle and cylinder that would have been used for food storage. The pieces will be part of the Fayette County Historical Society’s “Made in Fayette: The Glasshouses, Gallatin to Houze,” exhibit open through June 8.
Thompson Glass, also known as Uniontown Glass, was named after J.V. Thompson, and was in operation between 1888-1895. Thompson Glass was known for its tableware but it also made bar ware, lamps and novelties. In 1894, the Thompson Glass Co. began manufacturing several pieces from the original Gallatin Glass molds for commemorative pieces to honor the original glass company. The patterns produced by the company include the following: Bow Tie, The Summit, Tile, Torpedo, Truncated Cube and Loop and Block. Thompson Glass will be part of the Fayette County Historical Society’s “Made in Fayette: The Glasshouses, Gallatin to Houze,” exhibit open through June 8.
The Fayette County Historical Society will be featuring many never-before-seen antique glass pieces in its “Made in Fayette: The Glasshouses, Gallatin to Houze” exhibit.
This event will be the second exhibit of the “Made in Fayette” series.
“We will be celebrating about 200 years of glassmaking in Fayette County from the 1790s up until the Houze glass factory closed its doors in Point Marion in about 2005,” said Chris Buckelew, president of the historical society.
The event will feature thousands of different pieces from what were once the most booming companies in the area including Gallatin Glass, the Houze Glass Factory, Thompson Glass and the John Taylor Glass Company.
The exhibit will have its grand opening 6:30 p.m. May 9 at the Abel Colley Tavern and Museum on 7083 National Road. The price of admission for nonmembers is $10 for the grand opening. Thereafter, nonmembers will be admitted for $5, and the exhibit will run until June 8.
Jay Hawkins, author of Glasshouses and Glass Manufacturers of the Pittsburgh Region: 1795-1910 will be in attendance as a speaker. Other experts will be available to provide guided tours.
Anyone owning an antique glass piece is also invited to bring it to the exhibit for an appraisal for a cost of $5.
“We will have experts explaining the different glasshouses, so it will also be educational,” Buckelew said.
A local glass blower will also be available during National Pike days to demonstrate early techniques.
One of the most notable glasshouses of the area was the Gallatin and Company Glasshouse, which was also commonly called “New Geneva Glass Works,” Buckelew said. The company was in operation from 1797 to 1847, and was primarily known for producing tableware and bottles.
Another local glasshouse, Thompson Glass was also called Uniontown Glass and was located on South Mt. Vernon Avenue, Buckelew said.
The company was named after J.V. Thompson, and was in operation between 1888-1895. Thompson Glass was known for its tableware, but also for barware, lamps and novelties.
In 1894, Thompson Glass began manufacturing several pieces from the original Gallatin Glass molds for commemorative pieces to honor the original glass company.
A third glasshouse was the John Taylor Company, also called the Brownsville Glasshouse. One notable piece that came from this company was a flask etched with the face of President Andrew Jackson, which was made for the 1828 election.
Select items will also be for sale with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the Museum’s Acquisition Fund. For more information, call 724-439-4422, or email fayettehistoricalsociety@gmail.com.