The second stop of our sightseeing today is the Millersburg Glass Museum. I had no idea that there used to be a large glass factory here. Groundbreaking for the new glass plant took place September 14, 1908 and it was located north of Millersburg along the Killbuck Creek. Promoted by its first president, John W. Fenton, formerly of Fenton Art Glass, sales of stock to many local businessmen as investors financed the land purchase. Millersburg was buzzing with enthusiasm when the state-of-the-art glass making facility was completed in May 1909. The first glass products were crystal, but the company soon followed the fervor for iridescent pressed glassware, introduced in 1907 by Fenton Art Glass, simulating the 'Favrile iridescent art glass' patented in 1894 by Louis Comfort Tiffany. The Millersburg Glass Co. was one of the largest producers of 'Iridescent Ware.' They referred to their line as Radium glassware, named for the metallic layer on the outside that seemed to changed colors in the light. Struggling financially from the beginning, many creditors pursued legal actions against the Millersburg Glass Co. in 1911. Although reorganized as the Radium Glass Co. in late 1911, production lasted only a few months before the plant was shut down in 1912. Because of the beauty of its crystal, radium, and satin glass produced in Millersburg, the plant may have been closed but was not forgotten.
Metals used to impart color to glass are: Yellow-Amber - Sulphur Yellow - Cadmium Sulfide or Lead Compounds Red - either Gold Chloride or Selenium Oxide Blue-Violet - Cobalt Oxide Purple - Manganese Dioxide Violet - Nickel Oxide Emerald Green - Chromic Oxide Greens and Browns - Iron Oxide Amber Brown - Carbon Oxides White - Antimony Oxides, Copper Compounds, and Tin Compounds Fluorescents - Uranium Oxide
Made as both functional and ornamental objects and found in a wide array of colors, this type of inexpensive pressed glass was often called dope glass by glass factory workers because of the process of applying the iridescent coloring or "doping." It did not, however, command the expected prices int he market-place and was eventually distributed at heavily discounted prices. By 1920, "Radium" glassware was described as "sending out all the sparkling effects of that wonderful mineral" as well as being marketed for its "chameleon" effect related to the magnificence of the various shapes and colors. Radium glass was available in many translucent colors, primarily amethyst, marigold, cobalt, green, and red. Rare, available in semi-transparent or translucent pale green, was Vaseline or Uranium Glass. The small amounts of uranium salts in the metallic processing mixture created a faint green glass glow in reaction with UV light. This glass was made before the harmful effects of radiation were known. Radium glassware was made in ornately patterned molds and sprayed with a mixture of metallic salts before it had started to cool, which allowed for the color-changing effects that gave the glass its fame.
John W. Fenton was born in 1869 in Indiana, PA and died January 11, 1934. His wife was killed in an automobile accident in 1921 when she was swept from an open touring car onto a road as the vehicle swerved to avoid an oncoming truck. John outlived all but two of his five children. His daughters were Grace, Helen and Nellie. In 1908 John Fenton had a vision. He and his brother Frank had opened the Fenton Art Glass Company in Williamstown, WVA. In less than two years, John Fenton decided that he wanted his own company. He immediately began looking for a new site. After much traveling he decided on Millersburg, OH. He loved the countryside and the work ethic of the people. By May of 1909, John Fenton, opened the Millersburg Glass Company just north of the square on SR 83. One of the plant's main buildings still stands today and houses the International Packaging Company.
John Fenton dedicated an exclusive pattern to black cherries because of his love for this delicious fruit.
An Amethyst Peacock and Urn w/Bee large ruffled bowl with Satin Finish.
Beautiful, right?
They possibly sent a crate of 10 vases (no proof) at some point before WWI; delivery unknown. It became knows as People's Vase. There are 8 vases known today. Three are in MGM (here at the museum) of which two are a 'one of a kind' color. Cobalt Blue People's Vase purchased at auction for $155,000 in 2018. It is the most beautiful blue inside.
I know it looks purple, but that's just the picture through glass. Beautiful blue.
Well, that's it for this stop. Loved it all and now want to go and see glass made this way. I've only been in glass-blowing facilities so this would be way cool. See ya later.
The second stop of our sightseeing today is the Millersburg Glass Museum. I had no idea that there used to be a large glass factory here. Groundbreaking for the new glass plant took place September 14, 1908 and it was located north of Millersburg along the Killbuck Creek. Promoted by its first president, John W. Fenton, formerly of Fenton Art Glass, sales of stock to many local businessmen as investors financed the land purchase. Millersburg was buzzing with enthusiasm when the state-of-the-art glass making facility was completed in May 1909. The first glass products were crystal, but the company soon followed the fervor for iridescent pressed glassware, introduced in 1907 by Fenton Art Glass, simulating the 'Favrile iridescent art glass' patented in 1894 by Louis Comfort Tiffany. The Millersburg Glass Co. was one of the largest producers of 'Iridescent Ware.' They referred to their line as Radium glassware, named for the metallic layer on the outside that seemed to changed colors in the light. Struggling financially from the beginning, many creditors pursued legal actions against the Millersburg Glass Co. in 1911. Although reorganized as the Radium Glass Co. in late 1911, production lasted only a few months before the plant was shut down in 1912. Because of the beauty of its crystal, radium, and satin glass produced in Millersburg, the plant may have been closed but was not forgotten.
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