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Heart of Glass - Blenko Glass

Blenko Glass is a West Virginia treasure that spans generations. Nothing symbolizes the state of West Virginia better or more beautifully than Blenko Glass. We will discuss current and former craftsmen and designers and how important it is that Blenko and West Virginia glass be appreciated and valued by the younger generation.

Sunday, February 08, 2009

West Virginia Glass - The Men of Blenko

Can any of Collectors identify the source of these WV Glass sets?


If you follow the blog - you know I'm reaching out for histories of former BLENKO GLASS workers, Harry Thompson's family is helping me with the Harry Thompson page, I'm getting to know Harry. Who was very skilled, well liked craftsperson at Blenko. Harry left Blenko while he was still a young man and move to Indiana in an effort to make a better life for his family. This note about Harry and the photo reminded me how very connected the glass workers are to oneanother but also to the community at large.

Harry Thompson had friends in Weston here he often went to get glassworking tool made or repaired. The friends from Weston gave him this glassware because they knew he liked to hunt and had a birddog. Larry T.

Most all the men at Blenko have an interest in the out doors and nature, they hunt, they fish, they are active in their local communities. When Blenko Glass Company would loose an employee the community would loose a leader. Such was the case when Harry Thomson left Milton and Blenko
This week BLENKO GLASS Company shut down the furnaces, the Visitors Center Gift Shop is open selling the last of the glass that has been produced. The future looks bleak for BLENKO GLass. I ask you to think for a while about the communities around Milton, the loss to the communities if these 50 men are forced to leave and look for work else where. Blenko Glass employees are involved in their communities. They not only pay taxes, buy groceries and support the local businesses they are 4-H leaders, Scout Leaders, School Volunteers, Parent Teacher Association Leaders, Senior Citizen Volunteers, Readers for Local Nursing Homes, Habitat for Humanity Volunteers and the list goes on.
The men and women of Blenko Glass are a part of your community. Don't stand idle by and allow this to happen
your community.
Thanks to Larry and Bev Thompson for this and many other photos!
Please send your photos to theblenkoproject@aol.com

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Rick Wilson of Milton wrote nice piece in Charleston Gazette about Blneko today did ya read it?

susan said...

Get webmaster Rowe to work on Harry Thompsons history and page I await anxiously seeing this.
Thanks to you webmaster Steve Rowe.

susan said...

Also to the people of his family for allowing us and Hilary to view this.

Anonymous said...

Blenko did none of the decal art this was done only in the northern part of state correct?
I have found no Viking, Kanawha or Blenko decal art glass.

bridgett said...

Great photos and stories keep them coming please add more men.
Love these.

Phani said...

I hope they fire back the furnaces very soon.

Anonymous said...

DAVE OSBURN IS NEAR BLENKO GLASS AND HIS COMPANY IS OK SO MILTON WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE HANDMADE GLASS OF QUALITY.
DAVE LEFT BLENKO DURING THE BRAIN DRAIN AT BLENKO HILARY YOU SHOULD WRITE MORE OF DAVE OSBURN AND HIS GLASS. HE IS IN A GIBSON GLASS BUILDING.
MOUNTAIN RITA

Anonymous said...

The pitcher and glass set looks like West Virginia Glass in Weston, W.Va. Ron Huntington, W,Va.

Dr.BOB said...

M Rita,
May you enjoy a peaceful weekend.