This week after reading my own blog comments, I came to realize we are loosing another West Virginia or Mountain tradition ' Marble playing and collection in our home- my Dad has two or three big canning jars filled with marbles, from his child hood. Over the years he and I have added a couple dozen to the collection with our travels - and I recall playing 'marbles' as a little kid with my Popaw .
Marble King - West Virginia's Marble King the greatest maker of Marbles is on display at the Cultural Center in Charleston, West Virginia. Take your grand children, your children, the neighbors children and go to visit. Help them develop an interest in 'marbles', start their collection of marbles. If your marble collection is in the closet or garage - get it out, share the marbles with others.
The Blog comment (below) started me down memory lane, I remember vividly Mr. Hamon, and Mr. Charley and buying a 'shooter' from each.
If we want our children to have pride in our state, we must expose them to the very best the State has to offer. The West Virginia Cultural Center houses the finest exhibits. It is FREE, and the exhibits change very frequently. www.wvculture.org/agency/cultcenter
Sol,
there is a WV Marble Collector's Club. I think their website is www.wvmcc.citymax.com. If that doesn't work just google WV marbles and you should find them. Also, land of marbles.com has a lot of info. We have marbles mostly from Robert Hamon. Although we have a few from Charley Gibson, Sonny Miller and Boyd Miller. Mr. Hamon passed away a few years ago and Mr. Gibson had a stroke and no longer makes glass. Sonny and Boyd still make marbles. As far as larger companies, I think Jabo still makes marbles and I'm not sure if Akro-Agate is still producing them or not. The web sites I mentioned should help. At one time, WV was one of the top marble producing areas in the world. I guess you could say we have lost our marbles! (amongst other things).
TimKissin Kates
6 comments:
Hilary
stick to blenko
leave saving marbles to someone else.
clover has left a new comment on your post "Dental Match - Ohio State University GRP":
I recently came accross your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I dont know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.
Sarah
I paid $45 for a gold plated souvenior marble in your honor glass lady.
Jim W.
Hilary
I enjoying reading about your early life, have you thought of writing short stories? Your young life was filled with adventure and excitement.
Jessie Moore
AFTER A RECENT VISIT TO THE CULTURAL CENTER, I CAN SAY I LOVED THE DISPLAY OF THE MARBLE KING! I GREW UP ABOUT 3-4 BLOCKS FROM MARBLE KING IN PADEN CITY. IT IS STILL ALIVE AND WELL AND EVEN OPENED UP A SMALL SHOP TO SELL MARBLES RECENTLY FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND. MARBLE COLLECTORS SHOULD CHECK IT OUT. I GUESS WE HAVEN'T TOTALLY LOST OUR MARBLES!!!
Mary Thank you for your comments.
The cultural center display is worth a drive down to WV.
Marble King like all small businesses has been suffering - we need to get the word out and to perhaps start gifting marbles and teaching others to shoot marbles.
Introducing a child to marbles, the rich history of Marble King and to collecting marbles has become a goal for me - I've given marbles to 3 of my neighbors children, and info about Marble King.
HJH
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