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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.

Monday, May 12, 2008

President Bill Clinton Shops at BLENKO GLASS

Blenko Glass received a call - asking if they could stay open after hours for 30 minutes or so - - - President Clinton wants to do some 'Mothers Day' Shopping!
Well of course the answer was YES! We want very much to accomodate the former President in any way possible.
How did President Clinton know about the wonderful items at BLENKO GLASS?
I'd like to say, he reads HEART OF GLASS blog daily....but the true story is - Clinton said:" I need to buy some unique gifts for the holiday? Suggestions?" ....one of the six secret service men assigned to him grew up in Huntington and remembered touring the factory as a young grade school student. Clinton immediately liked the idea of handcrafted glass - said his family collects glass, so... The call was made and appropriate police departments were notified. President Bill Clinton was going to BLENKO GLASS in Milton, WVa.
You're wondering- what did he buy? - - well, he bought a large number of items, his favorite items were the BRAVO Line by Bayliss (Modern Guy - Purple Moon in Charleston also loves this line), he also purchased a couple pieces of Gibson etched Blenko, some perfume bottles, and a number of the delightfully unique Blenko paperweights.
Diane (who runs the gift shop) reports "he was so verrrrrry charming, handsome, and so sweet, he made you forget that he was someone special, you felt you knew him your whole life in the brief time he was there" , Diane said 'no one mentioned politics, he only ask about the glass, their lives and the town.'
Perhaps by being himself - President Clinton won the hearts and votes. For me just knowing they 'collects glass' adds weight to an undecided voter.
NOTE: Additional PHOTOS will be posted after I return from VET HOSPITAL with Ms B on Friday.

Additional news story mentioning Clinton's stop at Blenko

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hilary are you selling your vote to the clintons for glass?
Vote MCCAIN
save America.
Sol

Anonymous said...

Great news. Common interest. My children all adults support Obama, we love
the Clintons and I voted for Hilary.
Margie Hale

Anonymous said...

Anyone but Hilary(and ofcourse the holy republican trinity bush, rumsfeld and cheney) for president. Man does she know how to play it soo dirty.

Scott said...

Good story. :)

oncee said...

I visited Blenko the day after the former President and checked the guest book to see if he had signed it. Sadly he hadn't.

The only signer for the visit was a lone Secret Service Agent.

WV Janis said...

..."one of the six secret service men assigned to him grew up in Huntington and remembered touring the factory as a young grade school student."

In second grade, our class toured Seneca Glass in Morgantown WV. That tour was so fabulous, seeing the glass go from solid to liquid to solid again. In the gift shop after the tour, my lifelong passion for collecting glass began.

Teachers, administrators, politicians, please don't underestimate the positive effects of FIELD TRIPS!

Also, keep those Blenko tours to the public going! The Blenko Family (that means workers too, not just people with the last name Blenko) makes you feel so welcome when you are at the factory, in Milton, on the Mud River!

West Virginia Janis

lewisdvdphd said...

Question
that you may or may not know the answer to
Why is there no link from Blenko Glass website to this Blog?
There is a link to a hundred other things less related?
Just discovered this when at a meeting I gave Blenko as door prize and suggested reading blog
didn't have the address and said ' get it from the Blenko Glass website' silly me?
or silly Blenko Glass?
Hilly what gives with those people?
Do they no update the webpage since Blogs were invented?
Lewis

lewisdvdphd said...

Sol
Clinton won WV
and won Ohio
come out from under the rock.
Lewis

Unknown said...

wow Blenko has so many admirers President to Common people hmm

wish we could see pictures of Blenko with two Hillary :)

Ram

andreerods said...

99 - 1 bet he does not collect
American Glass.