Fenton has reason to celebrate
December 30, 2006
By CONNIE CARTMELL
Marietta Times, Marietta, OH
Years ago it never occurred to Donna Pugh to purchase Fenton glass.
It’s a far different story today.
“I was born and raised in
Marietta and my husband worked at Fenton in the 1950s,” Pugh, 67, of Ocala,
Fla., said Friday at the Marietta Fenton gift store, the next to last day
this store will be open. “I didn’t learn to appreciate Fenton until I was
older and gone from the area.”
Today Pugh is a tourist in
Marietta — just visiting.
“It’s beautiful,” she said of the
art glass. “You just don’t see it much in Florida. I try to get some every
time I come back.”
In early January 1907, Fenton Art
Glass began producing glassware in Williamstown, and Tuesday celebrates 100
years of the family-owned business.
“Prior to that, the company
purchased glass and painted it, but did not produce it,” said George Fenton,
president.
Founded by brothers Frank L. and
John Fenton in 1905 in Martins Ferry, the decision was ultimately made to
build an independent glass operation and locate it in Williamstown.
The first piece of handmade
Fenton Art Glass is believed to be a crystal cream pitcher, featuring a
waterlily and cattail pattern, produced Jan. 2, 1907 at the new factory.
“We’ve been a significant
employer here for those 100 years,”
George Fenton
said. “In addition, I believe we have become a major tourist draw for the
area.”
USA Today named Fenton among the
Top 10 factory tours in America. In any given year, 30 to 40,000 people take
the glass-making tour. Thousands visit the gift shop in Williamstown,
adjacent the factory.
“Most of our visitors on the
factory tours are from out of town,” Fenton said. “We are seasonally driven,
with most visitors here during the summer and fall months.”
In the week of Aug. 3-5, 2007,
Fenton plans to celebrate the 100th anniversary of production. There will be
glassmaking demonstrations, custom decorating by Fenton artists, glassmaking
school, special tours and family signing events.
The Marietta Fenton Gift Shop,
104 Front St., will close its doors permanently at 5 p.m. today and will not
be part of this summer celebration. All merchandise will be relocated at the
main gift shop in Williamstown.
The Marietta store opened two
years ago on a trial basis, Fenton said, and was closed from January through
May last year.
“We’ve done a lot of work here at
the Williamstown location and would now like to focus our resources here,”
Fenton said.
Elisabeth Jones, who works at the
Front Street store, said it’s been popular with tourists searching for
additions to special collections, but only in summer months.
“Collectors love the Fenton
shoes, bells and fairy lights,” Jones said. “When the National Fenton Art
Glass Collectors had their convention in Marietta last September, I was
amazed how many people were here.”
Since working there, Jones has
fallen in love with Fenton glass and even received a rosemilk double ball
lamp as a wedding gift from her mother.
“It’s an heirloom,” she said.
“Now I just have to keep it far away from our three cats.”
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