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Fenton
Celebrates 100 Years
August 1, 2005
By ANDREW REX
WMOA News, Marietta, OH
Fenton Art Glass is celebrating 100 years of creating handcrafted,
hand-painted art glass during a five-day centennial celebration
that continues through tomorrow.
While Fenton Art Glass did not move into West Virginia until 1907,
the family considers May Fifth, 1905, the day of its inception.
That's when Frank and John Fenton deposited nearly $285 into a
savings account in Wheeling.
Fenton began as a glass decorating company before the brothers
discovered the cost and other benefits of producing glass for
themselves. The company has survived three waves of economic
struggle that wiped out most of the glass factories that once
flourished in West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Ohio.
Today, Fenton Art Glass remains a family business that is managed
by members of the fourth generation and employs about 500 workers.
Though its product line leans toward the Victorian, Fenton
produces a little bit of everything, from vases and pitchers to
figurines in any shape imaginable.
QVC plans a live remote broadcast from the Fenton factory in
Williamstown for 10 a.m. tomorrow.
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