Glass company had start here
There was a recent article in the 蘑菇视频 about the internationally know glass making company Blenko Glass now located in Milton, W.Va. Did you know that this famous company was once located in Point Marion. The article failed to mention this stop.
William J. Blenko set up his first factory in Indiana in the 1890s but was not successful there. He then came to Point Marion where there were other glass factories in operation at that time. In 1910, he started the first American factory which produced mouth (antique) blown sheet glass. He was not successful in Point Marion and then moved to Clarksburg, W.Va., where his third attempt failed. Eleven years after his second attempt, he located in Milton, W.Va., where he changed the name to Eureka Art Glass. In 1930, it was changed to Blenko Glass. The world renowned company is still located there today.
His daughter, Grace Blenko graduated from Point Marion High School in 1910.
There have been a number of glass makers in Point Marion over the years. In 1900 along came the Morris Glass Co., and in 1902 the Federated Window Glass Co. was incorporated. In 1905 the Nilan Glass Co. began operation. In 1911 the L. J. Houze Convex Glass Co. was formed., In 1923 the Portrait Window Glass Co. merged with L. J. Houze Convex Glass as did most of the other companies mentioned.
With so many glass factories in Point Marion, onecan understand why Blenko relocated to Parkersburg and then on to Milton, W.Va.
Katherine Wyda is a resident of Point Marion.