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Moundsville, WV

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Moundsville, WV 26041

 

Fostoria Glass Museum

6th at Tomlinson
Moundsville, WV
(304) 845-9188

Hours:  Open Year Round, Except on Holidays
Wednesday - Thursday - Friday - Saturday
1:00 pm to 4:00 pm

www.rootsweb.com/~wvmarsha/cockayne.htm
museum@fostoriaglass.org

 

The Fostoria Glass Company began operations in Fostoria, Ohio, on December 15, 1887.  This site was chosen because natural gas at a recently opened field in the area had been offered at a very low cost to attract new industries.  However, the field was so short-lived that in 1891, Fostoria moved to Moundsville, West Virginia, where there was an abundance of gas and coal, and other needed materials were close by.


During its first ten years, Fostoria made pressed ware, but early in the century Fostoria realized the importance of developing fine quality blown stemware.

In 1924, the company was one of the first to start a program of national advertising, and the first to produce complete dinner services in crystal.

 

Besides their regular line of blown,
etched, and pressure patterns they did custom work, such as providing glass with government seals for officials in Washington.  All the presidents from Eisenhower through Raegan ordered glassware from them.



At one time Fostoria was the largest maker of handmade glassware in the United States, employing nearly 1000 people.  The AMERICAN pattern introduced in 1915, is still being produced in Lancaster Colony who bought the Fostoria Company in 1983, making it the most successful pattern in the history of glass making.  Fostoria's business peaked in 1950 when they made over 8 million pieces of glass.

In 1986, after struggling with an outmoded plant and foreign competition,
Lancaster Colony was forced to close the Fostoria Company,
ending nearly 100 years of glass making.


Owned and Operated by:

The Fostoria Glass Society
of America, Inc.

The Fostoria Glass Society of America, Inc.  is a non-profit, tax exempt corporation formed to acquire and disseminate detailed knowledge concerning Fostoria glass; to research and promote the preservation and collecting of Fostoria glass, and to establish and maintain a museum for housing and displaying Fostoria glass.

There is a fifteen member Board of Directors; five officers and eight board members are elected by the voting membership of the Society.  Officers are elected annually and board members are elected to serve four year terms.  Elections are held by mailed ballot prior to the June Convention where election results are announced.  The Board of Directors meets quarterly, and quarterly meetings are held for the general membership.

Benefits of Membership:

  • Facets of Fostoria - a 20 page newsletter published 6 times per year which contains the business of the Society plus interesting articles on Fostoria glass and other materials.

  • Free Admission to the Museum.  Non-members are asked for a $4.00 per person Donation

  • Opportunity to purchase souvenirs, memorabilia, and research helps sold through the Society.

  • Opportunity to participate in an annual June Auction to benefit the Fostoria Glass Museum.

  • Opportunity to attend the annual Convention.

  • Opportunity to join a study club - FGSA currently boasts affiliate study clubs in West Virginia, Texas, Tennessee, and Pennsylvania.  Any group of Fostoria collectors can apply to form a study club in their area.  The club must follow a few simple guidelines set by the National Organization.  All members of study clubs must hold a current membership in F.G.S.A.  Any questions must be directed to Fostoria Glass Society of America, Inc., P.O. Box 826, Moundsville, WV 26041

Membership:  $16.00 per person per year

Fostoria Glass Society of America
Presents the 26th Annual

Show & Sale
June 9, 10, 11, 2006

To Learn More, Visit the...
Fostoria Glass Museum

 


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Created March 2004 to promote tourism in Marshall County, West Virginia
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