Stepping into Historic Rochester

Stepping into Historic Rochester. Glass Industry. , During the last quarter of the 19th century, and through the first half of the 20th century, Rochester, "The Hub of Beaver County," was also the hub of the Beaver County glassmaking industry. Through the course of this period, Rochester was home to ten significant glass manufacturers in addition to the largest and by far most important, the H.C. Fry Glass Company, which commanded a historical biography all its own., Panel Acknowledgements , Contributing Participants , Michelle Long . Delbert Lemmon . Deborah Brimner . John M. Barrett . Roger and Brenda Applegate . Michael Sabo , Image References , Rochester Area Heritage Society . Borough of Rochester . Beaver County Historic Research and Landmarks Foundation . H.C. Fry Glass Society , Graphic Design and Layout , Brimner Graphics. , Rochester Tumbler Company 1872 , The earliest operating Rochester glass company was the Rochester Tumbler Company. It was located along the Ohio River in the area where the Valvoline Oil Company is presently located. The Rochester Tumbler Company was founded in 1872 by H.C. Fry and Jesse Lippincott. At its height in production, over 150,000 glass tumblers were produced daily, and it was recognized as the largest tumbler works in the world. The Rochester Tumbler Company enjoyed great success until a disastrous fire destroyed the factory in 1901. At this time, H.C. Fry severed his ties with the company to enter his own glassmaking business. The Rochester Tumbler Company was rebuilt and operated under new management for several years after. In 1918, the plant was bought by the General Electric Corporation, and was operated for some time as the Rochester Bulb Company, making early light bulbs. The factory ultimately ceased operations in the mid-1920s., Rochester Cut Glass Company 1896 , Rochester Cut Glass Company was in operation between the years 1896-1922 and was located at the foot of New York Avenue along the railroad tracks. This company did not produce glass, but was a glass cutting house only. Using lead glass blanks from other manufacturers, the company designed and cut its own patterns onto the glass. They were well known for the precise, rich cuttings, and highly detailed floral designs., Point Bottle Works 1879 , Point Bottle Works operated between the years of 1879-1906 and was located along the Ohio River at the point where the Beaver River joins the Ohio River. Presently the Rochester Area Joint Sewer Authority resides in that area. The Point Bottle Works was reported to have been producing 180,000 pieces a day, including soda bottles, beer bottles, flasks, and prescription bottles. Information for this company is scarce, but some of its bottles are known to have been marked with an embossed "PBW" mark., Brown and Maxwell Company 1882 , Brown and Maxwell Company was operating between the years 1882-1890. It was reported to have been producing blown glass tumblers, lamp fonts, prescription vials, and other glass products. This factory was best known for its artistic paperweights, which are prized by today's collectors., Keystone Tumbler Company 1897 , Keystone Tumbler Company operated between 1897-1905, and was located along the railroad tracks near the foot of Brighton Avenue. Due to its short time in existence, little is known about this factory, but it is reported to have made pressed glass tumblers, jelly jars, barware and hotel ware., Venetian Glass Company 1945 , Venetian Glass Company was founded in 1945 by Salvatore Diana and was in business through the late 1960s. The products made by this factory were also marketed under the name "Diana Handcraft." Known at the time for their vividly colored glass, production of glass chandelier and lamp parts, decorative glass, and tableware, it was located on Vermont Avenue Extension in North Rochester, occupying a part of the former H.C. Fry Glass Company property., Valley Glass Company 1882 , Valley Glass Company was located on Delaware Avenue, and was in existence from 1882-1889, when it was relocated to Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, in 1890. The primary manufacture of this company was glass bottles. Records are scarce and little historical evidence is known of this factory., Michel-Meier Glass Company 1882 , Michel-Meier Glass Company was in North Rochester and operated from the mid-1930s through the early 1940s. It was founded by Anton Michel and Hans Meier. Mr. Meier was formerly the head of the decorating department at the H.C. Fry Glass Company. The Michel-Meier Glass Company was a decorating shop only, sourcing their plain blanks from various companies, and applying enamel, color stained and metallic decorations to the glass., William A. Meier Glass Company 1946 , William A. Meier Glass Company was founded in 1946 and was in operation through the mid-1970s. Located in North Rochester, it was a well-known glass decorating shop with a nationwide market. Its decorations ranged from light cut designs, etchings and applied metallic and enameled effects. Through the years, the William A. Meier Glass Company worked in collaboration with many famed designers, and the products of this company were in high demand.