GlassNEWSLETTER OF THE NATIONAL Shards AMERICAN GLASS CLUB www.glassclub.org Founded 1933 A Non-Profit Organization Autumn 2019 New Bedford Museum of Glass on the Move! After 3 months of heroic effort last Mt. Washington Glass Company, will relocation possible: Aaron Barr, Mary spring by a team of dedicated volun­ provide a perfect home for the muse­ Jo Baryza, Jeff Costa, David DeMello, teers, the New Bedford Museum of um, and we expect to open our new Brian Gunnison, Peggy Hooper, Maria Glass is happy to report that it has fully glass galleries there later this year. Martell, Luis Marquez, Charlie Moss, vacated its former premises and is now Heart-felt thanks to the following Andrea Natsios, Betsy Nelson, Eric making steady progress toward set­ volunteers (many NAGC members Nelson, Ross Nelson, Karen Petraglia, ting up its new gallery, library, office, among them!) who helped make our and Clint Sowle. and shop spaces in downtown New Bedford’s magnificent James Arnold Mansion! Literally thousands of ex­ amples of beautiful glass, including art glass, paperweights, early Ameri­ can glass, and studio glass by contem­ porary artists, have been carefully packed and moved to the new location, along with more than 50 massive dis­ play cases, a library of 15,000 glass reference books, and countless fasci­ nating odds and ends that help tell the story of approximately 2,500 years of glassmaking history. The mansion, which served as the residence in the 1870s and ’80s of William J. Rotch, the president of New Bedford’s famous The new home of the New Bedford Glass Museum. Halim Clock and Stained Glass Museum The collection of the Halim Time also traces the creative life of Tiffany, and Glass Museum is comprised of highlighting the advances in stained more than 1,100 timepieces and over glass, pottery, and his later works 70 19th-century stained glass pieces including housewares, mosaics, and of art. Timepieces have been a fascina­ windows. tion of the museum’s founder, Cameel Halim, an Egyptian immigrant who HALIM TIME AND GLASS purchased his collection from around MUSEUM the world. Included are 30 master­ 1560 Oak Ave. pieces from Louis Comfort Tiffany, Evanston, IL 60201 Mary Tillinghast, Edward Sperry, and (224) 714-5600 J&R Lamb Studios. The collection Halim Time and Glass Museum. www.halimmuseum.org Glass Shards • Page 2 President’s Letter Dear friends, to Pittsburgh in 1970 and opened a sale, but she also loved igniting that The recent passing of longtime an antique shop outside the city in spark of passion in a new collector. NAGC Pittsburgh Chapter member Blawnox, Pennsylvania. The shop, in Sharing an object or delving through Frances Taylor caused me to reflect a beautiful Victorian house, anchored a tome in search of the answer to an on our mission as a club—we are an Main Street and became a destination antique puzzle, both defined her. Her educational organization. At our best as much for the welcoming atmosphere example encourages me, as a new year we are teachers who hope to engage as for the wonderful glass, china, and of programming and chapter meetings our communities in the wonder of the furniture found there. begin, to dedicate myself to our mis­ miracle material of glass. Frances ex­ Herman was the quieter of the two, sion and to hopefully captivate some­ emplified that mission. but both loved their customers as much one new by all our club has to offer. Frances, and her husband Herman, as their antiques. What always distin­ A special thank you to Frances for all were Texans—she was born in Fort guished the store for me, were the she has taught me! Worth, attended Texas Christian books, hundreds of them. This shop University, and together they raised became a place to freely exchange Anne P. Madarasz a family in Port Arthur. They came knowledge – Frances loved to make President In Memoriam Dorothy Hall Allen Francis during his Presidency of the February 14, 1932 –June 27, 2019 National American Glass Club and membership in numerous glass clubs. Dorothy Hall Allen, NAGC mem­ According to Mr. Allen “She had a ber since 1989 and wife of Francis N. mind like a steel trap, a quick eye Allen also of NAGC, died on June 27, and made whatever I wrote look real 2019. Dorothy was born in Davis, good.” West Virginia on February 14, 1932. Dorothy had other interests besides In her earlier years she worked for the glass, including sewing and cooking. National Security Agency, a vocation A devoted mother, she dearly loved she abandoned to raise their three her three grandchildren. children. Dorothy shared Francis’s love of glass and antiques. She supported Dorothy Hall Allen. **** Walter Blenko through his senior year at age 17 to June 15, 1926–August 11, 2019 enlist in the Army during World War II in 1944. He served in the European A decorated World War II veteran, Theater as a combat infantryman in astute lawyer, and generous philanthro- the 95th Infantry Division and was pist, Walter Blenko Jr. accomplished awarded a Bronze Star. After the war, more in his retirement years than most Mr. Blenko earned a bachelor’s degree people do in a lifetime. Mr. Blenko, in mechanical engineering from the 93, of Hampton, died August 11th of Carnegie Institute of Technology in congestive heart failure. 1950 and a law degree from the Uni­ Mr. Blenko has also been credited versity of Pittsburgh three years later. with saving Blenko Glass Co., Milton, He tran sitioned to a part-time role as a WV—a company that had been in his partner for Eckert, Seamans, Cherin & family for more than 100 years. Mellott in 1993 before retiring in Mr. Blenko grew up in the Squirrel 2008—the same year he took over as Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh and president of Blenko Glass, started by left Shady Side Academy halfway his grandfather in 1893. Walter Blenko. Glass Shards • Page 3 Mr. Blenko guided the company in advance to see him sign pieces of keep Blenko Glass operating. We are through Chapter 11 bankruptcy in art glass with a special etching tool. confident there are years to come for 2011 and restored its good fortunes, —Janice Crompton Blenko. I plan to be here for several said Dean Six, company vice president Pittsburgh Post-Gazette more years myself and I hope our and general manager. “If there was a efforts to build a strong team for the single person who should get credit From Dean Six, NAGC member and next 126 years is successful. We will for keeping the company going, it was VP Blenko Glass Company: miss Walter and his distinctive bow tie, Walter,” Mr. Six said. “He provided When I spoke with Don Blenko, but the Blenko family and the nearly the leadership, structure, and drive to Walter’s co-owner and nephew, Don 50 of us associated with Blenko Glass keep us on course. We survived and assured me, “I see no reason the plant will continue to preserve and promote now we’re thriving.” will not continue for a long time due the family legacy. Thank you Walter Mr. Blenko often visited the com- to the present good standing, we plan for this amazing opportunity, thanks pany, where customers would line up to be there for many more years. One everyone for sharing our journey.” way to honor Walter’s memory is to **** Frances Taylor people, and sharing her enthusiasm Glass Club, she assisted in the plan­ January 20, 1924–August 22, 2019 for glass. ning of the Club’s Antique Shows for Frances’ knowledge and interests more than 20 years. The Lowell Innes Frances Taylor, longtime member extended beyond glass. She served Chapter, which meets evenings on the of the Pittsburgh Chapter, died as an appraiser for the local program second Tuesday monthly at the Heinz Thursday, August 22, 2019. Frances, “Hidden Treasures” coordinated by History Center, will miss Frances and and her husband Herman, owned Pittsburgh’s CBS affiliate KDKA her dedication to sharing and preserv­ Frances Taylor Antiques in Blawnox, in partnership with the Senator John ing the history of American Glass, es­ a suburb of Pittsburgh from the 1970s Heinz History Center, where Frances pecially Western Pennsylvania glass through the 1990s. served as a member of the Glass history. A glass wizard, Frances especially Advisory Committee. loved early Pittsburgh glass. Later she Frances herself was a treasure! — Submitted by Mary Lamica collected open salts. Frances loved An active member of the Pittsburgh sharing her knowledge, being with Chapter of the National American A Cut Above: A Tribute to Edward Poore This past year we lost an esteemed Pairpoint, Ed became fascinated with paperweights, Poore created cut glass member of the glass community, paperweights, a fascination that he sculptures of his own design, as well Edward D. Poore. In celebration of turned into a career specializing in the as new engraving patterns. his life and talent, the Sandwich Glass restoration of antique and contempo­ Museum is pleased to present A Cut rary paperweights. He also created SANDWICH GLASS MUSEUM Above: A Tribute to Edward Poore, unique cutting designs for leading 129 Main St. a special exhibit that highlights the contemporary paperweight artists in­ Sandwich, MA 02563 work of this talented individual. It is cluding Debbie Tarsitano and David (508) 888-0251 on view now through October 27th. Graeber. In addition to cutting glass https://sandwichglassmuseum.org A gifted glass cutter, Poore began his career at the Pairpoint Glass Works in Sagamore, Massachusetts. There he learned the centuries-old technique of glass cutting and engraving under the tutelage of Carl Scheidenback, who learned his craft at the Pairpoint fac- tory in New Bedford.