Aug. 30 – FAIRMONT — You could see right through one of northcentral West Virginia’s most important industries in the 20th century.
Well, at least a lot of it.
The industry was glassmaking. In Fairmont, a leading supplier was the Monongah Glass Co., in the city’s bustling Beltline district of Marion County.
By the early 1900s, Monongah Glass was known nationwide for its decorative lamps, cups, and plates.
And during the 1960 U.S. presidential election, a selection of glass from a top Morgantown company—with the help of a competitor, even—was also elected to the White House.
That was when Morgantown Glass Co. and Seneca Glass combined their services to fill an order placed by Jackie Kennedy, the nation’s new First Lady.
According to tradition, Mrs. Kennedy was greatly impressed by the simple elegance of the stained glass used in the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Midtown Manhattan.
Like New York City.
When she and her husband, John Kennedy, traveled across the state during his trip to the Oval Office, she discovered that the pieces she loved so much were designed and made in University City.
She wanted the same for her new home in Washington DC and ordered hundreds of pieces to be ready by January 20, 1961, the day her husband was sworn in as president.
This wasn’t just an order. This was Jackie Kennedy and the White House.
As mentioned, it was so large and striking that Seneca Glass, a competitor known for its designs shown at the 1939 New York World’s Fair, also stepped in to fill the order.
Early next year, you’ll have the chance to learn more about the Mountain State’s industry, which has been tied to coal for generations, at the Frank and Jane Gabor West Virginia Folklife Center on the campus of Fairmont State University.
“Sand and Fire: 200 Years of West Virginia Glass” will be on view from February 15 through May 15, 2025.
According to the organizers, glassware and other objects from the heyday of the industry, the 19th and 20th centuries, will be on display.
Watch lectures on how glass manufacturing was the economic engine that provided jobs, diversification and relevance during the Mountain State’s pivotal years.
It’s not just about capturing nostalgic feelings, says center director Lydia Warren.
“We have artists from West Virginia doing amazing work today,” she said, “and we’ll be celebrating them along with historical artwork and information.”
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