Westmoreland Glass Company
Encyclopedia
The Westmoreland Glass Company was founded in 1889 when a group of men from the Specialty Glass Company in East Liverpool, Ohio
migrated to Grapeville, Pennsylvania
. The property had a large source of natural gas
. The company was run by two brothers, George and Charles West. Its main production was pressed glass tableware lines, mustard jars, and candy containers. In 1921, George West left the company and Charles West became president. Charles West changed the company's name from the Westmoreland Specialty Company to Westmoreland Glass Company. In the 1920s and 1930s, Charles West created a large decorating department at Westmoreland. Westmoreland began to produce high quality hand-decorated and cut glass. In 1937, the company changed hands from the West family to the hands of the Brainards. In the 1940s, the Brainards phased out the high quality hand-decorated glass and began to mass produce milk glass
. The Brainards then sold the company in 1980 to David Grossman, a St. Louis businessman who did not have any prior experience with Westmoreland. As a result, the company went out of business in 1984 and was sold for $75,000 to George Synder, who converted the property into a storage facility.
East Liverpool, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 13,089 people, 5,261 households, and 3,424 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,010.3 people per square mile . There were 5,743 housing units at an average density of 1,320.8 per square mile...
migrated to Grapeville, Pennsylvania
Grapeville, Pennsylvania
Grapeville is a census-designated place in Hempfield Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 676 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Grapeville is located at ....
. The property had a large source of natural gas
Natural gas
Natural gas is a naturally occurring gas mixture consisting primarily of methane, typically with 0–20% higher hydrocarbons . It is found associated with other hydrocarbon fuel, in coal beds, as methane clathrates, and is an important fuel source and a major feedstock for fertilizers.Most natural...
. The company was run by two brothers, George and Charles West. Its main production was pressed glass tableware lines, mustard jars, and candy containers. In 1921, George West left the company and Charles West became president. Charles West changed the company's name from the Westmoreland Specialty Company to Westmoreland Glass Company. In the 1920s and 1930s, Charles West created a large decorating department at Westmoreland. Westmoreland began to produce high quality hand-decorated and cut glass. In 1937, the company changed hands from the West family to the hands of the Brainards. In the 1940s, the Brainards phased out the high quality hand-decorated glass and began to mass produce milk glass
Milk glass
Milk glass is an opaque or translucent, milky white or colored glass, blown or pressed into a wide variety of shapes.First made in Venice in the 16th century, colors include blue, pink, yellow, brown, black, and the white that led to its popular name....
. The Brainards then sold the company in 1980 to David Grossman, a St. Louis businessman who did not have any prior experience with Westmoreland. As a result, the company went out of business in 1984 and was sold for $75,000 to George Synder, who converted the property into a storage facility.