Early Beginnings of American Glass
_The first factory in America was a glass furnace established at Jamestown, Virginia, in 1607. A site was chosen in the woods,in order that there might be abundant fuel for smelting purposes, as well as logs to use in building the factory and homes for the workers. Teams of oxen brought in the sand and clay over a rough road, and took out the finished product on the return journey.
When it became possible to deliver the finished glass by water, the breakage became considerably less. Despite all the efforts that were made to reduce costs, however, the window glass produced by this factory was too expensive for most settlers, and found only a limited market. Eventually, therefore, the factory changed from window glass to the making of bottles and beads for trading with the Indians for land, food and fur. Some of these little early American beads, green and white in color and similar in size to gooseberrie, have been found in excavations. Specimens are understood to be in museums at Philadelphia and Toledo.
When it became possible to deliver the finished glass by water, the breakage became considerably less. Despite all the efforts that were made to reduce costs, however, the window glass produced by this factory was too expensive for most settlers, and found only a limited market. Eventually, therefore, the factory changed from window glass to the making of bottles and beads for trading with the Indians for land, food and fur. Some of these little early American beads, green and white in color and similar in size to gooseberrie, have been found in excavations. Specimens are understood to be in museums at Philadelphia and Toledo.
_The glass works was destroyed at the time of the great Indian Massacre at Jamestown in 1622, and some of the surviving workmen migrated later as far as Pennsylvania and Massachusetts.
During the period of the American Revolution, many new factories were established in Massachusetts, New York, Eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Maryland. Coal was first used in this country for the smelting of glass at Pittsburgh in 1797. Later, with the discovery of coal and oil in Western Pennsylvania, Virginia, Ohio, and Indiana, the American glass industry began to move westward. Eventually, the great valleys of the Ohio and Mississippi became leading centers of glass manufacture in the UnitedStates.
During the period of the American Revolution, many new factories were established in Massachusetts, New York, Eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Maryland. Coal was first used in this country for the smelting of glass at Pittsburgh in 1797. Later, with the discovery of coal and oil in Western Pennsylvania, Virginia, Ohio, and Indiana, the American glass industry began to move westward. Eventually, the great valleys of the Ohio and Mississippi became leading centers of glass manufacture in the UnitedStates.
