By: Carrie Heath, February 14, 2024
The Gmeiner Art & Cultural Center is pleased to announce a reception for the Wellsboro Glass Historical Association “A Gathering of Glass: The Next Chapter.” This event will take place on Saturday, February 24 th from 6:30-8:30PM at the Gmeiner located at 134 Main Street in Wellsboro, behind the Green Free Library. The reception is free and
open to the public. Light refreshments will be available.
The Wellsboro Glass Historical Association is dedicated to preserving the history of Wellsboro’s important role in glass manufacturing. Wellsboro was the site of Corning
Glass Works’ first satellite factory, which opened in 1916. Although it went through several other owners, it remained open for nearly 100 years. This factory is the birthplace of the famous “ribbon machines” which revolutionized modern glassmaking.
When the factory closed, those ribbon machines were first shipped away, and then scheduled for demolition. Thanks to a social media post by Ryan Root, a former
mechanic at the factory, a groundswell of interest in saving the machines arose, permissions were granted, funds were raised, the machines were rescued from the
scrapyard, and brought back home to Wellsboro.
This event will serve as a “thank you!” from current members of WGHA to the generous individuals and organizations who helped rescue and preserve the ribbon machines,
such as Shawn Bryant, GROW, the DeCamp family, the Packer Foundation, the Dunham Foundation, the Sweet Foundation, the Etner Foundation, Joe Shabloski,
Home Page Network, Charlie Messina and Ben Stambaugh.
Some of the objects in the WGHA’s collection will be on display for the evening, and members of WGHA will show how they are currently caring for and archiving those
objects. Guests will also have the opportunity to paint their own glass ornament, led by the steady hand of Mary Wise in the Studio. This reception is also a chance to let the
public know about WGHA’s future plans. Members will share their vision for a permanent museum to house the ribbon machines and other artifacts collected in the
last few years. Come find out what the future holds for Wellsboro’s glass manufacturing history!