Grammytique.com                                                                                        February  2000

    In the age of "commercialized" information, when the great industries which built a nation seem to disappear from the landscape, it becomes even more important to examine our past for insight into how, where, and why we enjoy the miracles of modern America. It is often in the "little" stories, like the story of Fenton Glass, that we can perhaps best glimpse the soul of an emerging America. In a very real sense, perhaps by looking at America's  "Fentons" can we find a guide for our future. At the dawn of the new century, Fenton, the last of the great blown-glass houses, thrives still.  The manner in which the artists, technicians and leaders of Fenton Art Glass Company responded to the challenges posed by the 20^th century provide both an inspiration and a challenge for all of us today.
    Throughout the age of cheap imported machine-made glass from far-off factories, Fenton glass has an almost unique niche in the glass world; Fenton is valued for being Fenton, and its distinctive glass can be instantly recognized. A visit to the Fenton Art Glass Museum, in Williamstown, West Virginia, will provide some insight. For most of its early history, Fenton glass was hand-blown, only in relatively recent times has their glass become almost exclusively mold-blown. The high quality and standards set by Fenton throughout its history are apparent by the glass left behind in the hands of collectors and museums. But in a very real sense, it is how the company adapted its business methodology to changing economic climates which helped Fenton to stand above the crowd.

Imperial, Northwood, Fostoria, etc. all made beautiful, high-quality glass; but it was the commitment to innovation and new ideas which saved Fenton from the fate of extinction.
    The story of the Fenton Art Glass Company begins with Frank Leslie Fenton. Born in 1880 in the town of Indiana, Pennsylvania, young Frank began his apprenticeship as a glassworker after his graduation from high school. His first stop was at the glass factory in his hometown. Two years prior, Harry Northwood took over this factory changing its name from the Indiana Glass company to Northwood.
    Within a year, Frank Fenton became a foreman at the factory. Two years later, in 1900, he left Pennsylvania to work at the newly opened