Reflections On Meriden: History Of Glass, Museum of Connecticut Glass
Clear, colored, shaped, embossed. Decorated, etched, carved, melted.
Bottles and history of glass at Museum of Connecticut Glass in Coventry. What a great visit.
Science and art.
Stories. Places. Connections. Innovation.
Conversations, history, objects. Museum of Connecticut Glass in Coventry.
Contained within–once upon a time–milk, cream, soda, beer, liquor. Medicine. Emblaming fluid? Fascinating.
Horace C. Wilcox.
Hello Horace C. Wilcox of Meriden, CT–a city well represented here. (My hometown.)
An ancillary industry to the Northeast’s largest glass factory, the Meriden Flint Glass Co., the C. F. Monroe Opal Glass Decorating Works obviously built a large complex in order to complete the glass produced by the nearby factory. The Meriden factory also had a decorating room in the upper floor of an attached building (still standing) which was two floors above where the furnaces were located in a large basement room with conveyor belts to move the formed glass to annealing ovens. Many other smaller glass and glass associated industries also were located in and around Meriden with some near the Meriden factory – a factory ringed by railroad tracks. Meriden, with its silver and silver plate industries, expanded with the start of the production of glass in 1873 to the end of the century. This photo taken in the later 1800s, shows the size of one factory operation. (See “An Abundance of Glass” by author Diane Tobin.)
Meriden history, glass, business and industry.
“The Meriden Flint Glass Company 1876-1888
“Founded in Connecticut in 1876, the Meriden Flint Glass Company employed some of the glass industry’s most talented craftsmen, producing internationally award-winning cut and decorated glass.
“Although it was only in operation for a brief time, the company was important in the history of the American glassmaking industry and played a role in the development of the early American labor movement.
“Meriden Britannia Company administrators were majority stockholders in the Meriden Flint Glass Company, and acted as Directors of the glassworks. Meriden Britannia Company silver catalogs printed between 1877-1888 show many fine illustrations of the glass pieces made for them by the Meriden Flint Glass Company.
“The Meriden Flint Glass Company closed in 1886, was sold to James Murray, and then operated as the James Murray & Company glassworks until June 23, 1888. Wave Crest glass, Victorian and art nouveau style glass, was made in Meriden. Noel Tomas notes: Other companies who produced known products include Handel Co. (lamps and plates), A. J. Hall & Co. (painted plate wares) and Helmschmeid Co. as well as the well known large company C.F Monroe.” —The Museum of Connecticut Glass
Donated in MEMORIA OF : RUTH G. MIRKIN OF WEST HARTFORD,CT BY HER DAUGHTER-ELIZABETH HAWTHORNE, OF CHICAGO, IL.
PITCHER IS FROM 1930 – 1950 ERA, MOST LIKELY EMBOSSED AT THE INTERNATIONAL SILVER CO., LOCATED IN MERIDEN, CT.
“With its location in Coventry, one of its main focuses is the glassmaking industry in the town, which was prevalent and in business from approximately 1814–1848. The museum itself, and its location in the Capt. John Turner House is significant as its namesake was one of the first owners of the factory, the site of which still exists in the form of a foundation just up the road. The house itself is one of the last remaining sites on the National Historic Glass Factory District. There is currently an ongoing archeological excavation of shards from the original glasshouse being run by the museum in the cornfield directly next to the house, where deposited by one of the early owner’s, Rufus Chamberlain in order to ‘sweeten, and aerate the soil.'” Wikipedia entry
Inside the fine brick house–the Capt. John Turner House–across the way, walk through the front door and look up at the unusual arched ceiling. The kitchen, that screen door. Memory sparked: Jimmie D. Tolbert, his gentle advice about carpenter bee’s in the wooden support–they do no harm. Learned. Left them alone to live and multiply. Scuppernongs, smoke house, pecan trees. Clear cold water. A huge live oak to clamber up, sit. Northwest Florida.
Along the Willimantic River, Mansfield, CT. #walk
— Moo Dog Press (@moodogpress.com) May 16, 2026 at 2:52 PM
Medicine and history. Pharmacy and drug stores, communities.
“The mind travels faster than the pen; consequently, writing becomes a question of learning to make occasional wing shots, bringing down the bird of thought as it flashes by. A writer is a gunner, sometimes waiting in the blind for something to come in, sometimes roaming the countryside hoping to scare something up.” E. B. White
The YPs. Astronomical that chance of talking, seeing, sharing. Thank you, Andrea Palmer.
History of both structures, also interesting.
“…open houses are free and fun; ususally held on the third Saturday of the month, May through September, 1 to 4 p.m., 289 North River Road, Coventry. The 2026 dates are: Saturday, June 13 (note that we’re participating in CT Open House Day, which is the second Saturday of June); Saturday, July 18; Saturday, Aug. 15; Saturday, Sept.19; Saturday, Oct. 10 will be the Tailgate Bottle and Glass Show from 8 a.m. to 1p.m. All are welcome to these informative open houses, hosted by Matt Opel and other board members and volunteers. Now featuring our newest and most interesting exhibit of Connecticut bottles. Guests can view the historic Captain Turner house and the 1935 barn.”
The Embalmer’s Supply Company, business. Westport, CT.
Another look, a composite of recently donated items–G. Fox, Hartford, Connecticut.