March Collection Highlight...

A Redford Glass Pitcher

Redford Glass
1831-1851
 

In 1830 two Troy, New York, businessmen, Gershom Cook and Charles W. Corning, came north to establish a glass-factory. The location they selected, at an old Indian ford formed of red stones, became known as Redford, after “The Red Ford.” This area was considered desirable because of the superior quality of local sandstone and a new road connecting with Plattsburgh, about twenty miles to the east.

Construction of the glass works began in March, 1831 in unbroken wilderness three miles from the nearest settlement. The vast enterprise stimulated business throughout the entire region. In October, seven months after construction commenced, the glasshouse turned out its first lot of crown glass.

A sample of the scrip the company issued for redemption at the company store signed by Mr. Corning, one of the company owners.

The Redford Crown Glass Works closed its doors for the last time in 1851, the result of the firm’s inability to withstand competition from glass companies in Pennsylvania. Coal proved to be a more economical fuel than wood from the Redford region. Moreover, geographically isolated Redford lacked access to inexpensive means of transportation.

For two decades between 1831 and 1851, Redford produced many of the finest examples of glassware made in America. “End-of-the-day” pieces, utilitarian and whimsical, were made after the daily quota of window glass had been filled.

A picture of the factory as it appears on the scrip.

These aquamarine or sea green pieces survive in extremely limited quantities – only about 250 fully authenticated pieces can definitely be attributed to the glasshouse at Redford. Sold in the company store, these objects found their way into local homes and, eventually, to this Museum where they form a treasured collection.

This rare collection of Redford glass contains 34 pieces donated by Mr. and Mrs. Harold A. Boire in memory of Eva D. Boire of Mooers, New York.

To learn more, the book “Reflections: The Story of Redford Glass” written by Helen Allan and Bruce Stark, is available at the Clinton County Historical Association Museum. You can visit the Museum to view other pieces of this magnificent collection. More information about Redford Glass is also available here.