Manufacturer Notes: Virginia Glass CompanyDirectories1897-98 Virginia Glass Co, (John S Bordner, Joseph H Ramsey, Geo H Schwarzmann, Lorenzo Walford, Henry Schnell, Peter Astryke and Edward S Reeve), glass-blowers, Duke ext 1897-98 GLASS BLOWERS. Virginia Glass Co. Duke ext. 1899-00 Virginia Glass Co, (John S Bordner, Joseph H Ramsey, Geo H Schwarzmann, Lorenzo Walford, Henry Schnell, Peter Astryke and Edward S Reeve), glass-blowers, Duke ext 1899-00 GLASS BLOWERS. Virginia Glass Co. Duke ext. 1900 Virginia Glass Co, (John S Bordner, Jos H Ramsey, Geo H Schwarzmann, Lorenzo Walford, Henry Schnell, Peter Astryke and Edw S Reeve), Duke ext 1900 GLASS BLOWERS. Virginia Glass Co. Duke ext. 1901 Virginia Glass Co, (John S Bordner, Jos H Ramsey, Geo H Schwarzmann, Henry Schnell, Peter Astryke and Edw S Reeve), Duke ext 1901 GLASS BLOWERS. Virginia Glass Co. Duke ext. _______________________________________________________________________________________ Manufacturing Report. (The appended statistics are for one year, ending October 1st, 1893.) QUESTIONS TO CORRESPONDENTS. 1. Name and address of company? 2. What manufacturing? 3. Capital invested in each? 4. Number of hands employed in each? 5. Annual capacity of each? ANSWERS OF CORRESPONDENTS. Fairfax.—1, (a) Deis Manufacturing Company, New Alexandria; (b) Virginia Glass Works, Alexandria P. O.; 2, (a) furniture, (b) glass; 3, (a) $150,000, (b) $10,000; 4, (a)'l50, (b) 40; 5, not given. Henley, R. L.; Report of the State Board of Agriculture of Virginia (Richmond, J. H. O'Bannon, 1893) _______________________________________________________________________________________ The Virginia Glass Works, in the West End, which have been shut down for some time past, while the furnace was being rebuilt, will resume operations early next week. the glass works gives employment to almost twenty-five hands, and is crowded with orders. The Morning Times (Washington, District of Columbia) January 15, 1896 _______________________________________________________________________________________ The Virginia Glass Bottle Works has not yet resumed operations, owing to some trouble with the furnace, but it is expected it will begin work again before the end of the week. The Morning Times (Washington, District of Columbia) January 21, 1896 _______________________________________________________________________________________ ALEXANDRIA. There are sixteen blowers employed at the Virginia Glass Works, besides a force of about forty helpers. The Washington Post (Washington, D. C.) February 3, 1896 _______________________________________________________________________________________ The Virginia Glass Works, at West End, after the usual summer holiday, will resume operations on Wednesday with a force of eighty employees. The Times (Washington, District of Columbia) August 31, 1897 _______________________________________________________________________________________ Mr. Henry Schnell, of the Virginia Glass Works, has been advised that his father, who lived in Salem, N. J., was burned to death by falling down a stairway with a lighted lamp in his hand. The Times (Washington, District of Columbia) December 31, 1897 _______________________________________________________________________________________ The Virginia Glass Company, of Alexandria, have purchased over seven acres of land adjoining the shops of the Chesapeake and Ohio in Richmond, on which they will erect a glass factory. John S. Bordner, the general manager of the company, has made all arrangements to carry the plan into effect. He will superintend the construction of the factory buildings. It is not the purpose of the company to give up the Alexandria factory, where one hundred hands are employed. That factory has been in operation six years, and it is doing a thriving business. The company manufactures all sorts of glassware. The Richmond factory will be made the principal one, and it is hoped to start it in operation by the first of September. The company will work two shifts of hands in order to keep the factory running day and night. There will be one hundred hands in each shift. The company is not incorporated, and it is not a stock company. There are seven persons interested, and they are all experts in the manufacture of glass. They conduct the business somewhat upon the cooperative plan. Home furnishing Review January 1899 (New York, I. B. Scott, 1899) _______________________________________________________________________________________ The Virginia glass factory will resume operations September 1 and the Old Dominion and Belle-Pre factories on September 6, after the usual month's vacation. During the period that these factories were closed down many improvements were made and they will be run to their full capacity from the start. The Washington Post (Washington, D. C.) August 29, 1904 _______________________________________________________________________________________ The Virginia Glass company's Plant a Mass of Ruins. _____________________ NO WATER RO FIGHT FLAMES _____________________ Amount of damage Not Fully Determin- ed, but Believed to Exceed the Insur- ance--About One Hundred Employees Thrown Out of Work--Plans for Wash ingtons Birthday Banquet Made. ______________________ WASHINGTON POST BUREAU. 621 King Street, Alexandria, Va. The plant of the Virginia Glass Company, located on the south side of Duke street extended, was almost totally destroyed by fire yesterday evening. the blaze is said to have been caused by the collapse of what is known as a "lehr." which communicated flame from the factory to the packing house. The fire in its incipiency could have been easily extinguished with the hose kept on the premises for that purpose, but it was found that the water connections were frozen, and it was necessary to thaw them out before the employees at the works could make more than feeble efforts to quench the flames, which by this time had gotten beyond their control. In the meantime an alarm had been sent to this city, and the Reliance engine and the Relief hook and ladder truck were sent to the scene, accompanied by Chief Petty, who took charge of the situation. Upon their arrival the flames were leaping high into the air and dense volumes of smoke were being blown towards this city, attracting a large number of people to the fire. The steamers met with the same difficulty that the employees of the factory had, and considerable time was lost in thawing out the water plugs. In a short while it was realized that one engine could accomplish but little against the fire which had gained such a headway, and Chief Pettey ordered the old Hydraulion engine into service. Four streams were poured into the flames, but without avail, and at the end of two hours the factory, which employed nearly 100 men and boys was in ruins. Plant Cost $75,000 The Virginia Glass Company started business here about eleven years ago and was originally composed of eight practical glass men. Subsequently all of the original stockholders withdrew with the exception of Messrs, John S. Bordner and Peter Astryke, who for some time past have composed the company and who are respectively the president and secretary and treasurer of the Southern Glass Company, of Richmond. Those who withdrew from the Virginia company were instrumental in establishing the Old Dominion and Belle-Pre glass factories here and are now connected with these institutions. Mr. Bordner is in Richmond and Mr. Astryke was at the fire until late last night. It is understood that the lose is only partially covered by insurance. the factory represents an outlay of about $75,000, but the actual damage cannot be determined until it is definitely settled whether or not the furnaces, the most expensive part of the equipment, are damaged. the fireman were careful to keep the water from this part of the plant, and it is believed that the furnaces are intact, but they would be counted as a loss unless the company decides to rebuild. Just what the concern will do cannot be stated until Mr. Bordner reaches this city. The Washington Post (Washington, D. C.) February 19, 1905 _______________________________________________________________________________________ Nothing definite has yet been determined about the rebuilding of the Virginia Glass Company's plant, which was practically destroyed by fire Saturday night. It is believed that one of the furnaces, which cost $15,000, has been ruined, but that another furnace, which cost $28,000, is in good shape. Mr. Bordner, one of the owners of the plant, is in the South, and the future of the concern will not be known until he reaches here. The Washington Post (Washington, D. C.) February 20, 1905 _______________________________________________________________________________________ It is understood that the managers of the Virginia Glass company, whose plant was destroyed by fire last Saturday night, have determined to rebuild the works as soon as weather conditions will permit. The Washington Post (Washington, D. C.) February 25, 1905 _______________________________________________________________________________________ The contract for rebuilding the plant of the Virginia Glass company, which was almost totally destroyed by fire several weeks ago, has been awarded to J. W. Robinson. The Washington Post (Washington, D. C.) March 15, 1905 _______________________________________________________________________________________ Harry Fogg and Henry Briel, formerly connected with the Virginia Glass Works in this city, but now with the Southern Glass Works at Richmond, were in Alexandria yesterday. The Washington Post (Washington, D. C.) October 2, 1905 _______________________________________________________________________________________ Glass Factory to Resume. It is understood that the Virginia Glass company's plant, on Duke street, which has been idle since it was rebuilt following a destructive fire nearly two years ago, will soon be in operation again and that a number of glass blowers and helpers will be employed. John S. Bordner, president of the company, and Peter Astryke, manager , have been giving their attention to their glass-bottle factory in Richmond since the Virginia plant closed down. The Washington Post (Washington, D. C.) April 9, 1906 _______________________________________________________________________________________ Glass Factory to Resume. Fires have been started at the plant of the Virginia Glass Company, in Alexandria, which has been inactive for the past year, and operations will be resumed May 14. It is understood that between forty and fifty men will be employed. The Washington Post (Washington, D. C.) May 4, 1906 _______________________________________________________________________________________ Factories Will Resume Operations After the Vacation. WASHINGTON POST BUREAU, 621 King Street, Alexandria, Va. The glass bottle factories, which in the last ten or twelve years have developed into an important factor in the business of Alexandria, will soon be in full operation again after the usual summer closedown of two months. The Alexandria Glass Bottle Company will resume operations September 1. the Old Dominion on the 4th, the Belle Pre on the 10th, and the Virginia about the 15th. The Washington Post (Washington, D. C.) August 31, 1906 _______________________________________________________________________________________ Glass Factories Resume. The Old Dominion, Alexandria and Belle-Pre glass bottle factories resumed operations yesterday after the usual summer close-down of two months, and the Virginia factory will open Saturday, These factories employ about 1,600 men and boys, and it is rumored that another large glass plant will be established in this city in the near future, The Washington Post (Washington, D. C.) September 4, 1907 _______________________________________________________________________________________ GLASSBLOWER MISSING Police Asked to Find Alexandria Man, Who Disappeared Tuesday. Local police have been asked to locate Boyd Haley, 25 years old, a glass blower, who disappeared from his home in Alexandria, Va., Tuesday. It is believed the man came to this city. Haley is a native of Millville, N. J., and went to Alexandria several weeks ago to work for the Virginia Glass Works. The Washington Post (Washington, D. C.) December 13, 1908 _______________________________________________________________________________________ Fire at Virginia Glass Works. Fire was discovered in the roof of around the smokestack at the Virginia Glass Works, in Duke street extended, shortly before 6 o'clock yesterday evening, and the Alexandria fire department was called on. Chief Pettey ordered Engine company No. 5 to the scene. The blaze was soon quenched, and the damage was slight. The Washington Post (Washington, D. C.) April 4, 1909 _______________________________________________________________________________________ Pays $6,500 for Glass Plant Luke C. Strider, of Washington, yesterday purchased for $6,500 the plant of the Virginia Glass Company, which was sold at public sale on the premises, on Duke street extended, for W. E. Gilbert and W. Gwynn, commissioners, under a deed of trust. It is understood that Mr. Strider, represented some of the members of the company, and that the plant will operate again when the season opens in the fall. The Washington Post (Washington, D. C.) July 31, 1909 _______________________________________________________________________________________ Glass Factories Resume. The Old Dominion and Alexandria glass factories resumed operations yesterday morning after the usual summer recess and the Belle-Pre and Virginia plants will reopen in a few days. During the summer all of the factories have undergone extensive improvements. The Washington Post (Washington, D. C.) September 2, 1909 _______________________________________________________________________________________ Virginia Glass Company, Alexandria, Va., was incorporated with a capital stock of $50,000. The Washington Post (Washington, D. C.) September 26, 1909 _______________________________________________________________________________________ List of Charters and Amendments of Charters. Granted by the State Corporation Commission and recorded in the office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth from October 1, 1908, to September 30, 1909, inclusive. NAME AND LOCATION. DATE OF RECORD. Aarons Creek Telephone Company, Nelson, Va April 30, 1909. ...................... Virginia Glass Co., Inc., Fairfax Co., Va September 14, 1909. ...................... Annual Report of the Secretary of the commonwealth to the Governor and General Assembly of Virginia for the Year ending September 30, 1909 (Richmond, Davis Bottom, 1909) _______________________________________________________________________________________ The Virginia Glass Co., of Alexandria, Va., which for several years has been engaged in the manufacture of bottles, has been incorporated with a maximum capital of $50,000 and a minimum of $10,000. American Industries Volume X No 5. December 1909 (New York, New York) _______________________________________________________________________________________ BOYS STRIKE TIES UP WORK _________________ Helpers in Alexandria Glass factory Suddenly Walk Out. _________________ Three Lads Discharged and Others Quit in "Sympathy"--Just Got In- crease in Pay. _________________ WASHINGTON POST BUREAU 621 King Street, Alexandria, Va. Operations at the bottle factory of the Virginia Glass Company, a short distance west of Alexandria, were somewhat interfered with yesterday by a "sympathetic" strike on the part of about 20 boys employed as helpers. It is stated on Tuesday the lads demanded an increase of pay, and when their demand was complied with, they returned to work. Yesterday morning, however, when three of the youngsters were discharged, the others demanded their reinstatement. This request was not complied with, and the entire shift walked out. Without "helpers" glassblowers cannot work, and for a while the boys caused caused considerable embarrassment, but it is stated last night that their places were being filled and no further trouble was anticipated. The Washington Post (Washington, D. C.) February 3, 1910 _______________________________________________________________________________________ Trouble at Glass factory. With the advent of the baseball season, the boys employed as helpers at the glass factories in and near Alexandria, became restless, and several incipient strikes have occurred recently. Yesterday the proprietors of the Virginia Glass company, a short distance west of this city, appealed to the local police to quell a disturbance among alleged strikers. Policemen Ferguson and Young were detailed to respond. The Washington Post (Washington, D. C.) April 20, 1910 _______________________________________________________________________________________ ALEXANDRIA. Alexandria, the county seat of Alexandria, is situated on the Potomac river, six miles south of Washington, and is in full view of the national capital, with which it is closely related in social and business affairs. Transportation facilities are afforded by six great trunk railways and six steamer lines. The largest vessels find a safe landing at the wharves on the Potomac river. The census of 1900 gave the city a population of 14,528. Among the numerous enterprises located at Alexandria are four glass factories, viz.: Old Dominion Glass Company, Belle Pre Bottle Company, Alexandria Glass Company and Virginia Glass Company. The Bliss Silk Throwing Company, Board, Armstrong &, Co. Cider and Vinegar Plant, The Emerson Engine Company and The Riley Basket Factory have recently located here. Koiner, George W.; A Handbook of Virginia Revised Edition 1910 (Richmond, Everett Waddey Co., 1910) _______________________________________________________________________________________ Astryke Funeral Today. John Peter Astryke, 49 years old, a pioneer in the glass bottle industry in this city died Friday night at his home, 1712 Duke street, Alexandria, after a long illness. he is survived by his wife and two sons--Charles and Raymond Astryke. Mr. Astryke, was a native of Wurttemberg, Germany. With other practical glassblowers, he located in Alexandria about eighteen years ago and established the Virginia Glass Works, the first plant of its kind to locate here. ......and burial will be at Glassboro, N. J. The Washington Post (Washington, D. C.) December 17, 1911 _______________________________________________________________________________________ Glass Plant Resumes Tonight. After having been closed for several months, the plant of the Virginia Glass Company, on Duke street extended, will resume operations tonight, fires have already been started. The plant has been taken over by 36 journeyman glassblowers, who will operate it on a cooperative plan. The resumption of operations at the plant will restore to work more than 100 men and boys. Glass Company Changes Hands. The Virginia Glass Company's factory, which closed down several months ago, has been purchased by an organization of journeymen glass blowers, it was announced yesterday, and will soon resume operations. A temporary organization has been formed by the election of Martin M. Lillo, president; Edward Werling, manager, and E. Nightingale, G. Cheeseman, and Frank Walker, advisory committee. W. Gwynn Gardner will, it is said, be in charge of the plant, while the commercial end of the business will be under the direction of Guy S. Whiteford. The Washington Post (Washington, D. C.) January 29, 1912 _______________________________________________________________________________________ The bottle blowers and machine workers of Alexandria, Va., are making arrangements to start the Virginia Glass Co. and the Belle Pre Glass Co. on the co-operative basis. The American Flint February, 1912 (Toledo, Ohio) _______________________________________________________________________________________ VIRGINIA GLASS COMPANY. One of the busiest places in busy Alexandria is the works of the Virginia Glass company, which has been in continuous operation for nearly twenty years, and is the pioneer bottle manufacturing concern in the Old Domino. While the greater part of the output of this plant is sold to the drug and liqueur trade, yet the general line of miscellaneous bottles and phials from one dram to one gallon is made, both by hand and by machine. This plant is unique in that it is one of the very few cooperative bottle factories ever operated. Every blower employed being a member of the company. At the regular election of officers in January Mr. Martin M. Lollo was made president and general manager, while Mr. Gray S. Whiteford, one of the ablest young salesmen in the business, was placed in charge of the distribution, Mr. Theodore V. Ale being elected vice president. The varieties of bottles, together with almost unequaled strength and beauty of glass, are the big factors that are fast making this one of the best known and most reliable bottle-making concerns in the country. WILLIAM GWYNN GARDINER. William Gwynn Gardiner is an attorney of Washington, D. C., who for many years has been recognized as an authority on questions of insurance law, to which he has devoted his attention to the extent of making a specialty of this line of legal practice.....Mr. Gardiner is the owner of the Virginia Glass company, Alexandria, Va.; is a director of the Equitable Insurance company. His success may be said to be preeminently due to his remarkable facility for inspiring confidence in all with whom he comes in contact. The Washington Post (Washington, D. C.) June 12, 1912 _______________________________________________________________________________________ No. 55117. Virginia Glass Company vs. White Oak Coal Company: damages, $5,000. Plaintiff's attorney, R. J. Whiteford. The Washington Post (Washington, D. C.) October 15, 1912 _______________________________________________________________________________________ Theodore V. Ale, for a number of years general manager of the Virginia Glass Works, has resigned that position to become associated with the Old Dominion Glass Company. The Washington Post (Washington, D. C.) March 24, 1914 _______________________________________________________________________________________ Fire destroyed the paper storage house and stable at the Virginia Glass Company's plant yesterday afternoon, entailing a loss of several hundred dollars. The origin of the blaze is unknown. The damage is covered by insurance. the plant is owned by W. Gwynn Gardiner, of Washington. The Washington Post (Washington, D. C.) April 25, 1914 _______________________________________________________________________________________ Glass Company closes Down. The Virginia Glass company will close down tonight for the usual summer recess of two months, and many of the glassblowers and other employees will leave the city n the next few days, either for summer resorts or their former homes. During the recess. It is stated, extensive improvements will be made at the plant and the furnaces and other equipment enlarged. The Washington Post (Washington, D. C.) June 27, 1914 _______________________________________________________________________________________ The following is a record of each case tried, or reported, with the verdict and findings of court, or its disposal otherwise. CHILD LABOR LAW. Alexandria— Virginia Glass Company, May 13, 1914. Manager plead guilty. Case dismissed with a warning by Police Justice Caton. Doherty, James B.; Seventeenth Annual Report of the Bureau of labor and Industrial Statistics of the State of Virginia 1914 (Richmond, Davis Bottom, 1914) _______________________________________________________________________________________ It may have been only a coincidence, but in 1894, only two years afterwards, the Virginia Glass Works were inaugurated at Alexandria, Va., and are now capitalized at $20,000. In the same city, in 1902, the Old Dominion Glass Works were started, and are now capitalized at $60,000; in 1903, in the same city, the Belle Pre Glass Works were started, and are now capitalized at $100,000; and in 1904 or 1905, in the same city the Alexandria Glass Works were started and are now capitalized at $30,000. Records of the Columbia Historical Society Washington, D. C. Volume 18 (Washington, Columbia Historical Society, 1915) _______________________________________________________________________________________ No. 263. Virginia Glass Company vs. White Oak Coal Company, Attorneys, Whiteford--Graff The Washington Post (Washington, D. C.) March 21, 1916 _______________________________________________________________________________________ CHARTERS REVOKED AND ANNULLED COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA Department Of The State Corporation Commission City Of Richmond, June 29, 1918. The following corporations having failed for two successive years to pay the annual registration fees due by such several corporations, after having been duly assessed therefore for the years 1916 and 1917, and such failure having continued for ninety days after the expiration of such two years, by operation of the Constitution and laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia, the charters of such domestic corporations and the certificates of authority to do business in Virginia of such foreign corporations, are revoked and annulled, and the fact of such revocation and annulment is by the State Corporation Commission hereby ordered to be published once a week for four consecutive weeks in a daily newspaper published in the City of Richmond, Virginia. DOMESTIC CORPORATIONS. Date Name Location Incorporated Adjustment and Realty Corporation .........Richmond............. August 10, 1915 ................ Virginia Glass company, Incorporated.......Alexandria........... September 14, 1909 .............. Sixteenth Annual Report of the State corporation Commission of Virginia for The Year Ending December 31, 1918 (Richmond, Davis Bottom, 1919) _______________________________________________________________________________________ Go To North American Soda & Beers Home |