THE GLASS BUSINESS


From "History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties" - J. A. Caldwell, 
1880, page 295.


The first glass house in Martin's Ferry was erected in 1849 by 
Messrs. Ensell & Wilson, on a part of the ground now occupied by the 
immense structure of the Excelsior Glass Works.  Ensell & Wilson ran 
it as a bottle factory till 1852, when a new company was formed under 
the title of Wallace, Giger & Ensell.  After this it passed into the 
hands of Dites & McGranigan, who after running it for a short time 
were succeeded by Hohn & Sonner, of Pittsburgh.

In 1861 Mr. Michael Sweeny, with Mr. James Phillips as partner, under 
the name of M. Sweeny & Co., built a small furnace on the site of the 
present works.  For want of means the enterprise was likely to fail, 
when Col. James McCluney, of Wheeling, put his shoulder to the wheel, 
and with Mr. Sweeney prepared to enter upon a scale of business 
worthy of the latter gentleman's skill and experience.  They 
continued in the small establishment at Martin's Ferry, and in 
addition leased the old North Wheeling factories, and the work went 
bravely and successfully on.  Glass making then was not a science;  
it was largely a process of guess work.

In 1863 the working capital of the firm was increased by the addition 
of Joseph Bell to the partnership, under the title of Sweeny, Bell & 
Co.  The work was carried on with ever increasing success until 1867, 
when Mr. Bell retired.

In 1868-9, Sweeny, McCluney & Co., having completed the factory, 
vacated their Wheeling works, and concentrated their energies and 
capital at Martin's Ferry.  The factory is situated immediately on 
the bank of the river east of Ohio avenue, between Hanover and 
Carlisle streets, is 235 feet long, 105 feet wide, and has three 
furnaces, with ten extra large pots in each.  There are eight large 
tempering furnaces.  On the outside are four coke ovens, where the 
fuel is manufactured, and the gas works (Conley patent) from which 
the whole building is lighted.

The wareroom, built in 1869, is 50 X 150, stands connected thereto by 
a covered bridge.  Both buildings have iron roofs, and the whole 
premises is provided with an effective fire apparatus.  The basement 
of the warehouse is the store-room for the vast supplies of materials 
commensurate with the productive capacity of the works.

From the material room to the wareroom above it, everything moves in 
one continuous circle, not a single retrograde movement, not one 
unnecessary handling of goods.  The line of goods manufactured 
embrace an extensive variety of pressed, blown and cut ware, as well 
as lamps and lamp chimneys.  By far the most generally useful and 
beneficial arrangement to both employer and workman is the air blast 
coler. Large pipes, about fifteen or twenty inches in diameter, pass 
over head all through the factory;  at intervals tubes project from 
the underside of these pipes; to the tube hose are attached, and air, 
driven by the fan, is made to play upon the moulds, by which 
uniformity of temperature is preserved, and the ware is easily 
removed without knocking.  The moulds themselves are prevented from 
scaling, thus lessening the cost of cleaning and injury.  Last but 
not least, it serves as a ventilator, keeping the factory cool, and 
the operators comfortable in the hottest of the season.  Pittsburgh, 
Philadelphia and other cities have at last been made to pay tribute 
to the genius that constructed the immense Excelsior Glass Works.  
Another valuable improvement introduced by Mr. Sweeney, is in the 
construction of the moulds.  The inside surface is chilled, which 
renders the metal susceptible of the smoothest polish, and gives to 
the moulded articles a sharpness of outline almost equal to cut ware.  
In his long connection with the glass business, Mr. Sweeney's 
continued effort had been to economize productions, to lessen the 
cost, and yet improve the quality of goods, to provide for the 
comfort, and elevate the character of employees as a class.  In 1875 
Joseph Bell, as president and general manager, took charge of the 
works, and continued the business till July, 1876, when the works 
suspended for necessary repairs, and owing to failing health he was 
compelled to resign the following August.  After sundry improvements 
and repairs, the works started under the administration of the 
following officers:  President, George Adams; superintendent, Samuel 
P. Hildreth; secretary, John F. Miller; managers, James Shipman and 
Henry Sweeney.  The Excelsior Glass Works are the most extensive, and 
possess the largest manufacturing capacity of any this side of the 
eastern cities, and are now operated by a Wheeling company.       

 
Contributed by Linda Cunningham Fluharty.