The Glassworks at Wheeling, West Virginia.
By Glen & Stephen Thistlewood, August 2023. © 2023
We present here three plans – extracts from the Sanborn series of fire insurance maps – that feature the glassworks at Wheeling, West Virginia. These detailed, fascinating images give a “before and after” look at the actual glassworks where Harry Northwood made Carnival Glass. However it is important to be aware that no Carnival was being made at the specific dates when these three maps were drawn up (although some iridescent Stretch Glass was produced during the closing years of the Northwood works after Harry’s death). The story of the timeline is all explained below. Please note that in the Sanborn Fire Insurance maps shown below, the exact same premises at the same location is shown at different dates over time. The map orientation is not the same on the second two maps, which at first glance makes the buildings appear different. The plans all feature the same building – but we cannot alter the orientation without making the text on each unreadable. Please be aware of this. J. H. Hobbs, Brockunier & Co. at Wheeling, West Virginia (c1845 - c1891). Hobbs, Brockunier and Co., (also known as the South Wheeling Glassworks) was renowned for producing beautiful glass and was at the height of its success when the splendid drawings (below, right) were made. It was one of the best-known glassworks in the USA at that time. |
In 1886, the “Wheeling Intelligencer” newspaper observed rightly that “the start of this glass house was to mark an era in the history of the city, which would make her famous throughout the length and breadth of America, and renowned in the markets of the Old World for the quality and extent of the glass manufactured.”
A very noticeable feature is that there were three furnaces in operation - the three chimney stacks are clearly seen in the 1877 image above the map, and the factory floor image below shows how it was organised. Note also that the railroad shown in the lower part of the drawing is on the upper side of the 1897 map that we show later (as the orientation of the two is different). |
Above and below: the glassworks of J. H. Hobbs, Brockunier & Co., Wheeling, West Virginia in 1877.
Courtesy David Rumsey Map Collection. Creative Commons License. |
This amazing image of the main glassmaking area of the Hobbs, Brockunier works shows just how extensive the operations were in 1877.
The three furnaces were huge, each one having several openings for the workers to gather the molten glass. Each furnace had a glory hole, and its own teams of workers. It looked extremely busy! |
Plan of the Wheeling, West Virginia works in 1884.
Sanborn Fire Insurance Map, 1884 Hobbs, Brockunier and Co. Flint Glassworks building in Wheeling WV., and the fire safety measures it had. Public Domain.
The map's annotation shows that there were two night and one Sunday watchman on duty, and that fire control depended on a piped water supply
plus 6 "Babcock Fire Extinguishers"*. The furnaces were fuelled by coal, gas was used for lighting, and benzine was used for the glory holes and heaters.
The map's annotation shows that there were two night and one Sunday watchman on duty, and that fire control depended on a piped water supply
plus 6 "Babcock Fire Extinguishers"*. The furnaces were fuelled by coal, gas was used for lighting, and benzine was used for the glory holes and heaters.
* Babcock Fire Extinguishers were considered to be state-of-the-art for fire suppression at the time, using advanced chemical reactions.
In 1891, Hobbs, Brockunier joined the United States Glass group and the glassworks became known as Factory H. The works was left idle from 1893 but was still in U. S. Glass ownership until 1902.
Harry Northwood at Wheeling, West Virginia (1902 -1925).
In around 1882, as a young man, Harry Northwood himself had worked at Hobbs, Brockunier. Some twenty years later, he returned to own and operate from the same glassworks, having acquired the factory from U. S. Glass in 1902. It was here in Wheeling, that Harry was to seal his reputation worldwide in the glassworks that would now bear his name “H. Northwood”. Having been unused for almost a decade, the old Hobbs, Brockunier / U. S. Glass Factory H was in something of a "dilapidated" condition. However, it was here at the Wheeling works that Harry Northwood was to create some of the finest and artistically creative Classic Carnival Glass known. |
The Northwood Co. glassworks in 1911. Wheeling Board of Trade Yearbook, 1911.
Courtesy Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV. |
Plan of the Wheeling, West Virginia works in 1902.
When the map below was drawn up in early 1902, the glassworks was shown to be in the ownership of the United States Glass Co. as their Factory H. It was the old Hobbs, Brockunier Glassworks which had been left idle from 1893.
When the map below was drawn up in early 1902, the glassworks was shown to be in the ownership of the United States Glass Co. as their Factory H. It was the old Hobbs, Brockunier Glassworks which had been left idle from 1893.
Sanborn Fire Insurance Map, 1902, of the United States Glass Co. Factory H (Hobbs, Brockunier) works, Wheeling WV., Public Domain.
Note the annotation: “Buildings closed and in a dilapidated condition.” That was the condition of the glassworks when Northwood purchased it in 1902.
It had been left idle, and there is little detail (which was likely to be "old information" from when it was operational). However we can see some changes from the early Hobbs, Brockunier operation. The fuel for the furnace was still coal and heating was natural gas, but lighting had been electrified.
Note the annotation: “Buildings closed and in a dilapidated condition.” That was the condition of the glassworks when Northwood purchased it in 1902.
It had been left idle, and there is little detail (which was likely to be "old information" from when it was operational). However we can see some changes from the early Hobbs, Brockunier operation. The fuel for the furnace was still coal and heating was natural gas, but lighting had been electrified.
These glassworks were the birthplace of a truly magnificent and creative range of Classic Carnival Glass production during the golden years from c. 1908 through to Harry's death in 1919, including signature designs and colours such as Peacock on the Fence, the pastel shades and the wonderful aqua opal pieces. The full story of Harry Northwood, along with much information (visual and textual) about Northwood’s amazing Carnival, can be seen via our main Northwood Homepage.
Northwood lived in Wheeling, close to his famous glassworks – and in 2000 we were privileged to visit with Harry Northwood’s granddaughter, the late Miss Elizabeth Robb and Harry Northwood’s great-nephew, David McKinley, in Wheeling.
These glassworks were the birthplace of a truly magnificent and creative range of Classic Carnival Glass production during the golden years from c. 1908 through to Harry's death in 1919, including signature designs and colours such as Peacock on the Fence, the pastel shades and the wonderful aqua opal pieces. The full story of Harry Northwood, along with much information (visual and textual) about Northwood’s amazing Carnival, can be seen via our main Northwood Homepage.
Northwood lived in Wheeling, close to his famous glassworks – and in 2000 we were privileged to visit with Harry Northwood’s granddaughter, the late Miss Elizabeth Robb and Harry Northwood’s great-nephew, David McKinley, in Wheeling.
Plan of the Wheeling, West Virginia works in 1921.
The year 1918, had been an especially difficult time for Harry and the Northwood Company. Sadly, Harry’s brother, Carl (who also worked for the company) had tragically died. The following year, Harry also passed away. We have a major three part article on our website telling the story of Harry Northwood's rise to glassmaking fame at Wheeling, and his business failing through a bad decision and legal action against him. Here is the link: Triumph and Tragedy.
Although production limped on, and the H. Northwood Co. formally existed until 1925, the Sanborn map extract below from 1921 tells a sad story.
The year 1918, had been an especially difficult time for Harry and the Northwood Company. Sadly, Harry’s brother, Carl (who also worked for the company) had tragically died. The following year, Harry also passed away. We have a major three part article on our website telling the story of Harry Northwood's rise to glassmaking fame at Wheeling, and his business failing through a bad decision and legal action against him. Here is the link: Triumph and Tragedy.
Although production limped on, and the H. Northwood Co. formally existed until 1925, the Sanborn map extract below from 1921 tells a sad story.
Sanborn Fire Insurance Map, 1921, showing the H. Northwood Glass building in Wheeling WV., and the fire safety measures it had. Public Domain.
The Northwood site, had been previously occupied solely by the various glassworks buildings. Now, in 1921, it was also home to the No-Leak Paper Dish Co. and the Wheeling Milling and Grain Co. Also of specific interest is the annotation on the map stating that admittance to the glassworks by the map-makers had been refused, so there is next to no information about the operations of the factory. In 1925, the Northwood Company went into receivership. It was indeed the end of an era.
All the information about Northwood on our website, including Carnival Glass Galleries, is linked from the Northwood Homepage. Click on the image below.