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Detroit, July 1910
The Elks Conventions, with their thousands of visitors, provided a selling opportunity for the Carnival Glass makers to supply specific souvenir items that the attendees could take home with them.
Carnival items made for the Elks, Detroit 1910 were from Fenton and from Millersburg, as below.
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Fenton: BPOE Elks, green ice cream shape bowl. Detroit 1910.
Courtesy Seeck Auctions |
Millersburg: BPOE Elks, amethyst / radium ruffled bowl. Detroit 1910.
Courtesy of Wroda Auctions |
Fenton or Millersburg?
The Carnival items made for the Elks, Detroit 1910 Convention by Fenton and Millersburg look very different: for those familiar with Millersburg, the overall style, and the more intricate “look and feel” of the pattern are very characteristic of that factory. There are easy ways to spot the maker.
For a start, any colour other than amethyst will be Fenton's version.
Fenton: the elk is looking the viewer’s right – there are stars around the outer edge – the clock is plain - commemorative wording is on ribbons - any colour that is not amethyst is Fenton.
Fenton produced ruffled bowls in amethyst, blue, green and marigold - marigold is the scarce colour with very few known. Fenton also made an ice cream shaped bowl in blue, amethyst and green. One rare green plate is recorded.
Millersburg: the elk is looking to the viewer’s left – the elk is surrounded with ivy – the clock has a sunburst framing it - no ribbons.
Millersburg produced items only in amethyst - there are ruffled and ice cream shaped bowls, both satin and Radium finish, and bowls with Millersburg's wonderful "3 in 1" edge. Millersburg also made a Paperweight in amethyst and green, which is rarer: the lettering is "B.P.O.E." only, without a date or venue. It surely must have been for Detroit 1910, as Millersburg was in serious trouble by 1911.
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Elks take Detroit by Storm with Great Herd With a band at each railway station, the executive committee of the local BPOE lodge, welcomed representatives from the various Elk “herds”. They came from all over the USA on special trains (decked in banners and with on-board café’s and barber shops). Boats and trolley cars too, brought in more Elks, as over 20,000 visitors were expected at the Annual Reunion. Detroit was packed to bursting. Every hotel was crowded, rooming houses were packed and tents were erected on spare land. The city spent thousands of dollars in preparation, including the construction of a triumphal stone Arch topped with statues of elks. News of the convention was reported as far afield as Oregon, where it was noted that on one of the hottest July days, there were many “Wilted Elks”! 
Oregon Daily Capital Journal, 1910
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Postcard of Elks Parade, Detroit 1910. Courtesy Willard Library Digital Collection
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The Parade extended for eight miles through the city and took over two hours to pass by as it was watched by more than 100,000 spectators.
There were banquets, fireworks and the first ever aircraft exhibition in Detroit by two students of the Wright Brothers. As darkness fell, to a roar of delight from the crowd, Thomas Edison turned on the switch and pressed a button that illuminated the swathes of decorations hung on the arches and avenues – the greatest electrical display ever seen in the country.
Just imagine: all those proud Elks taking home all sorts of memorabilia from such an amazing event - including some Fenton Art Glass just like the ones shown below. All the pieces shared here are courtesy of Seeck Auctions and Wroda Auctions.
There were banquets, fireworks and the first ever aircraft exhibition in Detroit by two students of the Wright Brothers. As darkness fell, to a roar of delight from the crowd, Thomas Edison turned on the switch and pressed a button that illuminated the swathes of decorations hung on the arches and avenues – the greatest electrical display ever seen in the country.
Just imagine: all those proud Elks taking home all sorts of memorabilia from such an amazing event - including some Fenton Art Glass just like the ones shown below. All the pieces shared here are courtesy of Seeck Auctions and Wroda Auctions.
RARE: Fenton BPOE Elks Detroit 1910 ruffled bowl, marigold.
Courtesy Wroda Auctions |
RARE: Millersburg BPOE Elks Paperweight, amethyst.
Courtesy Seeck Auctions |
Shown below with pictures courtesy of Seeck Auctions and Wroda Auction Service is an Elks collector's dream!
A gallery of Detroit 1910 pieces from Fenton (top row) and Millersburg (bottom row). Enjoy.
Fenton, amethyst ruffled bowl
Millersburg, amethyst ruffled bowl
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Fenton, blue ruffled bowl
Millersburg, amethyst 3 in 1 edge
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Fenton, amethyst ice cream shape bowl
Millersburg, amethyst ice cream shape bowl
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