1907 - Salem's Glass Plant

[NW Mailing List]

A photo of this glass plant is printed in the Virginia section of 
today's Roanoke Times. The caption states "The Silica Glass 
Corporation opened for business Sept. 9, 1907. It was located near 
the N&W depot in Salem. The plant shut down in 1908 but was reopened 
in 1911 when it was purchased by the Piedmont Glass Company. It 
became the Salem Glass Company in 1914."

Ron Davis

At 11:21 PM 8/17/2007, you wrote:

>Roanoke Times - August 17, 1907

>

>Salem's Glass Plant

>

>   We are advised by General Manager E.S. Barnitz, of the Catawba 

> Valley Railway and Mining Company, that their glass plant, in this 

> place, will be completed and in operation early in September, and 

> that they already have booked contracts for bottles, etc., for 

> delivery beginning with September 15th. Several glassblowers have 

> already arrived, and others will be here in time for the starting 

> of the factory. These men are of a high class of skilled mechanics, 

> and command the highest wages paid to labor of any character in 

> this country, ranging from $7.50 to $15 per day. It is expected 

> that within a short time there will be from 100 to 150 operatives 

> at work in this plant, which is one of the most modern and up to 

> date in the United States. It will be a model plant of its 

> character, with every facility for the successful manufacture of 

> glassware, and has been built under the personal supervision of Mr. 

> Robert Ballentine, who will have charge of the plant, and who is a 

> thoroughly experienced and efficient man for the place. When in 

> operation it will be one of the most interesting and important of 

> all the enterprises in this section, and we shall take pleasure in 

> giving our readers in an early issue a complete description of it 

> and its work. -- Salem Times-Register

>

>-----------------------------------

>

>- Ron Davis, Roger Link