Fenton: Hope is not dead

MARIETTA - The word "sad" was mentioned more than once Sunday afternoon by members of the National Fenton Glass Society to describe the end of Fenton Art Glass Company's traditional line of glassware.

Company president George Fenton acknowledged during this weekend's annual NFGS convention that it was a sad day in July when he announced the Williamstown factory would shut down furnaces and no longer manufacture its traditional art glass.

"He said starting out that it was sad - like the loss of a loved one - but I think this convention is also like a celebration of life," said Claire Kauffing of Fairfield, Ohio, who, along with husband Alan, are members of the National Fenton Glass Society.

The convention ends today at the Marietta Comfort Inn.

"But George said hope is not dead," Kauffing said. "The furnaces may be shut down, but they're looking forward. And he said the best thing people can do to support the company now is go to the glass sales and visit the company's gift shop."

Fenton was on hand at the convention Sunday morning to review display tables of glassware collected by members of the NFGS.

"I told them this has been sad, but we're also continuing to work on our new line of glass beads and on providing specialty glass for industrial purposes," Fenton said.

It's too early to tell how the collectible glass beads will market, Fenton said after meeting with the society members Sunday.

"We started making the beads in mid-November and they went out for sale this year, but we just did our first national shipments in mid-May, so it's still too early to tell how they will do," he said.

Fenton said the company's annual tent sale, currently continuing at the factory site in Williamstown, has been successful this year.

"We're thinking of extending it through August," he said. "We want to sell down our inventory, and the sales have been good so far."

There are still 30 to 40 employees continuing to work in the plant's shipping, gift shop and design departments, Fenton said. That's down from 80 workers before the company announced production would end last month.

Les Rowe of Tallmadge, Ohio, is vice president of the NFGS. He said this weekend's glass collectors convention has been good.

"Considering the current economic situation, I think this was a very successful event," Rowe said, noting more than 200 members attended from across the nation.

"But there have been some years with as many as 357 in attendance," he said.

The society currently has a membership total of between 700 and 800. Rowe said he wanted to make it clear that even though Fenton is ceasing manufacture of its traditional glassware, Fenton clubs and conventions will continue.

On Tuesday the Fenton Art Glass Collectors of America begins its annual convention which runs through Thursday, also at the Comfort Inn in Marietta.

Joseph and Audrey Humphrey of Atwater, Ohio, are members of both the National Fenton Glass Society and The Fenton Art Glass Collectors of America. This is their 36th year at the conventions.

"We're sad, but we're also trying to support the company the best we can," Audrey said. "And we want to keep these clubs going."

Robert Wheeling of Middletown, N.Y., is president of the FAGCA and said participation seems to be up for this week's convention.

"We'll have more displays this year, and we're seeing a lot of first-timers," he said. "These clubs survive, even after glass companies close, and there's a huge secondary market for Fenton glassware."

Wheeling said the conventions are really educational affairs for members and the public.

"We learn a lot during these events," he said.

Sara Speaight's husband, Richard, is president of the Fenton Finders of Greater Kansas City, Mo.

"We have a gala every year in September - this year will be our 11th. George and Nancy Fenton came to our event last year," she said. "It was sad to hear the news about the company. We'll miss the special pieces they used to create for our galas."

But Speaight said the Kansas City group has no plans to discontinue the annual events. This year's Fenton Finders of Greater Kansas City Gala will be Sept. 15, 16 and 17.