Marble Factory Parkersburg West Virginia

Vintage scenes of parkersburg west virginia taken from old postcards and photographs.

Marble factory parkersburg west virginia.

Vitro agate a division of paris manufacturing in maine is the only marble factory not owned by an individual. Was the marble capitol and largest marble factory in the world picture courtesy gary traugh after the marbles roll out from between the rollers they slide down a pan. Exploring an abandoned marble factory in west virginia. See it while this old timer is still around to do it.

The advent of marble making machinery in the early 20th century helped bring the industry to west virginia which already had a robust glass industry. By the late 1930s there were several marble manufacturing plants in the state including the akro agate company in clarksburg. Established in the late 1940 s marble king marbles are highly recognized and respected worldwide. The other west virginia marble factory is champion agate in pennsboro in ritchie county.

History of the vitro agate factory in parkersburg west virginia written by former owners of the vitro agate corporation original edite by the marble museum and in 2008 edited again by. The power of imagination comes alive when you design a marble the vitro agate company parkersburg wv. In 1982 gladding vitro was purchased by paris manufacturing company which changed the name back to vitro agate. Discover for yourself why we are known for our tradition quality and history with a visit to our interactive museum and expanded gift shop.

They recognized a need to preserve the history of marbles and to promote the collecting and identification of marbles. These enthusiastic marble collectors were ron shepherd paula shepherd gary traugh and the late tim wyer. Akro agate was founded in ohio in 1910 and moved to clarksburg in 1914. Working with molten glass is quickly becoming a lost art.

The vitro agate company began operations in 1932 in parkersburg west virginia. Drawing donated by mike johnson and suzie metzler. It was acquired in 1969 by the gladding corporation which changed the name to gladding vitro agate company. Parkersburg s vitro agate marble co.

If you re anywhere near northwest west virginia take a side trip to this guy s home and workshop. The west virginia marble collectors club wvmcc was the inspiration of four wood county west virginia residents.