Marble Factory Parkersburg West Virginia

Drawing donated by mike johnson and suzie metzler.

Marble factory parkersburg west virginia.

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. By the late 1930s there were several marble manufacturing plants in the state including the akro agate company in clarksburg. The vitro agate company began operations in 1932 in parkersburg west virginia. Vintage scenes of parkersburg west virginia taken from old postcards and photographs.

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 west virginia marble collectors club wvmcc was the inspiration of four wood county west virginia residents. The other west virginia marble factory is champion agate in pennsboro in ritchie county. Discover for yourself why we are known for our tradition quality and history with a visit to our interactive museum and expanded gift shop.

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. He s a real hoot and you ll be fascinated watching him make glass marbles. Established in the late 1940 s marble king marbles are highly recognized and respected worldwide.

See it while this old timer is still around to do it. If you re anywhere near northwest west virginia take a side trip to this guy s home and workshop. Vitro agate a division of paris manufacturing in maine is the only marble factory not owned by an individual. 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.

Exploring an abandoned marble factory in west virginia. Working with molten glass is quickly becoming a lost art. In 1982 gladding vitro was purchased by paris manufacturing company which changed the name back to vitro agate. It was acquired in 1969 by the gladding corporation which changed the name to gladding vitro agate company.

Hillybilly marble maker sam hogue. This factory was once the vitro agate marble factory in parkersburg west virginia now it sits rotting away next to the train tracks but it.