Latest / WashCo Insider / Sherri Sulkowski

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Sherri Sulkowski · WashCo Insider

• speaker-0: Today we're here with one of my favorite people in Washington County, and one I've been so excited to get in the studio. Today we have Sherry Solkowski of the Duncan and Miller Glass Museum. She is the events coordinator, and we'll be with her when we come back. Sherry, I'm so excited that you're here today. Yeah. But to give our listeners a little bit of context, tell me what is the Duncan and Miller Glass Museum. speaker-1: Thank you. The Duncan and Miller Glass Museum is owned by the National Duncan Glass Society, which was started in 1975 by collectors to honor the history and heritage of what was known as the loveliest glassware in America. ⁓ was made in ⁓ Washington until 1955, so decades of production. ⁓ so they formed a society to carry on that ⁓ name and heritage. They have had ⁓ museum space in other museums, then had a freestanding museum on Jefferson Avenue in Washington. And then in two thousand and eighteen bought the present building which is on Ridge Avenue. So six thousand square feet of display space on Ridge Avenue right in Washington. speaker-0: Awesome. It's a really cool museum. It is very cool. I will tell anyone it sure looks like it. I will tell anyone, like if you have not been there, you have to go. The collection is every time I go there, I'm just stunned. Right. I could spend hours in there just looking at all the pieces. ⁓ but can you give us a little bit of history about the company and you know how it got to Washington? speaker-1: Place to work. Sure. So ⁓ George Duncan ⁓ had worked in glass and then became the owner of George Duncan and Sons. ⁓ they had ⁓ glass production on the south side of Pittsburgh. ⁓ there was a fire. They were either going to rebuild or relocate. And the ⁓ the the ⁓ you know people in power in Washington at the time kind of courted him with the idea that there was ⁓ energy on the site that they built on Jefferson Avenue. So they really tapped into that natural gas production that was really booming in Washington at the time. So moved out here in 1893, ⁓ then became Duncan and Miller. ⁓ John Ernest Miller became a part of the company and ⁓ the name was ⁓ revised. ⁓ and then like I said, we were in production here In Washington County until Nineteen Fifty Five. speaker-0: Is just so cool. Yes. Did you always have a passion for, you know, glass or Duncan Miller? Like, how did you get here? speaker-1: Yeah, you know, I've always loved glass and it's kind of just been like something that I gravitated toward. You know, if I if I go to the store and I need a salad bowl, I'm probably not gonna buy the wooden one. I'm probably gonna buy the glass one. So I have a lot of glass. I don't th know that I have ⁓ so much ⁓ collectible ⁓ glass, but ⁓ you know, everybody loves the swan and we have all known that ⁓ that item and and it's still very iconic for us. but you know, to me, there's just something about glass, colored glass, clear glass. ⁓ my everyday dishes are glass. I have, you know, colored glass that I use for the holidays. And that, you know, predates me being a part of of the ⁓ museum. ⁓ so when they were looking for a special events coordinator, you know, that was something I was very interested in doing. And it's something that I have done in part in almost every job that I have had up to this. So it seemed like a natural fit to me. ⁓ so, you know, went ahead and applied for that and came on board with them. It's nearly well, by the time I think ⁓ this this airs, it will be two years that I've been with the museum, yes. And ⁓ you know, really ⁓ their need was because they were celebrating their 50th anniversary. So we had a golden anniversary gala, a lot of ⁓ ⁓ new events for them to celebrate that 50 years of being ⁓ the National Dun Dunkin' Glass Society and and having a museum. So last year was was a big year for us. And then of course rolling into America 250 and all the things that we are doing this year. Some of the events that we had last year, you know, sold out. So we have two of them this year, like our bridal ⁓ tea this year we will have two dates for instead of one because it sold out last year. ⁓ and that's r a really cool event and one I've talked with you about because of course ⁓ the ⁓ the line, you know, time travel is real. And I think this event is the epitome of that. We have, you know, a bride dressed in a period costume that opens gifts that really were appropriate for the time period. Last year was 1938, this year we will do a Victorian ⁓ edition of that. So we're quite excited about that event. speaker-0: I am really hoping to get some of it. It just sounds like so much fun. Yes. And being able to like walk through, you know, this is a gift that she would have used and all the scenarios that she would have because, you know, dinner parties back then and hosting and entertaining was so different. And I'm kinda sad that it's not that era. Like you can't spend your life collecting these things and passing these heirlooms down. I mean, you can still, but some people don't know the value of these things that they're marketing. speaker-1: Yes, you'll love it. Mm-hmm. Absolutely. Yes, I hope you will be speaker-0: I'm really hoping to get to that event. Yes. Before we get too deep into the schedule, I wanna talk about your personal connection to Washington and Duncan and Miller because it's so fascinating. speaker-1: ⁓ well it's fascinating to me too, because it it was kind of something that I didn't see coming. I mean, my family has been from Washington County for a very long time. And when I did my ancestry way longer than I realized, ⁓ you know, my ancestors were literally pioneers in West Finley when it was, you know, wilderness. And some people think West Finlay still is wilderness, but ⁓ you know, so they were, you know, clearing land and establish establishing farms. ⁓ out in West Finley. ⁓ so I'm I'm from some of the largest Washington County families, ⁓ you know, mounces and sprouses, and ⁓ you know, once you get into that, you realize you're related to everybody. so had done had done my ancestry and thought that I knew most of everything that I needed to know. ⁓ grew up on a farm in South Franklin Township that was about a hundred and ten acres. When I was born, I was the fourth generation living on the farm. So ⁓ my great grandmother was still alive, my grandfather lived on the property, both of my uncles lived on the property, and then ⁓ my father built a house on the property. So four four houses on the pro on you know, kind of on this sprawling property. my great grandfather had passed right before I was born, so he passed in February, I was born in June, but when I started working for the museum and they gave me some books for reference, ⁓ there's one that is just written about the move to Washington and those opening days there and who the staff was and who, you know, was working and what have you. And there's a group picture of men who were there ⁓ one of the opening days and listed as an employee is my great-grandfather. So, you know, looking at census records, he was never as a glass worker because those are done every ten years. So, you know, ⁓ within those ten year spans he was working on his father's farm, then got married and had his own farm ten years later. So we believe what happened was that he had gone to work for the factory in order to save money to buy the farm that ended up being his that I ended up living on for the first twenty three years of my life. ⁓ so I mean it's giving me chills talking about it even just now, but you know, I never knew that. ⁓ and like I said, it wasn't in any ⁓ ancestry records. You know, I did them online and you know, ⁓ had seen census records and birth certificates and death certificates and all kinds of things, but that was something that had just not ever been recorded any place other than at Duncan and Miller. So that piece of my heritage by Taking this job at the museum. speaker-0: ⁓ also giving me chills because like how connected right and like how lucky you are to like like not some people don't get to know that they don't get to know like more than two generations back. But you have proof, it's right there. Like you're a Washington County girl through a speaker-1: Very lucky. I am. I am, absolutely. And you know, we meet people all the time. We had an identification ⁓ event on Saturday. People ⁓ we have it once a month and people can bring in pieces from their personal collection. And a lady came in and had ⁓ some glassware as well as some china and our historians were trying to help her ⁓ you know, figure out what she had, and she said that her grandfather had worked at Duncan and Miller. So we were questioning her about well You know, what stories do you have? And did he tell you things or did your grandmother say things? And so we do still run into descendants from the factory. And ⁓ that is one of the things that we are celebrating for America 250 is doing what we're calling a family reunion because the the factory workers were really were family. ⁓ so we are trying to gather as many descendants as we can, ⁓ and just having, you know, like that all American, you know, hot dogs and apple pie. ⁓ at the museum and letting them see what is now displayed and getting stories from them as we can. speaker-0: Let those people reconnect. So you are like recording those if people come in and bring speaker-1: Absolutely. Absolutely. And we do have a binder that has a list of employee names. We do have a lot of company records. So within certain eras, we do have employment records of who was there. ⁓ you know, I have a a really good friend from high school whose family also from Washington, and you know, I was looking through the binder that has the list of employee names, and I I saw a last name that is her maiden name, and I said, Well Did you have any idea that anyone from your family and she she said no? And then you know, then she questions the aunt and the aunt remembers, ⁓ you know, the the grandmother did mention, you know, she worked in a glass factory and we have her as working in Duncan and Miller. speaker-0: That's incredible because these stories could be so important to families who are looking for lost pieces, who are looking for and like connection is one of the things that really does strike me about the people that work with them that are so passionate. Like you guys are providing that connection not just through the artifacts, not just through displays, but but by welcoming people through your doors and I hear events and get to the glass sale in a second. Yes, yes. ⁓ but these people who are looking for these pieces of the past and they're finding it speaker-1: Absolutely. speaker-0: in so many different ways. Like that just always like strikes me right in the heart. And again, literally gives me chills of how incredible it is. But let's talk about some of your upcoming programming. Let's do it. We have a lot. We just mentioned the bridal shower. But I do want to talk about the swan ball really quick and go over 'cause that was really exciting. speaker-1: Wow. Okay. Let's go. Well, I'm I'm very excited to announce that we booked for next year. So we will have another Swan Ball. ⁓ when I leave here today I'm going to the George Washington and dropping off our deposit checks. So we're we're solid with ⁓ having an event at the George Washington Hotel, which there couldn't be a lovelier venue for what we do. So historic so historic and was the site of many, many, many Duncan and Miller ⁓ company events. ⁓ and we decided to do it there for our golden anniversary. Gala was our first one last year. This year, switched that up to Swan Ball, and that will remain our name now. But really, based that on some historic photographs that we had from the 30s of employee dinners. ⁓ they have really beautiful. If you've been in their ballroom, there's a mezzanine area above the ballroom. So the photographer stood on the mezzanine and took pictures of, you know, the employees at dinner tables, you know, and of course they were just all impeccably dressed and it was, you know, this big fancy thing. So ⁓ that is why we decided to do our event there. And I would I wouldn't change it now for anything. It's ⁓ their staff is amazing, the venue is beautiful, really falls into that sense of elegance and kind of a very just such a special event, you know, we had a guest ⁓ email us after that said, you know, we don't get those kind of opportunities anymore to like dress up and have like this elegant evening in this beautiful venue. And so that is something that's very special to us is to have that. speaker-0: And it's Swan Ball because is it because Swan is the most iconic? speaker-1: piece. Yes. Well it's I I would say it's definitely the most recognizable piece. I mean it's at the top of our sign ⁓ in front of the museum. We have it in our logo on some of our shirts and merchandise and that kind of thing. But another reason I feel that it's so important to keep that as a part of our identity is that it is said that it took 14 craftsmen and employees to produce So that's everything from the mold maker to the person who's actually putting the product into the furnace to taking it out of the mold and you know, all the way down to packing that so that it then is sent off to retail. So when you think of 14 people cooperating and doing their part of making something that is still around, still used. ⁓ our centerpieces are in swans at the ball. ⁓ some of our prizes were swans that we gave away that evening. ⁓ so it's really very much a part of our identity, and I think just something that is important for us to always remember because even even running the National Dunkin' Glass Society, the sense of cooperation and everybody pulling together, you know, that still follows through, just like those 14 people that handled a swan. speaker-0: incredible. And those were highly skilled craftsmen too. These aren't just yes people. speaker-1: Very skillful. Yes. I would say especially because the body of that is pressed, what ⁓ most of of what Duncan and Miller ⁓ made was pressed, meaning it was poured into a mold. Then there was a a piece that came down I'm very bad at explaining this, I'm not a glass historian, but but then there's a top that comes down and actually presses it into the mold. Then that piece is popped up out and the head is hand applied. And that the heads are almost like handwriting, like they are very different from each other. They are hand done, one of a kind. So each one of the swans looks a little bit different. If you line all of them up, ⁓ you know, sometimes the neck comes way back before the head comes down and the the shape of the face and the the ⁓ beak is some collectors can identify who put the head and neck on by the shape of it. I I never could. But if you line them up you can definitely tell there's a difference in them. speaker-0: actually didn't know that. That's incredible. Because I have seen so many of the swans, but now I'm gonna try to pay a little more attention. speaker-1: Yeah. We'll line some of ⁓ up for you so you can see the differences. It's it's it like I said, it's like handwriting. speaker-0: incredible. Also be f before we move on, I do want to talk about the most interesting fact to me. Is it true that one person from every family in Washington at one point worked at the glass factory? speaker-1: Well ⁓ w within the the glass community, there were other factories as well. So that is that is one thing that we believe to be true is is that you had someone in the family worked in a glass house. Duncan and Miller was one of the bigger ones. ⁓ the other thing that that is said and has been ⁓ you know ⁓ commonly known is that at that time seventy percent of the population worked in glass within the city of Washington. So when you think about the economic impact of 70% of, you know, the working population being within a specific industry, like if you subtract that industry from that town, you've got, you know, huge amount of unemployment and other businesses closing because no one has the money to go to a restaurant or whatever. So to me it it really does speak to the economic impact that the glass industry had on Washington. And it's actually a longer production time than steel is. Like the number of decades that ⁓ the production of glass was within the this area is is widely thought to be longer than than the production of steel. That's speaker-0: I think what you get a sense of at the museum, ⁓ and I haven't taken a tour yet, it is on my list of things to do for this year. ⁓ but you really do get that sense that like this wasn't just a factory. This lives the this was their family. This was their family based. speaker-1: ⁓ no. Absolutely. I mean, I just found out a story actually on and I know you probably want to talk about Cookie Table University as well, which is something we're participating in this month. But a gentleman ⁓ is making a particular cookie for Cookie Table University, and the reason he is doing it and it looks like stained glass, it's like a a cookie that's a work of art and takes like I think a half an hour to decorate a single cookie, but It is his tribute to his father, who at nine years old was an orphan, had been taken in by an aunt, ⁓ was living with her, and his sisters went to other aunts, so even the children were sort of split up, is my understanding. ⁓ the gentleman's name is Dave Jones. He's just an an amazing artisan, great storyteller, but his father, who was nine, ⁓ knocked on doors, and this is early ⁓ you know early thirties when there's we're deep in the depression and was looking for work and day after day had anything for him until finally the manager at the Duncan and Miller Museum handed him a broom and let him sweep the floors. And he took some I mean it makes me want to cry. Cause you think of a nine year old, you know, we d you know, we don't even let nine year olds work now, but that it was necessary. ⁓ so he was able to take some loose change home to the aunt. at the end of the day and contribute to the finances of that household because the manager at Duncan and Miller ⁓ was saw the drive in this child that would come back day after day, even though he'd been told no how many times. So Dave Jones is doing this beautiful cookie as a tribute to his father who worked at the Duncan and Miller. speaker-0: so emotional. I really love that. Right? speaker-1: Again, I told that story at the Swan Ball and you could have heard a pin drop. I mean, people were just like gobsmacked by that. I speaker-0: 'Cause it was such a different time like a nine year old have can you imagine that today a nine year old? speaker-1: that took him in, but that had to have been very difficult. Very, very difficult. Yes. So we're actually gonna try to look into some employment records and see if we could figure out who that manager was. One of the historians and I would would love to be able to figure out who that might that manager might have been that speaker-0: wonder if maybe they have a descendant, maybe there could be a some sort of reconnection. That would be incredible. Yeah. And they probably still live around here and speaker-1: Right. Yes. Well, you know, Dave Jones is still telling this story and and using it a as a part of his ⁓ involvement with Cookie Table University and and yeah, I can't I can't wait to meet him in person. I will get to meet him at the event, so I'm quite excited about speaker-0: Well let's talk about the event. Tell me about Cookie Table University. speaker-1: Well, Cookie Table University is something that we are ⁓ we have been invited to be involved in. They are actually borrowing display pieces. They will have two, I believe they're 28 foot long, ⁓ cookie tables, ⁓ two distinct themes. One is kind of a patriotic picnic and the other one is more like elegant dinner party. So we are learning loaning them display pieces. ⁓ we are also set up as a vendor with some glassware that we have for sale that would be appropriate for people who are planning ⁓ cookie tables. And, you know, that's a those projects have taken on a life of their own. You know, as as a part of wedding planning, they have kind of ⁓ become such a part of family and the and the bride planning what's gonna happen at that reception. So speaker-0: That is a huge huge like on Facebook. speaker-1: You I think it's forty thousand followers or something. Started by one woman who and back to the history, she decided that the history of cookie tables needed to be recorded and celebrated. And so she started going to other people's she was kind of like a wedding crasher basic basically with a with a cookie table. Yeah, with a camera and taking pictures of everybody's cookies. And she's incredible. Laura Magone is is a force of nature. I mean, she is incredible. Yes, so we are very ⁓ we feel blessed to be invited to participate in this and we're quite excited. speaker-0: That's awesome because I know they're getting to the point where they are getting national recognition. I know their event in what was it, December, they had people flying in from outside of the country. Right. Like California, New Mexico. Like they had people flying. speaker-1: they got a mention on like Good Morning America or something. It w it yes, it has like I said, I think it's taken on a life of its own. speaker-0: I am very excited to that because those are two like very fascinating histories of entertaining and like how entrenched, you know, these two things became in our culture. Yes. ⁓ plus I love a good speaker-1: But very regional. I mean the cookie table outside of this region. Now some people have started doing other places, but it really was born, bred, cultivated here. Yeah in s in southwestern Pennsylvania. You have to absolutely. Even small weddings have a cookie table. I mean my d we only ha I my daughter something very small, thirty five people. We still had a cookie table. speaker-0: Well, do you wanna tell us do you have the dates on hand for anyone who's curious about speaker-1: Yeah, that's this weekend. ⁓ they have class classes at ⁓ the Frank Seris Library on the eighteenth, which is Saturday. Then members who have ⁓ signed up for those classes will come and tour the museum late afternoon. And then Sunday they have a morning and an afternoon session and that is at the Hilton Garden Inn at South Point. ⁓ so they have the display that is the the ⁓ two big displays, I believe Every attendee gets a dozen cookies, which who wouldn't sign up for that, right? ⁓ you get to meet people like Dave Jones who have who have made the cookies. ⁓ they have various vendors. One that I'm super excited to meet is ⁓ the C Palmer Manufacturing, which is Pennsylvania, and they make Pitzel irons. I have used a C Palmer ⁓ Pitzel iron for over 20 years, and I get to meet these people that And they're and that's a that's a family business. You know, it was an Italian immigrant started making Pitzel irons in his basement and then developed it into this company. And I think they're either third or fourth generation now still making them. So I'm excited to meet them. ⁓ I believe Ceres is to be there, Hershey is to be there. There's I mean, i it's she she draws in amazing, amazing people for these events. She's a powerhouse. speaker-0: She really is a powerhouse. She gets things done. speaker-1: Would vote for her for president. I mean she just gets it done. She gets it done. Yes. Yes. speaker-0: Okay, wait, quick question though. Anise pizza or not? Or other flavors? speaker-1: Okay so n no anise for me. And the reason is because when I married my husband, when my mother in law would entertain, there was somebody who already made anise. So I made other flavors. So I have I still have never made anise, but I do chocolate cinnamon, I do almond, I do vanilla, I do lemon and orange. So I do a I do quite a few flavors, but I have yet to make anise. speaker-0: Mm, that's my girl. I'm not an but lemon speaker-1: It's not my I I mean, people who love ANS really love it but it's kind of one of those ingredients like you either really love or you you just don't. And then maybe. I think so. Yeah. Yeah. speaker-0: Yeah. Okay, anything else we have to look forward to with Duncan? I know we're gonna get to the big one in a second, but any other events we have to for? speaker-1: Well we have we have so many events. I would encourage people to either ⁓ follow us on Facebook or ⁓ watch our watch our ⁓ website or get on our email list because we have so many things going on. Like I said, we have a lot of things planned for America two fifty. We wanted to do some things that were uniquely American experiences because you know Duncan and Miller was known as the loveliest glassware in America. So ⁓ ⁓ we wanted to honor the American tradition. I mean, we are we have an evening at the Wild Things ⁓ for a game. That's the day before Labor Day. ⁓ we have the family reunion that I already mentioned. We have a bourbon tasting because of of course bourbon is an American product. ⁓ and we have Liberty Pole tied in on that. We have two of their single barrels that will be available to be tasted at our bourbon tasting. ⁓ as well as a barb and that came in for a fundraiser for the Bradford House. We're very good friends with the Bradford House. ⁓ so yeah, we have a lot going on and probably the best way to do that is to just check out our website and and get on our email list or ⁓ join us on Facebook. speaker-0: Shall do it. Yes. Okay, let's get into I want to make sure I'm saying this correctly. The National Dunk Dunkin' Glass Society, Antiques and Collectibles Show and Sale. That speaker-1: Yes. What a good time. Yes. And you you did join us last fall for the fall one. We also have our bigger one is in July. So that is at the Washington County Fairgrounds, which you know everybody who lives here, you know, at any length of time would know the Washington County Fairgrounds. So we have three in November we have three buildings. One just food. The other two are vendors. We have vendors from all across the United States. ⁓ I believe we have about two dozen vendors ⁓ at the November show. ⁓ s somewhat fewer for excuse me, twenty-four vendors for the July show, fewer than that for our smaller show, which is in November. But we have glassware of all kinds, including a lot of Duncan and Miller, a lot. ⁓ but our our vendors also have some other things as well. We will have vintage and antique ⁓ ceramics and China and signs and you know all sorts of collectibles. ⁓ so it's it's a really fun weekend. Yeah. speaker-0: pretty fun shopping there. Yes. Actually my Duncan piece is here in this building too. ⁓ and then my grandma got that huge big punch bowl that we love. So we will definitely be returning to check out some of the goods. speaker-1: Excellent. 'Cause there's always something different at the shows. speaker-0: People love antiquing 'cause it's just that like hide like find and seek, like what's in your collection. Right. What is your favorite part of the sale beyond, you know, all of the goods there? speaker-1: Exactly. You don't know what you're gonna find. Right. Well, some of these vendors we've had for a very long time and they've been back year after year. ⁓ so seeing them when they come in and they're unpacking and it's kind of low key because we don't have visitors yet and everybody's getting caught up on, you know, what has been going on in your life in the last year. So it really has evolved into kind of a family atmosphere with the vendors. ⁓ and we do an event for them in the museum. in the evening after the show has closed. ⁓ so we get to, you know, hang out with them and socialize ⁓ away from the show a little bit. ⁓ so I would say the people that are involved ⁓ and you know the members of National Dunkin' Glass Society are, you know, super involved. ⁓ I never I never am at a shortage for volunteers when we do events. Everybody loves volunteering and helping with things. ⁓ so I I would always go back to the people, but you know, finding those treasures too, you know, that's gonna be every every show is a little bit different what you're gonna find. you know, I f I found a piece that we have in one of the cases. ⁓ and we have what is called the Pittsburgh Wall in the museum. So that is pieces that were produced in Pittsburgh, and they are all ⁓ down the cases in one wall. So the earliest pieces that would have been produced. ⁓ and I was able to find one of those that ⁓ is one of my favorite pieces in the museum, and I now have one sitting on the bar in my kitchen. and it's called a block biscuit jar. ⁓ they didn't always call them cookies back then. ⁓ so it's this beautiful like it's literally big blocks in in the in the ⁓ design. ⁓ and I put lights in it so it kind of radiates out across I have a stainless ⁓ countertop. So the light kind of shoots out across the stainless of my ⁓ countertop. And it looks it to me, it looks almost modern in the design, but it's one of the earliest pieces. ⁓ so I I found that at a at one of our show and sales. speaker-0: excited for the show and sale this year because again like that connection is just so invaluable and I think there's no better way to celebrate America 250 than by picking up a piece of real American history in Duncan and Miller glass. Yes agree whatever people can find there. So it really is an exciting event. Speaking of America 250 I do want to shout out your husband Jim who helped who helped us with our bell yeah this year. Do you want to talk speaker-1: I agree. ⁓ my gem. Well, it's interesting because I always say, you know, Jim is standing at the corner of Art Street and History Avenue and that's just his his comfort zone. He has, you know, he's been a professional artist since he was fifteen. His first commission ⁓ was he was still a teenager. It's still in a church in Cannonsburg. ⁓ so that you know, it's you can see it still see it. ⁓ But he has for a very long time ⁓ been interested in history, painted historic scenes, both local and national. So he had a lot of the images that are now on that bell. So they were kind of ⁓ put together and incorporated ⁓ by a a really talented friend of ours and and of of ⁓ Washington County. in general, ⁓ Mike Malone of Malone and Associates advertising, and ⁓ then produced by ⁓ Princecapes ⁓ to be put on the bell. So it was a really cool collaboration of Jim's original artwork, which included a trolley and the Duncan and Miller ⁓ factory, and ⁓ I believe Century Inn is on there. Well a lot of Washington County ⁓ landmarks. which he had done either as commissions or when he was doing the Christmas card for the Washington County ⁓ Cancer Society. ⁓ he did that for 18 years and that was always a local landmark. So he had a lot of those pieces already. There were a couple of newer I believe were added, ⁓ the pony leak was newer. and so those were all incorporated into that very unique shape of a bell. I couldn't quite even envision how that was gonna come together. But I think I think I yes, yes. And the collaboration between those ⁓ three ⁓ men, you know, ⁓ Jim, Mike Malone and ⁓ John from ⁓ Princecapes was and they're actually working on another project together now. So I think they've sort of started this, you know, sense of that what kinds of projects that they can accomplish together, which is very cool. speaker-0: cannot think of anyone who is better to represent Washington County for the Bells Across art suite. I really can't. Just seeing all those bells, I might be biased, but I think ours is the best. speaker-1: Okay. Thank you. Well I'm not gonna disagree with you, of course, because I think it I think it's the best bell that we have in the state and it's i i it just at from every angle there's something that you see and notice about Washington County and I think I think that should be the point of what the bell is, is to really reflect the entire county. speaker-0: Yeah, I I really think he deserves some recognition there. Well thank you. But that bell is on display. You should go see it. It's at the Lemoyne historical what is that called? speaker-1: Le Moine Lemoyne House Historical Education Center, I believe. On Maiden Street, yes. speaker-0: Yes. The address is East Main Street in Washington, VA. You should go see it because it really is an incredible piece ⁓ just to celebrate the birth of our nation, which will be so incredible to witness on July fourth. And I'm just so glad that Jim was a part of it and that you and you know, yes have been a part of it as well. And I'm sure you guys talk about Washington County history a lot. speaker-1: A lot. Yeah, absolutely. I mean, he like I said, he has been immersed in history since he was a child. I mean, he remembers, you know, trips to Gettysburg, climbing all over Devil's Den when he was like five and six years old. So he he really has been ⁓ immersed in art and history since he can remember. speaker-0: incredible. Yeah. Okay, now I think it's time for us to almost wrap up, but I do want to walk through some rapid fire questions. Sure. Okay, number one, what in your opinion is the most underrated Duncan and Miller style or your favorite? speaker-1: You're right. ⁓ I'm gonna go with some of the earliest pieces that we have. Like I referred back to the block biscuit jar. I think those earliest pieces, ⁓ you know, have endured for such a long time, you know, ⁓ were, you know, right after the Civil War would have been their production era. and you know, that they have lasted that long and are still around and still very usable and beautiful and reflect a a time in homemaking and entertaining ⁓ that I think some of us would love to get back to, but there's always gonna be a unique way to use them beyond what the original ⁓ purpose might have been. speaker-0: I know people are like really trying to repurpose you know, all of these antique and huge items and people are so creative. I wish I was that creative with some of the items in other houses. Okay. What is the most unusual or unique piece in the collection that visitors just have to see when they come by? speaker-1: ⁓ I th I think you could do it. Yeah. I'm gonna go with we have an amazing docent who kind of makes this fun for visitors. And ⁓ there's a piece in one of the cases, and instead of telling them is which is what she does for most of the tour, tells them this is what this is, the pattern, the use, the era that it was made, and she comes to this one piece and she ⁓ kind of pauses and she goes, you know, can you guess what this is? And people were like, ⁓ They stand and you can hear them like and she kind of walks away a little bit. And I'm usually at the desk watching things while she's doing these tours, and you know, you'll hear them like catering together like what do you think? What do you think? You know, and they're they're gonna try to get this right, you know. And I think I've only ever heard one group get it right, but it is a glass kind of a globe looking, kind of has a decorative edge at the top. It's a really beautiful piece. It's a ladies' spittoon. So, you know, back in the day you couldn't buy cigarettes, but everybody was, you know, using tobacco and ladies did literally chew tobacco and you had to have something to spit into. And apparently the saying is gentlemen used brass and ladies used glass. So ladies had glass spittoons. So I would say that's probably the most unique one that I can think of. speaker-0: I can't say I've ever heard of that. speaker-1: Yes. Well you'll have to come and see it. It is beautiful. I mean, you could repurpose it something else if you want to just like not think about somebody spitting into it, you know, a hundred years ago. But yeah. speaker-0: That's great. Okay, what are the most frequently asked questions you hear at the museum? speaker-1: Well, I'm gonna I I mean, we get great questions, especially when we have kids and 'cause they they just, you know, they have all kinds of questions about glass and what it was used for and why why is it that shape and all kinds of things. But I would say overall probably questions about what is ⁓ known as uranium glass, ⁓ which glows under a black light and we have ⁓ a full case of pieces. with a black light built into the case and then you can push the button on the wall and then the black light comes on and you know suddenly it's this glowing bright green. ⁓ but I would say questions about the safety of it. Is it safe to use? You know, ⁓ because you say uranium people have a lot of questions. But I would say that that right now that is a very, very hot collectible. Like twenty ish year olds who are starting into glass collecting are looking for uranium glass and carrying a a little tiny, you know, black light flashlight in their in their pocket and looking at pieces at shows and sales and you know to see whether it lights up. So I would say that's probably because of the popularity of it and and because of, you know, just hearing that word uranium, I think that probably would be overall the most questioned that we could speaker-0: Fascinating. ⁓ I have seen yes videos of people going to the stream with all of those. They are cool. Okay. If you could have any Duncan and Miller piece in your collection, what would it be? speaker-1: Good. Well, I'm very happy that I have a piece that I talked about, that block biscuit gar jar, because that's a very ⁓ early piece and I and I ⁓ you know, it just speaks to the history. But I would say, and this would be difficult to determine, but I would have to say, you know, going back to knowing that my great grandfather worked there ⁓ in Washington when they opened, if I could know that I had a piece that, you know, he actually handled and was a part of, you know, maybe that 14 person team, like we talked about the swans or, you know, whatever his ⁓ participation would have been, that that probably would be a very difficult ⁓ thing to verify, but there are certainly patterns that were produced at the very beginning of the Washington period. ⁓ floral scroll is one of them I've bought a couple of pieces of those as gifts. ⁓ I I would say something that that he had a connection to would be the most important to me. speaker-0: Okay, last one. Leave us with a fun fact or quick Washington County history lesson that you don't get to share very often. speaker-1: Fun fact or Washington County history lesson. ⁓ I'm gonna I'm gonna go this might not be a fun fact, but it's a it's something that I would maybe advocate for is, you know, r is actually doing their own ancestry and getting involved in what their people did. You know, there is a real sense of wonder and amazement that goes along with And you don't really have to know ⁓ tons to get into it and be able to get into records and find things. I mean, I had ⁓ you know, probably just back to my great grandparents' names. I didn't even have exact b birth dates or years. You know, you can estimate and still get like a lot of information. And from there you kind of, you know, walk down this long hallway. where you know a door opens and there's someone standing there that is your, you know, ancestor that, you know, the first guy that cleared property in West Finley and then became associated. Some people say that that ancestor of mine was could have been associated with the Underground Railroad in this area, which, you know, there again, I just got a chill saying that. so I I would say just getting involved and placing a value in your own family history because it gives you a very different sense of yourself once you know those things. Yes. What do you talk about? ⁓ okay. speaker-0: I can't agree more. That was a fun. Okay, Miss Sherry. Yes. Thank you so much. speaker-1: It's been great. We could have done this for probably three times as long, but this has been great. speaker-0: ⁓ we could talk like three hours. Exactly. But that is all for episode ten of the Washco Insider. And just to run you through a little bit of our schedule, do not miss the little A Town Rodeo in Little A Town Arena in Avella on Saturday, that's the twenty-seventh. The Washington Wild Things are at home this week, facing off against the Joliet Slammers on Saturday and Sunday. If you are gearing up for the Fourth of July, you've probably already secured your seat on Pike Street for Cannonsburg's massive Fourth of July parade. But if that's not your scene, it's definitely worth mentioning that Meadowcraft Rock Shelter and Historic Village in Evella has plenty of fun to offer on the 4th with period demonstrations, games, and more to celebrate the 250th. Looking ahead to the first two weeks of July, do not miss the Whiskey Rebellion Festival on town Washington on July 10th and 11th. Next week, we will be welcoming The Pittsburgh Polo Club. And if you didn't know we have a polo club here in Washington County, you are not going to want to miss this episode. Until then, we'll see you next week, and thanks for watching.