What was to become The Beaumont Company in Monongalia County began with the organization of The Beaumont Glass Company by Percy John Beaumont in 1895 at Martin’s Ferry, Ohio.
Percy immigrated from Birmingham, England in 1882, and under the tutelage of Harry Northwood (founder of Northwood Glass in Wheeling), established himself as talented chemist and metalworker. He gained additional experience as a foreman and manager of the Northwood factory before going into business on his own.
The Beaumont Glass Company in Martin’s Ferry initially specialized in glass decorating, staining, etching and gold banding, but did not start actual glass production until 1899. General lines of glass tableware manufactured at the factory were: crystal, colored, opalescent, and hand decorated.
By 1902 the glass factory had outgrown its location and was moved to Grafton, West Virginia, where Percy continued the production of some lines of tableware glass as in Martin’s Ferry, but added illuminating glassware, and stationers glassware (ink wells). In 1906 he accepted the position of general manager of The Union Stopper Company in Morgantown (Fig.1)
Figure 1: The Union Stopper Company - soon to be renamed The Beaumont Glass Company
By the time Percy Beaumont joined The Union Stopper Company, it had been in business for about one year, having been established in an old woolen mill along the Monongahela River in March of 1905 by Richard A. Canfield. Initial company production was a universal and non-refillable whiskey bottle stopper invented by C. N. Briscoe. Demand for the stopper never materialized, but under the guidance of Percy Beaumont and the introduction of wares with which he was familiar, the company soon became profitable. All wares were made of lime glass that was hand blown or pressed. The sand was delivered by the Baltimore and Ohio Railway from Berkeley Springs, West Virginia; the lime from Tiffin, Ohio; and the soda ash from Detroit, Michigan.
In 1916 with the need for increased production, Union Stopper bought the idled Wightman Glass concern in Sabraton, West Virginia located along Decker’s Creek (Fig. 2). Shipping service was provided by the Morgantown and Kingwood Railroad.
Figure 2: Beaumont (former Wightman) Glass in Sabraton. WV 7 now passes from right to left through the clearing in front of the factory.
Figure 3: Another view of the area with a circa 1921 Sanborn map of the Sabraton Plant. Listravia and Sturgiss Avenues are still extant while WV 7 will pass just to the west (left) of these avenues.
In 1918 The Union Stopper Company was renamed The Beaumont Company, and the management of both glass factories combined under Percy Beaumont who served as vice-president and general manager of The Beaumont Company for many years. His son Arthur Brittingham Beaumont joined Percy Beaumont in 1912, and he served in several capacities at The Beaumont Company rising to president, treasurer, and general manager in 1952. Percy died in 1947, and Arthur retired in 1962 at which time the company passed out of family hands.
With the popularization of plastic tableware in the 1960’s and under new management, The Beaumont Company production began to emphasize lighting wares such as: wall and ceiling fixtures, lamp bases, lamp shades and globes.
As late as 1988 The Beaumont Company was considered to be one of the finest manufacturers of hand-blown lighting goods. After a succession of owners and managerial changes, the company entered a period of slow decline, influenced by the conviction of an owner in an elaborate check-kiting scheme.
An unresolved labor strike in September 1991 forced the company to go out of business, and the glass furnace extinguished later that year. All that remains of The Beaumont Company facility is the warehouse.
Figure 4: The Beaumont Company from Westover in the 1950's
So much for the history lesson, so strap your bicycle onto your geomobile and head out for Stage #1.
If in 1916 you were looking west (now towards WV 7) at virtual Stage #1 "Beaumont Glass in Sabraton", the factory would be right in front of you, as seen in Figure 2.
Record the numbers on the lower long metal tag attached to the nearby utility pole, and head out for the Parking for Bicycle Leg waypoint.
The Final is at N 39 38.ABC and W 079 57.DEF
Where A is: The number of the street name mentioned on the sign divided by 2 near the former Seneca Glass Factory.
Where B is: The number of the word "of" in the mirror leaf with 5 green pieces on a mural near the former B&O Railroad freight yard.
Where C is: The number of doors that you see from the waypoint on the end of the former B&O Railroad passenger station.
Where D is: The last number of the date when the former street department building was erected.
Where E is: The third number on the Stage #1 utility pole second tag.
Where F is: The second number on the Stage #1 utility pole second tag.
You can check your answers for this puzzle on
GeoChecker.com.
A custom collectible coin awaits the FTF!
Congratulations to dukemartin and Paintedwarrior for the FTF!