Fenton Art Glass reminds...Halloween will soon be here!

It’s almost time for tricks or treats, so be careful when you open the door...

Who knows what fair or frightful fate awaits! The Halloween magic continues with sparkly decorations, Swarovski crystals, glitter and handpainted details embellishing Fenton Halloween favorites.

Enjoy Fenton at Halloween and year round – it’s the second most celebrated holiday after Christmas!

To see more detail on the Fenton Halloween favorites for 2005...

For all of your Fenton needs shop online with an authorized Fenton dealer today, or click here to find a dealer near you.

Fenton Art Glass Company Sculptor Suzi Whitaker Creates New Products for Spring 2006 Line!

(Williamstown, WV). Fenton Art Glass and Sculptor Suzi Whitaker welcome our second century with an all-new line of inventive works. Suzi has created a new collectible, the whimsical Elephant "Memory Box," perfect for storing life's precious memories and small treasures. For Spring 2006, Suzi has expanded the Memory Box menagerie to include two new critters, a Standing Bunny Box and the Cat Ringholder Box.

Special keepsakes celebrate the bond between mother and child, a love like no other. Remembering such shared treasures, Suzi designed a Memory Box in the form of a playful cat perched upon an ottoman, ready to pounce. Designer Stacy Williams continued the fun as she decorated the ottoman in handpainted calico and beribboned the orange tiger cat. Cute yet functional, the cat's tail serves as a ringholder while one may store tiny treasures in the ottoman. The Standing Bunny Box is handcrafted in rich Chocolate glass and recalls those yummy bunnies found in Easter baskets.

A native of Wellsburg, West Virginia, Suzi studied fine arts at West Virginia University in Morgantown and went on to the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, graduating in 1982. Her sculpting talents emerged while working at Carson Industries, and as Suzi designs new pieces for Fenton, her clay sculptures become the basis for new moulds. Suzi and her husband Bill reside in Glendale, WV, with a menagerie of four cats and two dogs, all "rescued," and all an inspiration!

Each Fenton Memory Box is handcrafted and handpainted with pride in West Virginia and delightful to give or to own.

Item 5361 VG 4-1/2" Cat Ringholder Box in Opal glass retails for $43.50 U.S.
Item 4930 ZY 5" Standing Bunny Box in Chocolate glass retails for $49.50 U.S.
Item 5033 L2 4" "Wheatberry" on Autumn Gold Elephant Box retails for $47.50 U.S.

Creating spectacular art glass for a century, Fenton Art Glass Company represents American handcrafted glass artistry. Located in Williamstown, WV, Fenton is known for its wide range of colors, handpainting and handcrafting. Two generations of Fenton family members remain active in the business and are proud to continue an American glassmaking tradition begun in 1905. For more information, call 800-933-6766 or visit www.fentonartglass.com.

Today's Fenton lesson...The A, B, C's of Cranberry. It's elementary!

Cranberry glass, an American tradition. To understand the artistry of Cranberry glass, a Fenton signature color, one must begin at the beginning, and learn your Cranberry A, B, C’s!

(A)ll Cranberry pieces contain pure gold.

(B)askets in Cranberry take up to 25 glassworkers to produce.

(C)ranberry pieces are all mouthblown, not pressed.

(D)ecorated Cranberry pieces, such as “Ivory Roses”, pass through Decorating to be handpainted by a skilled Fenton decorator who proudly signs each piece.

(E)ach Cranberry piece goes through the lehr, an annealing oven, where it slowly cools to room temperature.

(F)enton glassworkers work as a team, or “shop”, in this case a blow shop, to create each piece of Cranberry.

(G)old in the batch reacts with intense heat to create the beautiful Cranberry color.

(H)andlers mark each basket with their personal tool when they attach the graceful arch that becomes the handle to each basket.

(I)vory Roses on Cranberry remains a popular decorated Cranberry pattern in 2005.

(J)ust making Cranberry is an art, requiring skill and knowledge to craft the formula from scratch.

(K)nown for Cranberry, Fenton has been producing it since the 1930’s.

(L)ots of optics are used with Cranberry Opalescent such as Coin Dot, Spiral, Zigzag and Diamond.

(M)agic begins when a glassworker called a “caser” attaches a “bud” of glass containing pure gold to a blowpipe. This is the start of Cranberry!

(N)o overblow can remain on a piece. After the overblow is removed, the piece is reheated and taken to the finisher. He skillfully employs a carbon paddle to flare the top and another special device to crimp the edge.

(O)ther glassworkers gather crystal over the bud, shape it by “blocking” in soapy water, and gently expand the gob before passing the blowpipe to a glassblower.

(P)aired with crystal, the ruby roll is cased and blown into a mould to create the main shape.

(Q)uality control is critical in all aspects of Cranberry production.

(R)uby glass in a roll, known as a ruby roll, which contains pure gold, is the first step in making Cranberry.

(S)triking is the technique used to create Cranberry Opalescent, which is a heat-sensitive glass.

(T)he glassblower stands on a platform with the mould below his feet and blows the molten glass into the mould to create the desired shape.

(U)nder the watchful eye of the selector, each piece is reviewed for quality as it as it leaves the lehr.

(V)arious shapes in Cranberry are the result of using different moulds such as Hobnail or Drapery.

(W)hen the Cranberry piece is removed from the mould it has a thin crystal “overblow” that must be removed.

(X)tra -secret! We can’t reveal the Cranberry formula – it’s TOP SECRET!

(Y)ears of training are required to become a skilled glassworker.

(Z)igzag is an optic mould while Zipper is a crimp, both of which have been in produced in Cranberry.

To see additional Cranberry pieces offered by Fenton...

For all of your Fenton needs shop online with an authorized Fenton dealer today, or click here to find a dealer near you.

Fenton Cranberry, it’s elementary. Now you know your Cranberry A, B, C’s!

You’ve heard of Fenton glass, but how much do you know about our home, Williamstown, West Virginia?

Learn about Williamstown, WV and its colorful past in Fruitful Valley, Revisited: A Chronicle of Williamstown, West Virginia. This 200 page, hardback volume (with dust jacket) was published in 2003 and was a project near and dear to the heart of Frank M. Fenton. James Measell (Fenton’s associate historian) and Frank helped prepare the book, which is filled with vintage photos and stories. Proceeds benefit the Williamstown Community Association, one of many organizations to benefit from the generosity of Frank M. Fenton.

Order Fruitful Valley Revisitedfrom the Fenton Museum. $37.50 includes a separate Index and all shipping/handling. MasterCard, Visa and Discover accepted. Phone 304-375-7772 ext. 327 or 383. Checks (payable to Williamstown Community Association) can be sent to: Fenton Museum, 700 Elizabeth St., Williamstown, WV, 26187.

Fenton Art Glass offers ninth eBay Exclusive

Vibrant Heart Perfume in Turquoise is available for "Buy it Now"

Two hearts beat as one in the eBay Exclusive Heart Perfume in Turquoise!

Escape in a sea of hearts and flowers - vivid Turquoise glass is handcrafted to form a voluptuous heart Perfume bottle completed with a heart-shaped stopper. Each bottle bears a Stacy Williams design of lush floral blooms and hearts, carefully handpainted, accented with a Swarovski crystal and signed with pride by the artist who completes it. Perfect as an accent on your dressing table or vanity, and a dazzling sweet sixteen gift. Handcrafted and handpainted with pride by the skilled artisans of Fenton.

The 5” Fenton Heart Perfume consists of a handcrafted and handpainted bottle, richly sculpted in a subtle abstract heart shape, coupled with a heart -shaped stopper; both crafted in vivid Turquoise glass. The Fenton Heart Perfume in Turquoise is limited to just 200 pieces, created especially for eBay, bearing the signature of the artist who paints it and each piece is individually numbered.

Fenton partnered with eBay to provide both auction and "Buy It Now" opportunities for the eBay community. You now have the opportunity to buy pieces numbered 6 through 200. Enjoy!

To "Buy it Now"...click here.

Fenton and Lenox...a match made in quality and tradition

Lenox creates gifts that celebrate life, and has commissioned the Fenton Art Glass Company to create exclusive items for its customers, in addition to offering fine pieces from our regular line.

Holiday gift giving occasions are coming up; it’s the perfect time to make your list and check it twice! Celebrate with Lenox and Fenton...

To see all of the Fenton pieces available from Lenox, click here.

Frank Fenton of Fenton Art Glass Dies

by Antiques and the Arts Online


WILLIAMSTOWN, W.Va. (AP) - Frank M. Fenton, the longtime president of Fenton Art Glass and son of its founder, died August 9. He was 89.

Fenton, the fifth child and first son of Frank L. Fenton, was born December 1 1915. He attended grade school in Williamstown, but crossed over the Ohio River to Marietta, Ohio, to attend high school. He entered Marietta College in September 1932 and graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in 1936.

He began working for the family company while in college. He tried several times to get a summer job at the factory, but his father turned him down, saying others needed the work more than he did. Finally, he was given a position by his uncle.

For nearly four decades, Frank along with his brother Bill headed Fenton Art Glass.

Fenton Art Glass is continuing a 100th anniversary celebration throughout 2005 with special glass productions. The celebration kicked off in Williamstown July 29, but Fenton was too ill to attend. His most recent public appearance at the factory was when Governor Joe Manchin visited in May to help commemorate the company's 100th year.

"He was a great leader and certainly provided a lot of support and advice," said his son George Fenton, CEO and current president of Fenton Art Glass. "He was personally very caring and, in business, very wise and very astute."

Antiques and the Arts Editorial Content

Chocolate glass - rich, creamy, deliciously decadent but without the calories!

Creamy Chocolate glass – it’s good enough to eat! Rich Chocolate glass ranges in color from a deep mocha to a milky cocoa, and folks want it any way they can get it. Dating back to 1907 at Fenton, Chocolate glass has been specially reissued to celebrate our 100th anniversary; response has been so great that even more pieces are in the making.

Much like homemade cookies, no two pieces of Chocolate glass are ever exactly alike, making each and every piece a unique work of glassmaking artistry. Don’t wait another hundred years to get a piece of chocolate!

Fenton – all the pleasures of Chocolate, without the guilt!

To see more information on the newest offerings in Chocolate...

For all of your Fenton needs shop online with an authorized Fenton dealer today, or click here to find a dealer near you.

Frank Fenton Memorial

by AMBER DAVISON
WTAP News, Parkersburg, WV

A community says goodbye to a well-known businessman and philanthropist.

Belinda Fetty's father worked at Fenton Art Glass for 40 years. During that time, her family grew very close to the former president of the company:, Frank Fenton.

Mr. Fenton passed away Tuesday afternoon. He was 89 years old.

"He was a very generous man, very loving man, a man of his word. If he said he was gonna do it, he did it," Fetty recalls.

Judging by the hundreds packed into the First United Methodist Church in Williamstown, Fetty's family is not the only one who will miss this well-known philanthropist.

"He'll be greatly missed," she says.

The family is asking that donations be made to the First United Methodist Church,
[304 W. Fifth Street, Williamstown, WV 26187].

The Ninth eBay Exclusive, a vibrant Heart Perfume in Turquoise, available for both bid and "Buy it Now" on Monday, 8/15/2005!

Two hearts beat as one in the eBay Exclusive Heart Perfume in Turquoise!

Vivid Turquoise glass is handcrafted to form a voluptuous heart Perfume bottle completed with a heart-shaped stopper. Each Perfume bears a Stacy Williams design of lush floral blooms and hearts, carefully handpainted and signed with pride by the artist who completes it. Perfect as an accent on your dressing table or vanity, and a dazzling sweet sixteen gift.

The 5” Fenton Heart Perfume consists of a handcrafted and handpainted bottle, richly sculpted in a subtle abstract heart shape, coupled with a heart -shaped stopper; both crafted in vivid Turquoise glass. Each bottle is accented with a Swarovski Crystal. The Fenton Heart Perfume in Turquoise is limited to just 200 pieces, created especially for eBay, bearing the signature of the artist who paints it; each piece is individually numbered.

Fenton partnered with eBay to provide both auction and "Buy It Now" opportunities for the eBay community.

Beginning Monday, August 15th, collectors have the opportunity to bid on pieces numbered 1 through 5.

Then, the eBay community will have the opportunity to purchase pieces numbered 6 through 200 with the eBay "Buy It Now" option. To learn more, click here.

For all of your Fenton needs shop online with an authorized Fenton dealer today, or click here to find a dealer near you.

Businessman made area a better place

Editorial
Parkersburg News, Parkersburg, WV

A time of joy and celebration for the Fenton family has turned into sadness with the death Tuesday of family patriarch Frank M. Fenton.

Fenton, 89, had been in ill health recently, but his death coming as it did in the midst of Fenton Art Glass' 100th anniversary celebration, was a sad event for the family and the community. However, we hope everyone feeling the pain of Fenton's death will remember his business sense and leadership during the previous four decades that helped make this celebration possible. During the nearly 40 years he and his brother Bill headed the company, Fenton Art Glass grew from a small business to a name known worldwide for its quality and innovative products.

"He was a great leader and certainly provided a lot of support and advice," his son and current CEO and president of Fenton Art Glass George Fenton said. "He was personally very caring and in business, very wise and very astute."

Fenton, himself, liked to say about his tenure with the company, "I started at the top ... and worked down." This was undoubtedly true. He knew his business from top to bottom and was beloved by the Fenton employees. As longtime Fenton employee Harold Burdette told the newspaper, it will be hard to imagine the mood at the factory as word of Fenton's death spreads to employees. "I remember Frank from way back, probably 53 years," he said. He was a good man. "Everybody liked Frank ... . He was a kind person."

Frank Fenton-and all of the Fenton family-always shared its success with the community of Williamstown. Frank Fenton loved Williamstown. One of his final public acts was to donate five acres to the city of Williamstown that will become Fenton Park.

"He was one of the dearest people who cared about people so much and cared about the town," Williamstown Mayor Jean Ford said. "He was just a very caring person and no doubt one of the nicest gentlemen I ever met," she said.

In his later years, Frank Fenton took on the role to which because of his longevity with the company he was so well suited-that of company historian. He spoke to collector clubs and did hours and hours of research on the history of the company. It also was a role he relished. Fenton was a bridge to the company's long and rich past. His death is not only a loss to the company, but to the Mid-Ohio Valley as well. We share the Fenton family's sorrow at this time. We hope they will find strength in his long life and his accomplishments, both in business and for his community.

"That's really what he lived for," Ford said. "His family, his business and the people in the town. This was his home."

Today, that home is much saddened by his passing.

Frank M. Fenton

The Marietta Times obituary notice
Published Thursday, August 11, 2005

WILLIAMSTOWN — Frank M Fenton, 89, of 310 West Fourth St., Williamstown, died at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday (Aug. 9, 2005) at Marietta Memorial Hospital.

He was born Dec. 1, 1915, in Marietta, to Frank L. and Lillian Muhleman Fenton. He graduated from Marietta High School in 1932 and graduated from Marietta College in 1936 with a bachelor of arts degree. He was president of Fenton Art Glass from 1948 through 1979, chairman of the board from 1979 through 1986, and was still a director. He was an authority on American glass (especially Fenton), giving talks to collectors across the country, and providing research support to the authors of many books on Fenton. He was a lifelong member of the First United Methodist Church of Williamstown, including positions of choir director, finance chairman, and on the board of directors of the Spring Heights Methodist Summer Camp. He was a 36 year member of the Marietta College board of trustees, including a term as chairman, sang in “Messiah”, member of Thursday Noon Rotary in Marietta, was a founding member of Williamstown Community Association, created with brother Bill, the Fenton Foundation, and was a founding member of Artsbridge.

He is survived by four sons, Frank Fenton and his wife, Sonia, Tom Fenton and his wife, Sharon, of Marietta, Mike Fenton and his wife, Kathy, of Williamstown, and George Fenton and his wife, Nancy, of Williamstown; 12 grandchildren, Frank Daniel Fenton and his wife, Holley, Lynn Erb and her husband, Eric, Matthew Fenton and his wife, Vickie, Jennifer Hukill and her husband, Mark, Scott Fenton and his wife, Grace, Jennifer Woofter, Kerry Fenton, Meredith Minix, Natalie Molter and her husband, Neil, Benjamin Fenton and David Fenton and his wife, Jennifer; 16 great-grandchildren; and one sister, Ruth Jenkins.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Elizabeth Ripley Fenton; five sisters, Dorothy Fenton, Carol Bell, Martha Treash, Lillian Archer, and Marjorie Cummings; one brother, Wilmer “Bill” C. Fenton, who preceded him in death on Dec. 11, 2002; and several nieces and nephews.

Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday (Aug. 13) at First United Methodist Church in Williamstown with the Rev. Steve Gedon and the Rev. Leo Farley officiating. A reception will follow. Family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to noon Saturday at the church. Arrangements are being handled by Hadley Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the First United Methodist Church, 304 W. Fifth St., Williamstown, W.Va. 26187.

Remembering Frank Fenton

by KATIE SABATINO
WTAP News, Parkersburg, WV

Fenton Art Glass was a flurry of activity Wednesday as shoppers tried their best to buy that perfect piece, but underneath the surface is a feeling of loss and sadness as the company workers remember the life of Frank Fenton, who passed away Tuesday afternoon.

"First and most of all he was a great friend," says Anna Stull, a Fenton employee for 27 years.

Frank Fenton was president of the company for 40 years since 1948. Workers say he was most well known for his compassion, wisdom and good deeds that he continued almost to the day he died.

"He was a great leader in the community of Williamstown. He's done so many things that people don't even know about," says working foreman, Ron Dick.

Workers say he was just one of the people, and always made them feel like equals.

Stull says she will always remember the last time she saw Mr. Fenton.

"During the celebration he came over in a van and I got to wave to him and tell him hi and that I loved him. I wish I could have spent more time with him," she says.

For Stull and many others, Mr. Fenton was more a father figure than a boss. The Fenton family declined to go on camera, but did give their thoughts on his death.

"It will be the simple things that will stand out to me. He was very wise and always trying to teach you something," says Scott Fenton, Frank's grandson.

"At this point the family is celebrating his accomplishments in his life. I think he was ready for this to happen," says George Fenton, Frank's son and now company president.

And now, even though Frank Fenton is gone, he leaves behind a legacy of love and leadership for others to look up to

Visitation hours will be at the Williamstown First United Methodist Church this Friday from 6-8 p.m. and Saturday 10-noon.

The memorial will be held Saturday at 2 p.m.

The family is asking that donations be made to the First United Methodist Church instead of flowers.

Frank M. Fenton (1915-2005)

(Williamstown, WV) Frank M. Fenton, Historian, past President and past Chairman of the Board of the Fenton Art Glass Company, passed away on August 9, 2005, following a series of lingering health issues. Frank, the fifth of eight children born to Lillian and Frank L. Fenton, was born December 1, 1915, and was a lifelong resident of Williamstown, West Virginia.

Frank Fenton graduated from Marietta College in 1936. Along with his brother Bill, Frank assumed leadership positions at Fenton when their father and an uncle died in 1948. Under their stewardship for almost 40 years, the organization grew from a modest business to a company known worldwide for its innovative products. Most recently filling the role of Fenton Art Glass Historian, Frank was last seen publicly at a May appearance with West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin in celebration of the company's 100th anniversary.

Frank often made presentations to Fenton collector clubs, and his love for family and Fenton glass were always evident, as was his sense of humor. A friend to several generations of glass collectors, Frank is recalled fondly by many Fenton glass collectors who remember the pleasant times they spent with him.

He was active in various community organizations, including Artsbridge, the First United Methodist Church in Williamstown, Marietta Rotary, and the Williamstown Community Association. Frank Fenton served 36 years on the Marietta College Board of Trustees. Frank, along with Bill Fenton, established the Fenton Foundation to support local community needs. Frank most recently donated $25,000 to the town of Williamstown, along with five acres of land, to create a park.

Frank was preceded in death by his wife, Elizabeth, in 1980 and his brother Wilmer "Bill" in December 2002. He is survived by his sons Frank, Tom, Mike, and George as well as many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Frank M. Fenton left a wonderful legacy to the Fenton family, the Fenton Art Glass Company, the Fenton Museum and glass collectors everywhere.

The family has requested that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to:

First United Methodist Church
304 W. Fifth Street
Williamstown, WV 26187

Frank Fenton mourned

From local reports
The Marietta Times, Marietta, OH

Fenton, 89, died Tuesday afternoon leaving an impressive legacy to the Fenton family, the Fenton Art Glass Co., the Fenton Museum and the glass collectors around the world.

“He was a great leader and certainly provided a lot of support and advice,” said his son George Fenton, CEO and current president of Fenton Art Glass. “He was personally very caring and, in business, very wise and very astute.”

The Fenton family will hold a visitation at the First United Methodist Church in Williamstown from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday and from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday.

A memorial service will be held 2 p.m. Saturday at the church just a few blocks away from the family-run glass manufacturing business.

Williamstown Mayor Jean Ford said the loss of Fenton, former Fenton Art Glass president, was devastating. He was a pillar of the community and an integral part of the city. Ford learned of Fenton’s death when she returned from dinner around 8:45 p.m. to find a message from the Fentons on her answering machine.

Fenton will be missed by local collectors, as well. Fenton Art Glass Collector of America member Frank Brum, 77, of 603 Wooster St., Marietta, has known Fenton for several years.

“He would always attend our local club meetings and when ever we would have a lunch or a cookout he would always bring a pie,” Brum said. “When he passed away there was a world of information about glass that was lost with him. We will miss him tremendously.”

Ford keeps fond memories of Fenton.

“He was one of the dearest people who cared about people so much and cared about the town. He was just a very caring person and no doubt one of the nicest gentlemen I ever met. He was always doing something for the town,” she said.

Most recently, Fenton donated five acres that will become Fenton Park along Third Street. The project has progressed slowly due to recent flooding problems, she said.

“You can just look around all over the town and see his kindness and goodness,” Ford said. “That’s really what he lived for, his family, his business and the people in the town. This was his home.”

Ford said Fenton often visited her at city hall. She said she always enjoyed his company and his good nature.

“He would come in and sit down and talk about how things got started and how things have developed. He loved our town. He will be greatly missed. In fact, it just won’t seem the same without him,” she said.

Harold Burdette, a longtime employee of Fenton Art Glass, said he remembers Fenton from his early days at the factory. Fenton was one of a kind, Burdette said.

“I remember Frank from way back, probably 53 years. He was a good man,” he said. “Everybody liked Frank in the old days. He was a kind person.”

Burdette said he cannot imagine what work will be like today at the factory as news of Fenton’s death continues to spread.

Fenton Art Glass is continuing a 100th anniversary celebration throughout 2005 with special glass productions. The celebration kicked off in Williamstown July 29, but Fenton was too ill to attend. His most recent public appearance at the factory was with Gov. Joe Manchin’s May visit to help commemorate the company’s 100th year.

Marietta Area Chamber of Commerce President Charlotte Keim said she was confident the company will continue to thrive under the direction of the surviving family members.

“It is really sad that this has happened,” Keim said. “But on the other hand it was so wonderful he was able to see the company’s 100th anniversary ... And knowing the rest of the family members, that company will continue to be one of the best in the area.”

Fenton was the fifth child and first son of Frank L. Fenton, founder of Fenton Art Glass. He was born Dec. 1 1915 in the original family home on Williams Avenue. He attended grade school in Williamstown, but crossed over to Marietta, to attend high school.

He entered Marietta College in September 1932 during the Great Depression and graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in 1936.

Frank Fenton began working for the company while in college. He tried several times to get a summer job at the factory, but his father turned him down, saying others needed the work more than he did. Finally, he was given a position by his uncle.

Long after he became president, someone asked him if he started at the bottom and worked his way up. His reply?

“No, I started at the top ... and worked down,” according to the company’s Web site.

For nearly four decades, Frank along with his brother Bill headed Fenton Art Glass, and the organization grew from a modest business to a company known worldwide for its innovative products, the Web site states.

According to the Fenton Web page, Frank’s latest role was as a Fenton Art Glass historian. He spoke to collector clubs and did a great deal of research, tasks he truly loved.

[PHOTO CAPTION ABOVE]
W.Va. Gov. Joe Manchin greets Frank Fenton as part of the Fenton Art Glass centennial celebration in May in Williamstown. (file photo)

Frank Fenton of Fenton Art Glass Dies

Story by The Associated Press

The longtime company president and son of its founder died Tuesday at age 89.

Frank M. Fenton, the longtime president of Fenton Art Glass in Williamstown and son of its founder, has died at the age of 89.

Fenton died Tuesday afternoon.

The fifth child and first son of Frank L. Fenton was born Dec. 1, 1915. He attended grade school in Williamstown, but crossed over the Ohio River to Marietta, Ohio, to attend high school. He entered Marietta College in September 1932 and graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in 1936.

For nearly four decades, Frank along with his brother Bill headed Fenton Art Glass.

Fenton Art Glass is continuing a 100th anniversary celebration throughout 2005 with special glass productions. The celebration kicked off in Williamstown July 29, but Fenton was too ill to attend. His most recent public appearance at the factory was when Gov. Joe Manchin visited in May to help commemorate the company's 100th year.

A visitation is planned from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday at the First United Methodist Church in Williamstown. A memorial service will be held 2 p.m. Saturday at the church.

Related Links:
Fenton Art Glass
http://www.fentonartglass.com/

[PHOTO CAPTION FROM ABOVE]
Frank M. Fenton
Photo Credit: Fenton Art Glass

Frank M. Fenton

AP via Yahoo! News


WILLIAMSTOWN, W.Va. (AP) Frank M. Fenton, longtime president of Fenton Art Glass and son of its founder, died Tuesday, according to the company's Web site. He was 89.

Fenton headed the art glass company for nearly four decades with his brother Bill. The company, the largest manufacturer of handmade colored glass in the United States, was founded in 1905 by Frank L. Fenton and his brother John in Martins Ferry, Ohio.

"He was a great leader and certainly provided a lot of support and advice," said George Fenton, Fenton's son and the current CEO and president of Fenton Art Glass. "He was personally very caring and, in business, very wise and very astute."

While growing up, Fenton had tried several times to get a summer job at the factory, but his father turned him down, saying others needed the work more than he did. Eventually, he was given a position by his uncle.

Nine Fenton family members now work for the company, which employs more than 400 people.

Son of Fenton's founder, longtime president dies

By The Associated Press
Charleston Daily Mail, Charleston, WV

WILLIAMSTOWN -- Frank M. Fenton, the longtime president of Fenton Art Glass and son of its founder, has died. He was 89.

Fenton died Tuesday afternoon.

Fenton, the fifth child and first son of Frank L. Fenton, was born Dec. 1 1915. He attended grade school in Williamstown, but crossed over the Ohio River to Marietta, Ohio, to attend high school. He entered Marietta College in September 1932 and graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in 1936.

He began working for the family company while in college.

He tried several times to get a summer job at the factory, but his father turned him down, saying others needed the work more than he did.

Finally, he was given a position by his uncle.

For nearly four decades, Frank headed Fenton Art Glass along with his brother Bill.

Fenton Art Glass is continuing a 100th anniversary celebration throughout 2005 with special glass productions. The celebration kicked off in Williamstown July 29, but Fenton was too ill to attend. His most recent public appearance at the factory was when Gov. Joe Manchin visited in May to help commemorate the company's 100th year.

"He was a great leader and certainly provided a lot of support and advice," said his son George Fenton, chief executive officer and current president of Fenton Art Glass. "He was personally very caring and, in business, very wise and very astute."

A visitation is planned from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday and from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday at the First United Methodist Church in Williamstown.

A memorial service will be held 2 p.m. Saturday at the church.

Glass magnate Frank Fenton dies

By CONNIE DALE and ROGER ADKINS
Parkersburg News, Parkersburg, WV

WILLIAMSTOWN - Amid a time of celebration at Fenton Art Glass came a great loss Tuesday.

Frank M. Fenton, 89, died Tuesday afternoon leaving a wonderful legacy to the Fenton family, the Fenton Art Glass Co., the Fenton Museum and the glass collectors around the world.

"He was a great leader and certainly provided a lot of support and advice," said his son George Fenton, CEO and current president of Fenton Art Glass. "He was personally very caring and, in business, very wise and very astute."

The Fenton family will hold a visitation at the First United Methodist Church in Williamstown Friday from 6 -8 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon.

A memorial service will be held 2 p.m. Saturday at the church.

Williamstown Mayor Jean Ford said the loss of Fenton, former Fenton Art Glass president, was devastating. He was a pillar of the community and an integral part of the city. Ford learned of Fenton's death when she returned from dinner around 8:45 p.m. to find a message from the Fentons on her answering machine.

"He was one of the dearest people who cared about people so much and cared about the town. He was just a very caring person and no doubt one of the nicest gentlemen I ever met. He was always doing something for the town," she said.

In fact, Fenton donated five acres that will become Fenton Park. The project has progressed slowly due to recent flooding problems, she said.

"You can just look around all over the town and see his kindness and goodness," Ford said. "That's really what he lived for, his family, his business and the people in the town. This was his home."

Ford said Fenton often visited her at city hall. She said she always enjoyed his company and his good nature.

"He would come in and sit down and talk about how things got started and how things have developed. He loved our town. He will be greatly missed. In fact, it just won't seem the same without him," she said.

Harold Burdette, a longtime employee of Fenton Art Glass, said he remembers Fenton from his early days at the factory. Fenton was one of a kind, Burdette said.

"I remember Frank from way back, probably 53 years. He was a good man," he said. "Everybody liked Frank in the old days. He was a kind person."

Burdette said he cannot imagine what work will be like today at the factory as news of Fenton's death continues to spread.

Fenton Art Glass is continuing a 100th anniversary celebration throughout 2005 with special glass productions. The celebration kicked off in Williamstown July 29, but Fenton was too ill to attend. His most recent public appearance at the factory was with Gov. Joe Manchin's May visit to help commemorate the company's 100th year.

Fenton was the fifth child and first son of Frank L. Fenton, founder of Fenton Art Glass. He was born Dec. 1, 1915 in the original family home on Williams Avenue. He attended grade school in Williamstown, but crossed over to Marietta, to attend high school.

He entered Marietta College in September 1932 during the Depression and graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in 1936.

Frank first began working for the company while in college. He tried several times to get a summer job at the factory, but his father turned him down, saying others needed the work more than he did. Finally, he was given a position by his uncle.

Long after he became president, someone asked him if he started at the bottom and worked his way up. His reply?

"No, I started at the top...and worked down," according to the company's Web site.

For nearly four decades, Frank along with his brother Bill headed Fenton Art Glass, and the organization grew from a modest business to a company known worldwide for its innovative products, the Web site states.

According to the Fenton Web page, Frank's latest role was as a Fenton Art Glass historian. He spoke to collector clubs and did a great deal of research, tasks he truly loved.

[PHOTO CAPTION ABOVE]
Frank Fenton, speaks to Gov. Joe Manchin during Fenton Art Glass Co.'s 100th Anniversary celebration festivities in May. (News and Sentinel File Photo)

Frank L. Fenton Dies at 89

By CALLIE LYONS
WMOA News, Marietta, OH


This morning, the Williamstown community and the Fenton family are mourning the loss of Frank M. Fenton, who passed away Tuesday afternoon.

The son of Fenton Art Glass founder, Frank L. Fenton, he was born December 1, 1915 in Williamstown. He graduated from Marietta College in 1936. Along with his brother, Bill, Frank Fenton led the family business for nearly 40 years as the company's legacy grew to realize worldwide recognition.

Most recently filling the role of Fenton Art Glass historian, he was last seen publicly at a May appearance with West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin in celebration of the company’s 100th anniversary. Fenton was 89.

The family will hold visitation at the First United Methodist Church in Williamstown Friday from 6-8 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. noon.

A memorial service has been scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday at the Williamstown church.

Frank Fenton Passes

By DENISE ALEX
WTAP News, Parkersburg, WV


Just days after Fenton Art Glass celebrated its 100th anniversary, Tuesday night the company is mourning the loss of one of its own.

Frank Fenton passed away this afternoon at the age of 89.

Fenton was a pioneer for the famed art glass company. He was a historian, past president and past chairman of the board for the Williamstown company.

Williamstown Mayor Jean Ford says Frank Fenton was one of her dearest friends and such a gentleman.

She added that everywhere she looks in Williamstown she sees something he helped create.

Recently Mr. Fenton donated 25-thousand dollars to develop Fenton Park on land he donated to the City of Williamstown.

His son, George Fenton, the current president of Fenton Art Glass, says his father's leadership, advice and humor will be greatly missed and that Mr. Fenton had a love for life and the family business.

Frank Fenton battled several ailments in his later years.

Visitation will be held at the First United Methodist Church in Williamstown Friday night from 6:00 to 8:00 and Saturday morning from 10:00 to 12:00.

A memorial service will be held at the church Saturday afternoon at 2:00.

The final installment of the Fenton Centennial Collection!

The year 2005 and the Centennial Collection conclude with two special selections from third generation members Nancy and George Fenton. Each piece is numbered, bears the Centennial Collection logo, family member's signature, and is limited to sales through 11/15/05.

Celebrate with Nancy Fenton's "Manuscript Floral" Favrene Amphora, a spectacular Vase resting in an elegant brass stand. Favrene glass is made with silver in the formula, which creates a remarkable silvery-blue satin luster.

George Fenton honors our past with the "Myriad" Mosaic Vase based on a mould shape from the 1920s. Master craftsman Dave Fetty begins each vase with black glass covered in opaque glass chips; when reheated, no two pieces will ever be the same! A true art glass creation.

For more information on the final two pieces in the Centennial Collection...

For all of your Fenton needs shop online with an authorized Fenton dealer today, or click here to find a dealer near you.

Fenton Centennial Celebration Memories

For all of you who joined us at Fenton in Williamstown, WV for our five day celebration, thanks so very much. We couldn’t have done it without you! From the personalized Fenton family tours of the factory to the incredible live QVC broadcast, the edge of your seat moments at the dramatic Fenton auction to the magical moments spent decorating ornaments and just swapping experiences with family and friends both old and new, a great time was had by all.

Link to the centennial celebration site to view photo highlights of five action-packed days and nights. And remember, it took 100 years to reach our centennial, and the celebration continues throughout 2005! The Fenton Factory Tour remains one of the TOP 10 tours in America, as rated in USA Today, and tours continue throughout the year. Watch raw materials become molten glass which is shaped by artisans in the age-old tradition. Furnaces glow; sparks fly, and from heat, noise and motion emerge works of art that captivate and delight.

Throughout 2005 you can continue to enjoy special Centennial Events both near and far, including the ongoing exhibit “Fragile Art” at the Mansion Museum in Oglebay Park in Wheeling, WV (through October 15, 2005). The Museum of American Glass, located in Wheaton Village in Millville, New Jersey will host a centennial exhibit opening August 6 and running through November 13, 2005, while visitors to Milan Ohio will want to stop in at the Milan Historical Museum now through September 30, 2005 to experience their Fenton centennial exhibit.

On weekends throughout the year at Fenton, you can decorate your own Fenton Christmas ornament at the factory, and you can be a part of the Fenton experience “on the road” by visiting Fenton stores in the Polaris Fashion Place in Columbus, OH, in the brand-new Galleria at Pittsburgh Mills and at the fabulous Greenbrier resort in West Virginia.

For all of your Fenton needs shop online with an authorized Fenton dealer today, or click here to find a dealer near you.

QVC broadcasts live from Fenton Art Glass

By JOLENE CRAIG
Parkersburg News
Parkersburg, WV

WILLIAMSTOWN - The Fenton Centennial Celebration began its final day with a QVC live broadcast from the factory Tuesday.

"This QVC broadcast brings the centennial celebration in to 100 million homes and is a perfect end to the festivities," said Scott Fenton, Fenton Art Glass national sales manager.
The five-day celebration began July 29 with a tree-planting ceremony and welcomed people from around the world.

"I know of at least 12 countries and all 50 states being represented here, at the Fenton Art Glass Centennial Celebration," said Tony Demasi, a marketing consultant for the company.

Lynn Fenton Erb, assistant to president George Fenton, said the company did not have attendance figures, but believed more than 1,000 people turned out.

"We have absolutely no way of counting how many people were here," she said. "I do know there were people from every state, one person from India and one more from Australia. It was amazing how positive the feedback we got was."

Friends Pam Ellington of Wilmington, Ohio, and Sharon Swab of West Carrollton, Ohio, have been collecting Fenton pieces for more than a decade. They said attending the QVC broadcast was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

"We watch QVC all of the time for the Fenton pieces and have purchased more items than I can count from the shows," Ellington said. "I love Fenton and I really like (QVC host) David Venable."

Fenton Erb said all items featured in the QVC sale sold out and the broadcast was not the end of the day.

"We still had buses and individual cars pulling into the lot well into the afternoon," she said.

Doug McIntosh, a member of the Fenton Glass Collector Club, came to the event from his home in Atlanta.

"This is my seventh trip to the factory and it is fabulous," McIntosh said. "With QVC here more people around the country will be able to appreciate Fenton Art Glass and what it means to so many people."

Visitors participated in activities from glass making classes to family signing all weekend.

"This weekend has been just amazing for the factory and for sales," Fenton said. "We have had record-breaking, history-shattering factory outlet sales."

A single mosaic candlestick was sold for $15,000 during the Centennial Collector Auction at Marietta College, Demasi said.

"The candlestick at the auction was an incredible sale," Fenton Erb said. "Somebody really wanted that candlestick."

Fenton Art Glass is the largest manufacturer of handmade colored art glass in the United States and has 450 employees. Its products are available for sale in more than 4,500 retail shops across the nation.

Fenton has crafted a special collectible for the event. The Centennial Celebration Exclusive is a Mandarin Red Sherbet glass. Company founder Frank L. Fenton designed the mould during the 1930s. The piece is available only on the grounds at Fenton during the Centennial Celebration.

"This celebration was great for Fenton Art Glass," Fenton Erb said. "It seemed like every day was busier than the day before.

"People seemed to really enjoy themselves and the products and it was great to see that many people support the centennial."

Lights, Camera, Fenton!

by KATIE SABATINO
WTAP News, Parkersburg, WV

The cameras rolled at 10 a.m. on the dot. Williamstown was live to the nation and it was a show many Fenton collectors won't forget.

"I'm a Fenton collector and a QVC addict!" says Julia McCormic from Alabama.

And she's not the only one. More than 500 people packed the small tent to catch a glimpse of the action.

Fenton officials say it was the perfect way to end the family business' centennial celebration.

"I was here at 3 a.m. this morning to help get things set up and at roughly 5:00 we had a line that went all the way back and out the end of the parking lot," says Scott Fenton, National Sales Manager.

Fenton Art Glass has seen record numbers of folks wanting to come out and see the QVC show.

They sold over 400 tickets to be exact, and folks saw some great items.

The show is featuring 26 of Fenton's finest art glass, and QVC officials say that's no easy task.

"Everything that we sell has had to go through very strict quality controls before it even makes it on air. Big companies won't even deal with us because they can't handle the quality control issues," says Kelly Walker, Sales and Broadcasting Coordinator for QVC.

But after 17 years of dealing with QVC, that's never been a problem for Fenton.

"They are very high quality and they are American made. The people, these artists that create this. They really care about what they do and it really shows in their work," says Walker.

And that was apparent through the massive amount of phone calls and Internet sales with most of the pieces selling out within minutes.

Museum of American Glass Celebrates 100th Anniversary of Fenton Art Glass

MILLVILLE, NJ – Fenton Art Glass of Williamstown, WV, is celebrating 100 years as America’s premiere producer of fine handcrafted, colored glass. The Museum of American Glass at Wheaton Village will celebrate this milestone event with a special exhibition, “The Best of Fenton: 100th Anniversary Exhibit,” August 6 through November 13.

The exhibition features over 80 pieces of Fenton Art Glass from the museum’s permanent collection and pieces on loan from private collectors. It will be divided into 12 categories - iridescent, opaque colors, art glass, crests, opalescent, heat sensitive, Robert Barber Collection, hobnail, decorated, lamps, special orders and miscellaneous, and patterns.

George Fenton, Fenton Art Glass Company president states, “Celebrating our 100th anniversary has given us a renewed appreciation for the spirit of innovation that has always been a hallmark of Fenton Art Glass. Each piece of glass we make has a story to tell. Each represents the combined efforts of designers and skilled artisans, and each reflect the pride we take in our enterprise.”

For more information about Fenton Art Glass visit www.fentonartglass.com. For more information about the exhibition and Wheaton Village, call 1-800-998-4552 or 856-825-6800, or visit www.wheatonvillage.org. Wheaton Village will also celebrate Fenton’s anniversary with an expanded Fenton Family Signing Event, November 5, with Lynn Fenton Erb, in the Brownstone Emporium.

General Admission: $10.00 Adults, $9.00 Senior Citizens and $7.00 Students. Children five and under are free. The Museum of American Glass, Down Jersey Folklife Center, Glass Studio in the T. C. Wheaton Glass Factory, Woodcarving, Ceramics and Flameworking Studios, half-scale C. P. Huntington Train, and five museum stores are included with the price of admission. No admission fee to shop or stroll except during outdoor events.

Wheaton Village strives to ensure the accessibility of its exhibitions, events and programs to all persons with disabilities. Call two weeks in advance for special accommodations. Funding has been made possible in part by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation.

Fenton Art Glass Anniversary Exhibition
CONTACT: Janet Peterson, Marketing & Public Relations Director
TEL: (856) 825-6800, Ext. 108
FAX: (856) 825-2410
E-MAIL: jpeterson@wheatonvillage.org

Fenton Art Glass fan base worldwide

By DAVID PAYNE Sr.
Parkersburg News
Parkersburg, WV

WILLIAMSTOWN - People from virtually every corner of the country and across the world gathered in Williamstown Sunday to help Fenton Art Glass mark a century of red-blooded, American-made glass.

The Fenton parking lot had as many vehicles with out-of-state plates as ones from West Virginia and Ohio. People drove from Nebraska, Arkansas, Nevada, Iowa, Connecticut, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Massachusetts, Kansas, Maryland, Arizona, Georgia, Alabama, Indian, Virginia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Illinois, New Jersey, Kentucky, Minnesota and Florida.
The event began Friday and ends Tuesday.

Norma Fennel drove all the way from Vina, Ala., an area known for the Sunshine brand dog food produced there.

Fennel has been collecting Fenton pieces for almost 40 years and has about 100 pieces.

"I like it because it's American made. You don't see much of that anymore. I collect Fenton, really, because I'm too old to do anything else," she said.

She had pieces signed by members of the Fenton family and had her picture taken with Tom and Scott Fenton, two men Fennel considers - and treated like - celebrities.

Fenton Art Glass is the largest manufacturer of handmade colored art glass in the United States and has 450 employees. Its products are available for sale in more than 4,500 retail shops across the nation.

Fenton has crafted a special collectible for the event. The Centennial Celebration Exclusive is a Mandarin Red Sherbet glass. The mould was designed by company founder Frank L. Fenton during the 1930s. The piece is only available on the grounds at Fenton during the Centennial Celebration.

One Sunday highlight was the Centennial Collector Auction held at Marietta College. Shelly Fenton Ash also signed pieces. Just Us Friends and the Mid-Ohio Valley Players provided musical entertainment Sunday.

Dozens of vendors sold their wares in an arts and crafts area. Among them was Belmont resident Eddie Seese, a former employee of Ritchie County marble-maker Mid-Atlantic of West Virginia Inc. and Fenton Art Glass.

"I love working with glass. You create a vision of your own art and then try to pull that off in glass," he said.

The event also attracted area residents who had never seen the facility before. Sunday was the first time Ritchie County resident Steve Minardi had visited.

"I've never been here before. I think it's a great place," he said.

Minardi couldn't help but notice that many people traveled thousands of miles for the event.

"I saw on the sign-in sheet where someone from India had signed. Some people we took a factory tour with were from California," he said.

Tuesday's schedule of activities include:


8 to 11:30 a.m. - Glassmaking School.

9 to 11 a.m. - Glassmaking Workshop (Master Craftsman Seminar).

10 a.m. to 1 p.m. - QVC Broadcast "live" from Fenton.

1 to 3 p.m. - Glassmaking Workshop (Master Craftsman Seminar).

1:30 to 3 p.m. - Signing with QVC Host and George Fenton.

2:30 to 4 p.m. - Fenton Family Tours.

[PHOTO CAPTION ABOVE]
People browse through items at the Fenton Art Glass Centennial Celebration event Sunday in Williamstown. (Photo by Dave Payne Sr.)

Fenton Celebrates 100 Years

By ANDREW REX
WMOA News, Marietta, OH

Fenton Art Glass is celebrating 100 years of creating handcrafted, hand-painted art glass during a five-day centennial celebration that continues through tomorrow.

While Fenton Art Glass did not move into West Virginia until 1907, the family considers May Fifth, 1905, the day of its inception. That's when Frank and John Fenton deposited nearly $285 into a savings account in Wheeling.

Fenton began as a glass decorating company before the brothers discovered the cost and other benefits of producing glass for themselves. The company has survived three waves of economic struggle that wiped out most of the glass factories that once flourished in West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Ohio.

Today, Fenton Art Glass remains a family business that is managed by members of the fourth generation and employs about 500 workers. Though its product line leans toward the Victorian, Fenton produces a little bit of everything, from vases and pitchers to figurines in any shape imaginable.

Q-V-C plans a live remote broadcast from the Fenton factory in Williamstown for 10 a.m. tomorrow.