EAPGS Annual Convention

2012 EAPGS ANNUAL MEETING
May 3-5, 2012
Comfort Suites Carlisle
10 South Hanover Street, Carlisle, Pennsylvania

Plan now to attend the 2012 EAPGS Annual Meeting May 3-5 in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.  The meeting will be in conjunction with the Eastern National Antiques Show and Sale, one of the outstanding shows in the country for early American pattern glass.  (The show and many EAPGS annual meetings were previously in Harrisburg, but the show has moved to the new and modern Carlisle Expo Center.)  Also, while you are in the area, take advantage of the many nearby opportunities for antiquing and sightseeing.

In addition to shopping the huge selection of EAPG at the Eastern National show, consider spending three days or more antiquing in the region, all at towns within 1½ hours of Carlisle.  Adamstown, PA, “Antiques Capital U. S. A.” has a flier listing 21 antiquing venues, three of which are large outdoor weekend flea markets (Shupp’s Grove, Renningers, and Black Angus).   One can easily count two dozen other large antique malls/shops in the following towns: Carlisle, Columbia, Fayetteville, Gettysburg, Greencastle, Hanover, Hershey, New Oxford, and Shrewsbury, PA; Hagerstown, Frederick, and Emittsburg, MD; Berkeley Springs, WV; not to mention smaller shops throughout the region.

For sightseeing consider Gettysburg [e.g. Gettysburg National Military Park, Eisenhower National Historic Site (the President’s farm and retirement home) – 30 miles], Lancaster County [e.g. Pennsylvania Dutch County and historic Downtown Lancaster, in addition to antiquing – 60 miles], Harrisburg [e.g. State Capitol and National Civil War Museum – 25 miles], Washington (115 miles), Philadelphia (125 miles), and other locales in between.

Those who register by the April 21 deadline will receive information about antiquing and sightseeing in the region.  Also check the internet, AAA books, and other sources for details.

Download Details, Agenda and Registration Form

Annual Meeting Reports

2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008

The Mega Meeting 2011 - Overland Park, Kansas

For months EAPGS members had been hearing about the Mega Glass Convention where seven national glass organizations were going to join together to have one large National Mega Glass Convention. The organizations participating were: Early American Pattern Glass Society, National Toothpick Holder Collectors Club, Antique Glass Salt and Sugar Shaker Club, Mt. Washington Pairpoint Glass Society, National American Glass Club, Vaseline Glass Collectors, Inc, Wave Crest Collectors Club. Almost 400 members plus spouses and guests from all the glass clubs attended this wonderful convention. EAPGS represented the largest group with 110 members attending. Eighteen months of planning and preparation by Jay Rogers, Gloria Dobbs (Photo 1) and Courtney Sloan, resulted in a well organized and exciting convention.

Thursday evening opened with Jay Rogers welcoming the gathering with a wonderful introduction to the convention and area. Later that evening a Rick Pence Auction of glass had something for everyone. The high dollar item was a beautiful toothpick holder purchased by Fred Phelps, EAPGS & NTHCC member, for $675 (Photo 2). Due to Rick‟s generosity of donating 5% of his commission the convention received $818 from the auction.

On Friday and Saturday morning several excellent speakers addressed the convention. This article focuses mainly on EAPGS interest but the seminars and topics are worth mentioning because of the variety of presentations that were well attended. Many EAPGS members collect other glassware or have treasured pieces of inherited hand-me-downs that are not EAPG.

Alina Adams, member of WCCC, talked about Wave Crest and the companies that produced it. The American Cut Glass seminar was presented by Bill Evans member of the ACGA and NTHCC. Catherine Futter, Curator of the Decorative Arts at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City talked about decorative arts. Jane Shadel Spillman, Corning Museum of Glass, gave an interesting seminar on Corning Glass. The most unique seminar was given by Kathy Freshwater, Overland Park. The topic was "Quilts of the American Trail” illustrating secret codes from quilt patterns made by African American slaves. These quilts marked or gave directions for the Underground Railroad.

After the Saturday evening banquet there was a Panel Discussion with Jeffrey Evans, Jane Shadel Spillman, Catherine Futter and Rick Pence discussing American Glass. Jeff Evans gave a short speech, led the panel and asked questions from the audience. Panel members took turns providing answers and giving additional information on glassware, auctions and collections. Jeff Evans is owner of Jeffrey S. Evans & Assoc. Auction Gallery, Mt. Crawford, VA. and an expert on Early American Glass and 18-19th Century Shenandoah Valley decorative arts.

Each participating glass club had their own agenda for the National Gathering. Because of limited space and time, Jay and Gloria worked out unique solutions for selling glass ware, displays and auctions. Some clubs had members that sold items 1 2 25 from their hotel rooms. EAPGS members like to display glassware in the room where the gathering is held and sell from individual tables. A compromise was decided by selling glassware from participants‟ rooms except for Saturday afternoon.

A “Market Place” (Photo 3) was held where convention participants could purchase table space and sell glassware. EAPGS and AGSSSC clubs held their silent auction Friday night which was coordinated by Joe Greene. John (Duke) Wayne (Dave Christensen) (Photo 4) entertained and encouraged bidders to bid generously. Thanks to member‟s donations and purchases the auction raised $2702 and was very successful.

Beautiful displays of glassware from many different groups ringed the main conference room. A beautiful EAPGS display was from Gloria Dobbs and Courtney Sloan‟s extensive collection. The displays were entered in a contest to be judged on the best representation of their glass club. The Vaseline Collectors Club had the winning display (Photo 5).

2010 Annual Meeting - Natchez, Mississippi

Natchez beckoned and EAPGS members responded! The 15th annual meeting of the Early American Pattern Glass Society was held at the Grand Soleil Hotel in Natchez, Mississippi, on a high bluff overlooking the Mississippi river itself. Beginning with Thursday's awe-inspiring visit to the ruby-stained glass museum in New Orleans, Louisiana, and progressing through outstanding member presentations, events, meetings, antebellum home tours, lots of socializing and plenty of good food, to the reluctant good-byes of Sunday morning, it was a weekend of good glass memories.

Those who arrived for Thursday's visit to Ed Kleppinger's Ruby-stained Glass Museum. located at his home in New Orleans, spent the rest of the weekend asking each other "did you see?...." We were overwhelmed by the sheer number of pieces on display, and intrigued with the variety of items within each pattern presented. So many pieces not seen before in ruby-stained treatment were here! Many of our members took the time to visit the French Quarter, sample Cajun food, and enjoy the local atmosphere. Several took a short side trip on the way north to Natchez, to meet again at "The Cabin" restaurant for lunch or a piece of buttermilk pie. Did anyone try the fried alligator?

Thursday evening at the hotel was filled with meeting and greeting. Auction and raffle items were displayed to tempt us to buy tickets. Fred and Ellen Phelps, Dave and Alice Christiansen, Jim and Phyllis Petcoff, Gloria Dobbs and Courtney Sloan, Grace and Al Guido, Gordon Freeman, Nancy Smith, and Mary Ann Brown quickly filled tables with lots of pattern glass to sell. Shopping was not to begin until 9:00 Friday morning, which made for some intense previewing Thursday night! Once begun, sales would continue on and off through-out the weekend -- a most popular event, especially as there was little pattern glass to be found in the local shops, although everyone tried.

Dan Jensen and Gloria Dobbs began our Friday morning session with official welcomes to the 66 EAPGS members registered for the weekend. This number included 12 first time attendees, who were warmly welcomed! All introduced themselves and told where they were from. Also included in the introductions were the current Board of Trustees as well as those running on the slate.

A special presentation was made by President Dan Jensen to Alice Ahlfeld, for her 14 years of dedicated service to the EAPGS as editor of the NewsJournal. The membership enthusiastically confirmed their appreciation of all of her efforts on our behalf. Thank you, Alice, from all of us!

Sam Kissee presented a colorful program on Phoenix Glass, with emphasis on shapes and comparisons. Many of his illustrated pieces, though taken from reference sources, were from his own collection! For many attendees this was an opportunity to learn of a form of glass with which they were unfamiliar, and they eagerly engaged Sam in a question session.

Friday afternoon was filled with more shopping with our selling members, as well as the opportunity to seek out points of interest in Natchez, itself, including exploring the local antique shops.

Following Gloria's urging us to "put on our Spirit of Adventure hats", Mary Ann Brown created table centerpieces using hats, and even gave us hat-shaped place card/menus. A parade of those who had come actually wearing their "Spirit of Adventure" hats brought audience applause, especially for the hip teen-ager, Marion Hearn!

Our dinner speaker, Linda Eppelheimer, taught us first-hand, "How EAPG was used". Dressed in appropriate costume, and using pieces from her extensive collection of Minnesota pattern and table settings from her Grandmother's china and her brother-in-law’s maidens blush decorated Michigan pattern, Linda "served up" familiar foods in their appropriate serving pieces. She traced the changes in shapes and forms of the available pieces of glass, and how they were used over a period of time.

Friday evening's activities concluded with the riotous shoving match known as a "silent auction, West Virginia style". Much fun accompanied the placing of bids, as there were no friends here. When all the pieces were claimed, $1832.00 had been raised, thanks in great part to auctioneer Fred Phelps' relentless performance, urging one and all to "Bid! Bid! Bid!!!"

Saturday morning's annual meeting saw the election of Cathy Gunderson, Sandra Millius, Nancy Smith and Lonnie Sulzberger as new Trustees, eager to serve the membership.

The morning continued with a fascinating tour of three antebellum homes, led by a delightfully well-informed local guide, who introduced us first to Longwood, a huge unfinished octagon, ca. 1861. We were awed by its massive brick understructure, and intrigued with it's history. Next, we visited the elegant Greek Revival Stanton Hall, with it's lavish ca. 1857 furnishings, including massive mirrors and chandeliers. We lunched in style at Magnolia Hall, which houses a fabulous collection of period clothing as well as historic displays. Though the day was rainy, spirits were high, and our luncheon delicious.

Saturday afternoon brought presentations by Phyllis Petcoff and Lon Hodge. Phyllis took us through the steps to successful photography of glass, whether for our own archives or to use for mediums such as eBay. She generously shared what techniques she has found to have worked well -- and especially what has not. A very informative and much appreciated session.

Lon Hodge presented his current research into the Bellflower pattern, detailing the similarities and variations of the specific motifs he has documented within the pattern. He included his current finds in colors and his conclusions and speculations as to their possible origins. This was a continuation of his earlier NewsJournal article, and will be added to as his work continues.

Our dinner was another chance to sample Southern cuisine: Blackened Redfish, Cajun Paella, Root Beer Ham with Cajun Sweet Potatoes. Obviously, the weekend’s memories will include food, as well as glass!

Marilyn Hallock’s presentation on The Central Glass Company was accompanied by a wonderful display of many of the rarest pieces she has found during the research for her book. Beginning with the history of the company, and her family connections to it, she showed us the many colors, patterns, and novelties for which the Central Glass Company was noted. The display was a labor of love on her part, and we were the lucky recipients.

Saturday evening concluded with “a visit from Santa Fred”, who led an energetic auction of his special “Bonanza” basket of holiday items, many home-made by himself. As an extra bonus, for a modest donation to the cause, one and all were invited to “sit on Santa’s knee”. Raffle winners were announced, with $655.00 being raised, plus $96.00 more from Santa’s doings. A wonderful time was had by all!!

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EAPGS 14th Annual Conference 2009, Indianopolis, Indiana

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Our Annual Meeting began unofficially on Wednesday as the Officers and Board Members began to arrive at the Marten House.  They were soon making the final plans for our Annual Meeting, which began officially on Thursday as the members began streaming into the hotel lobby.  What a fun time to see old friends

and begin to make new friends! Mary Ann Brown was soon busy handing out the nametags that she had made for us.

Thursday Evening

Gathered in our Meeting Room, President Dave Christianson welcomed everyone and thanked Gloria Dobbs, Sue Slight and Nancy Bloomstrand who had made all the plans for our meeting. 

Dave then introduced the Trustees:  Irv Terzich, Bill Stromberg, Sam Kissee, Lon Hodge, Dan Jensen, Joe Greene, Phaleta Sergeant, Nancy Bloomstrand and Sue Slight.  Absent were John Ahlfeld and Bill Morrison.

A candidate for the Board of Trustees, Frank Jackson, as well as the EAPGS auditor, Beth Taglibue, were introduced.  Other candidates, Bill Blight and Ray Meyers, were unable to attend the meeting.

Auction chairman, Joe Greene described the plans for the auction we will have on Friday night and the Raffle on Saturday night.

Gloria Dobbs announced that we have about 105 members here.  We will have 97 people attending our Friday night events and 101 attending our Saturday night events.

The first event of the evening was “Meet the Authors.”  We had the opportunity to examine the publications and visit with the authors:  Jim Measell, Greentown; Marilyn Hallick, showing her Central Glass Book; Glenn and Modene Murphy demonstrating the Web Site: eapgpatterns.com; and Danny Cornelius and Don Jones presenting the books, Tablesettings, and Cakestands.

Bill Stromberg was in charge of our glass display at the Antique Show.  He described his exhibit, “4-piece Table Sets” and then announced that he has created a notice board for people to post items for which they are searching and a suggestion box which will give us an opportunity to give our input to the Trustees for future plans.

Richard Moon was introduced and he explained his display of the Cut Log pattern.  He asked that members please let him know about colored pieces and other variations.

David Morgret had a Northwood glass collection on display, which will be featured during his seminar “The Colors of Northwood” Saturday morning.

The microphone was turned over to Nancy Smith and the rest of the evening was devoted to glass identification and show and tell.

Friday

We spent the day visiting the Hoosier Antique Show.  We are grateful to Tom Neale and Glenn Schlotfeldt for the show discount cards they gave us and the wonderful hospitality at the show.

Friday evening found us at a buffet dinner.  We honored Clyde and Mary King who have recently celebrated their 58th wedding anniversary, Dave and Nancy Blomstrand who celebrated their 49th Anniversary yesterday, and Irv and June Terzich who will soon celebrate their 61st Anniversary.

Clyde King presented a fascinating PowerPoint Presentation on the engraved glass created at King's Glass Engraving Company.  Duncan & Sons had previously employed Mr. King as an engraver and his video demonstrated the engraving techniques used. We then had the opportunity to examine some of their glass products and make purchases.  The Kings kindly donated a sun catcher and a paperweight, both bearing our EAPGS logo, which were raffled the next evening.

The meeting was turned over to the thespian wannabe auctioneer, Fred Phelps; Trustees Joe Greene and Dan Jensen; and the fast-moving auction committee. We had wonderful items to bid on and everyone soon learned there is larceny in the hearts of determined glass collectors. 99 objects were sold within a one-hour period, the top selling item was a custard Heart with Thumbprint lamp which brought  $220 to the Society’s treasury.

Saturday

The day began with the Society’s Annual meeting.  Frank Jackson and Ray Myers were elected to the board of trustees.  Following the meeting David Morgret presented his Northwood talk showing us his beautiful glass collection and discussing the procedures used in their production. Jim Measell added his input on some of the technical procedures required for this production.

Sid Lethbridge of Bright's Grove, Ontario next presented his research of the Diamond Glass and Tableware.   He traced the late 19th century evolution of the Campbell-Jones Factory through numerous buyers, events, and demise.

Saturday afternoon we visited the Huffman home where we saw the Huffman wine glass collection and the magnificent Greentown glass collection.

The Greentown Glass Museum was open on Saturday and Sunday and we proceeded to the museum for a tour.

Saturday Evening

The evening began with the introduction of  founding members Bill and Jo Reidenbach.  Members from the original organization who were present were introduced - Phyllis and Jim Petcoff, Bill and Elaine Henderson, and Nancy Smith.

Past Trustees were introduced: Phyllis Petcoff, Sam Kissee, Fred Phelps, Gloria Dobbs, Bill Henderson, Carl Hearn, Nancy Smith and Frank Blosser.

Special thanks were given to Irv Terzich and Bill Morrison, immediate retiring trustees for their service to the organization.

Donna and George Huffman were thanked for their hospitality.

Sue Slight thanked Gloria Dobbs for her management of the arrangements for the weekend and then introduced Dr. James Measell who traced the evolution and demise of the Tableware Industry in Indiana during the late 19th and early 20th century. The success and failure of this industry was determined by fuel sources, the optimism and management of the owners.

We concluded our evening with Fred Phelps auctioning a wonderful wine/wine glass and goodies gift and the drawings for the raffle items, which had excited us during the weekend.

Sunday Morning

The Trustee meeting took place with the new officers for the coming year elected:  President – Dan Jensen, Vice President – Joe Greene, Treasurer – Ray Myers and Secretary – Phaleta Sergeant.  With the Trustee meeting adjourned, our 14th Annual Meeting was over.

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EAPGS 13th Annual Conference Report 2008

The 13th annual conference/meeting of the Early American Pattern Glass Society began at 4:30 on Thursday April 24th at the Four Points Hotel in Harrisburg, PA.  President Carl Hearn welcomed everyone and invited the attendees to bid on the many items in the silent auction.  There were many beautiful pieces of glass.

Dinner was at 6:00 and the pork and lamb were both nicely presented and delicious. The table decorations during the conference celebrated the University of Kansas football win at the Orange Bowl.  Who is it among our members that is from Kansas? 

After dinner, Carl introduced the Trustees that were present.  Irv Terzich, Bill Stromberg and Bill Morrison were all unable to attend.  Carl also acknowledged the former trustees that were at the dinner.  Nancy Smith was our MC and began the evening by introducing David Peterson, author of a new book Glass Rarities, 2007.  David has also written:  Vaseline Glass, 2002 and The Lost Chapters, 2004/05.  David spoke about the various names given Vaseline glass depending on the culture.  While there is uranium in the glass, there is not enough to be dangerous.  Very interesting and informative discussion of the glass

Joe Greene then took the podium and spokke about the display of flint goblets that he had brought for the EAPGS booth at the show.  He had grouped the goblets into categories such as popular examples, historic examples, nature examples, early examples and goblets with snakes on the handles.  Joe had also made varying sizes of polyurethane stands to display each goblet.  It made a beautiful exhibit for the EAPG booth!  The tables in the booth, had been turned this year, so that people could get closer to the showcase to exam, but not touch, the goblets.   Joe also brought the article that he had written for the NewsJournal on the flying storks.  He has discovered other discrepancies in this pattern.

Glenn and Modene Murphy then demonstrated their on-line pattern ‘book’.  They had some ‘mystery’ patterns that they asked the audience to help identify.  Out of a number of patterns, we were only able to identify one.  Nancy Smith also had some ‘mystery’ pieces and none of them were identified. 

Carl Hearn and Sue Slight then took over the Murphy’s computer and gave us a comprehensive tour of the EAPGS website and the many uses it has for members as well as non-members.  A buy-sell section is under construction and should be ready within the month.  The entire session was live as Carl explained the many services available to collectors on the site.  It is a valuable tool and the society can be justly proud of what has been accomplished.

Sue Slight briefly discussed the Questor’s new exhibit – 100 years of pressed glass. Gloria invited everyone to the Central States Regional meeting in Kansas in July; Carl let the attendees know of the Glasfax meeting in Canada in June and invited us to come north.  There will also be an Eastern Regional meeting in Newark, Ohio in October.   The dinner adjourned at 8:45.  It was a very informative evening!

Friday morning, most of the attendees headed for the antique glass show and sale at the farm show complex.  It was smaller this year, but there were many beautiful pieces of glass.  A smaller show does make for less walking!   The EAPGS booth was staffed at all times by members of the society.  It included the EAPGS library as well as information on the Society.  Mark Prime has resigned as librarian and the Society thanks Mark for his years of keeping track of the books for us.  They are used at every show!

Most people shopped all day and then made their way to the banquet that evening in the farm complex.  With the banquet being in the same building, it was easy for the dealer/members to attend the banquet.  Gloria Dobbs facilitated all the arrangements and things went like clockwork.  If there were problems, Gloria was the only one who knew about them. 

The social hour began at 6:00 and dinner was at 7:00.  The ‘food stations’ worked very well for getting food without having to stand in long lines.  There was a pasta station, fiata station, salad bar, soup bar and dessert station.  They were spaced far enough apart that no one was in another person’s way.  And the food was excellent! 

After dinner, Barbara Payne talked to us on the topic of “Glass Factories Shattered”.  She discussed the factories at Findlay, Tiffin, Fostoria and the surrounding area that depended on the gas and oil exploitation that quickly ran dry.  Libbey survived by moving to Toledo and converting from gas to coal.  Findlay moved to Albany and Bellaire went to Indiana.  Only Tiffin remained open after 1900, closing in 1980. 

The Gestlers/Myers had put together a lovely live auction.  There were over 180 entries and as Jeff Evans came to the podium to begin the live auction, he told us that he would be finished in one hour and 36 minutes.  The people, who timed him, agreed that he sold all the items within his predicted framework.  Five runners took glass around the room as the attendees bid on each one.  There were quite a lot of bargains.  The auction ran late, but everyone went home with new treasures

Saturday morning was the annual meeting.  Carl Hearn welcomed all the people who came and began the business of the Society.  The first item was the election of new trustees to the board.  Carl appointed a committee to collect and count the ballots.  Then 
Carl gave his President’s report of the activities of the society over the past year.  It has been a busy year with a new operations manual developed and approved and the construction of the buy/sell section of the website.  Membership has held steady and we are in a good financial position. 

 After the ballots were counted and tallied, Carl announced the election of Lon Hodges, John Ahlfeld, and returning board members, Nancy Bloomstrand and Sue Slight to the board.  Carl then turned the meeting over to Bill Reidenbach who conducted the election of the officers for the next year.  Dave Christensen, President, Sue Slight, Vice President, Phaleta Sergeant, Secretary and Dan Jensen, Treasurer.  The annual meeting was adjourned.

The Society thanked Carl Hearn for his years of leadership to EAPGS.  Much has been accomplished under his administration and we appreciate all his hard and often frustrating work!  From the board that worked closely with Carl, a special thank you for all your understanding, diplomacy and skills in leading EAPGS into a new era. 

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