EAPGS Regional Meetings

Central States 2010 Meeting

Central States regional meeting will be July 22-25, 2010 in the Historic Amana area of Iowa. Come to unwind & relax in Iowa's best kept secret - Amish country dining, antiquing, see some of the most extensive collections of Iowa City and Keota glass! See glass, buy glass and catch up with EAPG friends or make some EAPG friends!
Email Linda Yoder, the chairman: berryhill@iowatelecom.net or Gloria Dobbs sloglodisc@yahoo.com
Please use Central States Meeting in the subject.
Download Registration Form

Willkommen (Welcome) to Amana & Kalona

Willkommen to a historical tour of two similar but very different communities. Amana Colonies and Kalona share the distinction of being German founded communities. There the similarities end.

Amana Colony Villages
The Inspirationists, true believers, who built the Amana Colony Villages left Germany in 1843-44 and settled near Buffalo, NY naming their community The Ebenezer Society. They formed a communal way of life with 1200 people on about 5000 acres. When more farmland was needed for the growing community, the Inspirationists looked to Iowa where attractively priced land was available along the Iowa River Valley in Iowa County.

They arrived in Iowa in 1855 and chose to name the first village Amana which means to remain true. Six villages were established on 25,000 acres. Amana, East Amana, West Amana, South Amana, High Amana and Middle Amana. The existing village of Homestead was added in 1861 for 7 villages and giving the Colonies access to the railroad.

The Amana Colonies would become one of America’s longest –lived and largest religious communal societies. Their communal style of living lasted until May 1932 when the Great Change took place. The communal way of life was disbanded and residents were allowed to buy homes and receive pay for jobs.

You will eat in a restaurant that is in an original Kitchen Haus. During communal days village residents ate their meals in a Kitchen Haus with each village having several.

Today the Amana Colonies represent an American dream come true; a thriving community founded by religious faith and community spirit. Declared a National Historical Landmark in 1965, The Amana Colonies is a place where the past is cherished and hospitality is a way of life. Beautiful hand built homes of clapboard, brick and stone line the historic streets to recall Amana yesterday. There are a variety of shops, antique mall & shops, restaurants, Amana General Store, Amana Furniture Shop and the original Amana Woolen Mills.

Today the villages are vibrant, beautiful and waiting your visit.

Kalona Iowa
About 35 miles south of the Amana Colony Villages, three Old Order Amish families established homesteads near Deer Creek in Johnson County to start what would become the largest Amish Mennonite Community west of the Mississippi River.

About the Amish
Since first arriving in the area in 1846, the Amish have changed very little in their beliefs and lifestyle. The Old Order Amish have no telephones, electricity, cars, or other modern conveniences. Their mode of transportation is horse and buggy. On driving through the gently sloping countryside, one might see an Amish farmer and his young son plowing or harvesting with a two or four horse team. Even along Highway 1, horse-drawn wagons hauling hay, corn, hogs, and logs are a common sight.

About the community of Kalona
Kalona was unofficially named "Bulltown" in 1879 for a local successful shorthorn breeding service. The town originated as a train station of the English river Township railroad system. Built in the middle of the prairie and without any roads for a year, "Kalona," as it became officially known, was the name of the service's famous registered sire! It was a typically quiet country town until the mid-1950's when Highway 1 was paved. As Amish moved south of Deer Creek and more people migrated to the area, Kalona became the center of the thriving Amish Mennonite community.

While visiting the Kalona Historical Village & Museum and Kalona area you will experience an Amish style meal served by wonderful Conservative Mennonite women. You will have the opportunity to visit a variety of shops, a 125 year old hardware store and many antique shops.

Kalona welcomes you to refresh yourself in the simple pleasures and appreciation of the area's rich heritage and living history. You'll understand why enthusiastic visitors from all over the world describe the town's atmosphere as "wonderfully authentic."

Eastern States 2010 Meeting

ALL members of the Early American Pattern Glass Society are cordially invited to attend the 2010 EASTERN STATES EAPGS MEETING
Harrisonburg, Virginia.
September 22, 2010 through Saturday, September 25, 2010.

More Information Click Here | Registration Form Click Here

Eastern States Report | Central States Report

Eastern States Regional Meeting September 09

Thursday, September 24, 2009 through Saturday, September 26, 2009
The McLure Hotel
Wheeling, West Virgina

Eastern States Meeting-Wheeling September 2009 Report & Photos Click Here

From Crockery & Glass Journal, July 17, 1890:   
“Mr. Chas. J. Gill, secretary of the Elson Glass Co., has a full line of samples in room 121 at the McClure House, and Mr. David W. Baird, president of the Riverside Glass Co. has room 114 with the display of their goods. This is done for the convenience of the visiting trade, who can now see the lines without going out of town.”

Eastern Region of EAPGS Relives Wheeling Glass History

The second annual meeting of the Eastern Region of the Early American Pattern Glass Society (EAPGS) was held in Wheeling, West Virginia on Friday and Saturday, September 25-26, 2009 at the historic McLure Hotel. About 45 EAPGS pattern glass enthusiasts from a dozen states and Canada attended an event-packed program of speakers an activities organized by a dedicated group of EAPGS members from Ohio. The program included tours of Wheeling glass-related sites, including the Oglebay Institute Museums, the Wheeling Island Mould Shop, and the personal collections of Betty June Wymer.

Guests arriving early could sign up for two additional tours on Thursday afternoon. Sister Joanne Gonter guided guests through Mount de Chantal Visitation Academy, site of two spectacular Hobbs glass chandeliers and the Academy’s beautiful chapel. Dr. David Javersak led guests through Greenwood Cemetery, the final resting place of many famous glass entrepreneurs, and told about the industrial history of Wheeling. In addition, guests could linger in the Wheeling area to visit its many other fine glass museums and historic sites.
Master of ceremonies, Jim Walters, welcomed participants on Friday morning and introduced the speakers. Danny Cornelius and Don Jones, authors of recent and forthcoming books on early American pattern glass, spoke on the challenges of writing a book for collectors. Earl and JoAnne Autenreith also discussed the production of their new book on the Co-Operative Flint Glass Com of Beaver Falls PA. The Friday morning program continued with a presentation by Holly McCluskey on the Oglebay Institute’s collections of Wheeling Glass.

Following lunch the group traveled to the nearby Oglebay Park for a tour of two Institute museums and the Wheeling Island Mould Shop. The shop is owned and operated by John and Tom Weishar whose family has produced moulds for pressing glass for three generations. The group returned to the McLure for a banquet and a talk by Dr. James Measell titled, “Happy Birthday Harry: The Life and Work of Harry Northwood (1860-1919). Dr. Measell is Historian for the Fenton Art Glass Company.

On Saturday morning, Carl Hearn, former EAPGS president and current webmaster, demonstrated the new design for the Society’s website which will be on-line within the next several months. Kat Krivda followed with an opened-ended audience participation session on pattern identification, reproductions, fakes, and other topics of general interest. Lunch was incorporated into a walking tour of downtown Wheeling and its Centre Market area antique shops. The highlight of Saturday afternoon was the tour of Betty June Wymer’s personal collections including rare examples of Wheeling art glass and ceramics as well as her rendition of traditional songs and stories.

Members of the planning committee for the event were Neila and Tom Bredehoft, Jim and Sandra Hirzel, Dan and Carolyn Jensen, Kat Krivda, and Jim and Ann Walters. They look forward to future Eastern States meetings and welcome offers of assistance and suggestions. The group has preliminary plans to hold next year’s meeting in Virginia (September 23-25, 2010) in conjunction with a Jeffrey Evans auction of EAPG.

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Central States Regional Meeting October 09 View Picture Slideshow of Larger Image & Captions October 1, 2 & 3, 2009 The 11th annual meeting of the Central States EAPGS started with a BANG.  Those driving to St. Louis on October 1, encountered a heavy thunder storm.  When the rain stopped, the meeting, the speakers, the food, the accomodations, and the glassware was superb (with the exception of the illness of Carmen Lyman who planned the meeting).  Thursday night was time to unload, unpack, and unwind.   Friday morning we got off to a STICKY start with Carl Hearn's program about Sweeteners, and Glass.  He spoke about molasses, syrup, and sugar containers with the help of his wife, Marion.  HATS OFF to Linda Eppelheimer who arrived in period costume and spoke about Pass the Preserves, Pickles and other EAPGS dishes.  Lots and lots of dishes in the Minnesota pattern.  BOTTOMS UP TO Phyllis Petcoff who spoke about Ales and Barware.  There are pints and half-pints, large mugs, and small mugs.   On Saturday, we started off with a pattern ID/show and tell led by Nancy Smith.  There was a lively discussion about whether the animal on the handle of an ice cream set was a baboon or a lion.  Reproductions were also discussed.  Carl Hearn spoke about the new features on of web site. Then it was time for our homes tour.  Visiting the Sanders and Bahr homes is like being a kid in the Toy Department at Christmas.  You want everything you see.  Thank you, Howdy and Shirley for lunch and for the opportunity to see your glass collection.  Thank you, Ray and Jane Bahr for sharing with us your beautiful pottery and your new display cabinets.   Saturday night Courtney and I conducted an auction that raised $756.00 for Central States.  Saturday evening is the grand finale and Dave Christensen came through like COCOA WITH CREAM on top with a program about Chocolate Glass.  He showed many interesting pieces made by different manufacturers.  Everyone knows of his love of Greentown glass and finally the finale, the Piece De Resistance, a Chocolate Glass Covered Butter Dish by Greentown in the Oak Leaf pattern.  It is the only one known in existence and he shared it with us.  Good job, Dave! With the programs and home tours, it was a very educational meeting.  Not being a glass collector myself, I used to think EAPGS stood for Eating, Aahing and oohing, Purchasing Glass, and Socializing.  Although we missed seeing some of the old timers, watching the enthusiasm of newer members was refreshing.  We enjoyed meeting several first timers and hope to see them at our next meeting and at Natchez.  It is probable that we will be gathering in July 20l0 at the Amana Colonies of Iowa.  Everyone mark their calendars for April 28 - May 1, 2010 for the annual meeting in Natchez, Mississippi.  Prior to the meeting those choosing to do so have the opportunity to view a major collection of ruby stained glass in New Orleans.  There will be buying, selling, studying glass and tours of antebellum homes.  Hope to see all you Central Staters there. -Pat Fisher View Picture Slideshow of Larger Image & Captions

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