South Charleston residents gathered at the annual Maple Syrup Festival on Saturday to watch a live demonstration of a once‑thriving West Virginia industry. Blenko Glass, a longtime state‑based glass manufacturer, set up a portable furnace and invited festival‑goers to see the lost art of glassblowing in action.
Connecting the community to its glass heritage
“At one time, West Virginia was the glass mecca,” said senior glassblowing apprentice Jim Adkins, who has spent years mastering the delicate process. “We had close to 470 glass factories in the state; today we have three. So we’re out here trying to get everybody in touch with their glass roots. I guarantee if you walk through here somebody’s mom, dad, uncle, cousins worked glass somewhere before.”
Adkins explained that shaping molten sand into a finished piece is “kind of like a dance.” He likened the experience to tangoing with the hot material, emphasizing the need to listen to the glass as it cools and solidifies. “If you were tangoing with the hot material, and you kind of got to be able to read it, you got to be able to understand what it’s saying back to you,” he said. “Knowing it’s done, glass only wants to get worked so much and it just stops.”
Demonstration highlights and local pride
The demonstration featured a range of creations, including a glass sculpture of the legendary Flatwoods Monster, a nod to West Virginia folklore. “We are pouring melted sand out of a furnace and we’re blowing bubbles into it more or less, right? It goes a lot deeper than that,” Adkins explained. “That’s probably the easiest way to explain it. What people are seeing out here is, again, something that was a part of their heritage. A lot of people don’t even know it.”
Festival attendees, many of whom were families with children, gathered around the glowing furnace, watching as the apprentice skillfully guided the glowing material into shape. The live display sparked conversations about the state’s industrial past and the importance of preserving traditional crafts for future generations.
Why the demonstration matters
West Virginia’s glass industry once employed thousands and contributed significantly to the state’s economy. Today, with only a handful of factories remaining, initiatives like Blenko’s festival demonstration help keep the craft alive and inspire new interest among younger residents. By showcasing the process in a public, family‑friendly setting, the company hopes to encourage a renewed appreciation for local manufacturing and artisanal skill.
Local officials praised the event for adding cultural depth to the Maple Syrup Festival, which already draws crowds for its sweet treats and community spirit. The demonstration aligns with broader efforts to promote West Virginia’s heritage tourism and support small‑business engagement in community events.
Looking ahead
Blenko Glass plans to continue offering live glassblowing demonstrations at future festivals and community gatherings throughout the state. The company hopes that by sharing the craft’s history and technique, it can inspire a new generation of artisans and reinforce the pride that West Virginians feel for their manufacturing legacy.
Original reporting: WCHS Eyewitness News Charleston (local) — read the source article.
