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Location DB > United States > West Virginia > Moundsville > Fostoria Glass Plant
 Name
Fostoria Glass Plant
 Viewing Options
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 Database Info
created by Oherian on 4/12/2005 12:47 PM
last modified by Turd Furgusen on 6/8/2011 2:54 AM
 Viewability
Publically Viewable Publically Viewable
This location has been labeled as Demolished, and therefore can be viewed by anyone.
 Overview
 Description
Several buildings, from offices to large factory rooms. A complex that covers several blocks.
 Basic Information
Type: Building
Status: Demolished
Accessibility: Easy (call the owner Harold Games, he'll be more than happy to let you in)
Recommendation: drop everything - must see while it's still there
 Physical Information
Address

Moundsville, West Virginia
United States
Owner:
 Hazards
  • asbestos
  • rust
  • unsafe flooring
  • flooding
  • air quality
  • Collapsing roofs, more broken glass than you could imagine, sulfuric acid, you know, the usual... ;)
  •  Interesting Features
    A large factory complex, with doors standing wide open. Need I say more?

    (Added 4-24-05) ...but I will. Wow. It's an urban exploration playground. Catwalks to climb, machinery left standing, records to browse, fun for the whole family! Seicer and I spent hours there and only scratched the surface. The rooms and halls interconnect in ways that make us still unsure we saw every building in the complex.

    (Added 4-24-05) This is from Seicer :) The place is immense, almost too large to cover in one day. Actually, it is too large, as we left many places unexplored, such as the extensive underground systems that went as much as two levels down. There are numerous buildings which some are in better conditions than others.
     Security Measures
  • fences
  • Busy adjacent roadways, cemetery caretaker
  •  Historical Dates
    Built: 1891
    Closed: 1986
     Required Equipment
  • flashlight
  • breathing mask
  • gloves
  • head protection
  • long pants / sleeves
  • Steel toe boots
  •  Recommended Equipment

     History
    The Fostoria Glass Company began operations in Fostoria, Ohio, on December 15, 1887. This site was chosen because natural gas at a recently opened field in the area had been offered at a very low cost to attract new industries. However, the field was so short-lived that in 1891, Fostoria moved to Moundsville, West Virginia, where there was an abundance of gas and coal, and other needed materials were close by.

    At one time Fostoria was the largest maker of handmade glassware in the United States, employing nearly 1000 people. Fostoria's business peaked in 1950 when they made over 8 million pieces of glass.

    In 1965, Fostoria bought the Morgantown Glass Company which added new design capabilities. The lead crystal that was used in many glasswares started the downfall of Fostoria; its use, which made Morgantown Glass famous, was not very well favored by Fostoria's customers and in 1971, Fostoria was forced to discontinue most of their line.

    In 1983, Lancaster Colony purchased the factory.

    In 1986, after struggling with an outmoded plant and foreign competition, Lancaster Colony was forced to close the Fostoria Company, ending nearly 100 years of glass making.

    -- from The Fostoria Glass Museum website (added info from other sources, 5/13/5 Seicer)
     Media Coverage
    http://www.wboy.co...story&storyid=1832
    http://www.glasson...m/news/index/3344/
     Future Plans
    The site will begin demolition in May 2005, to become a retail site. Demolition is expected to take several months.

    According to news articles, demolition teams will be attempting to preserve as much of the brickwork, stone, steel and wood used in the the factory as possible.

    --

    Update 10.11.05: Demolition in full force. Two structures will be saved. See Abandoned forums for article.

    --

    Update 7-24-06: The shock of the Spook 'n 'Splore event -- Fostoria lives! Despite news of its demise, demolition has not yet finished. There are still a number of buildings left, and it is well worth the time of anyone who would care to visit. See it while you can!
     Stories
    Oherian, Seicer, and Wilson
    Mon, Apr 25th, 2005
    posted by seicer


    Add your own story
     Photo Galleries
    Click to view gallery
    Scouting Mission
    Tue, Apr 12th, 2005
    posted by Oherian
    22 pictures
    Click to view gallery
    Utopia
    Sun, Apr 24th, 2005
    posted by Oherian
    84 pictures
    Click to view gallery
    half-demolished monster
    Sun, May 7th, 2006
    posted by blackoutangel00
    5 pictures
    Click to view gallery
    muskratwombat from spooknsplore
    Thu, Aug 3rd, 2006
    posted by muskratwombat
    14 pictures
    Click to view gallery
    Thank you, Quocky.
    Fri, Aug 4th, 2006
    posted by SaraBellum
    14 pictures
     


    Add your own photos

    Mark all galleries as Seen
     Web Links
    http://carnivalgla...aven.com/id116.htm
    http://www.granspl...pdf/Fostoria04.pdf (with a LOT of good sources included!)

    Abandoned coverage: http://www.abandon...ndex.php?catid=112

    Fostoria's Demise:
    http://www.abandon...hp?forumID=4&ID=29
     Contribute

    Edit this Location
     Moderator Rating
    The moderator rating is a neutral rating of the content quality, photography, and coolness of this location.

    This location has not yet been rated by a moderator.
     Validation
    This location's validation is current. It was last validated by Emperor Wang on 6/8/2011 3:20 PM.

     Latest Changes
  • on Jun 8 11 at 15:20, Emperor Wang validated this location
  • on Jun 8 11 at 2:54, Turd Furgusen changed the following: Status
  • on Mar 29 07 at 20:27, Emperor Wang validated this location
  • on Mar 29 07 at 15:52, SaraBellum deleted gallery I can't breath...... and its 16 pictures
  • on Aug 4 06 at 16:26, Emperor Wang validated this location
  • on Aug 4 06 at 13:40, SaraBellum updated gallery picture DSCN1861.jpg
  • on Aug 4 06 at 13:40, SaraBellum updated gallery picture DSCN1863.jpg
  • on Aug 4 06 at 13:40, SaraBellum updated gallery picture DSCN1852.jpg
  • on Aug 4 06 at 13:40, SaraBellum updated gallery picture DSCN1831.jpg
  • on Aug 4 06 at 13:39, SaraBellum updated gallery picture DSCN1815.jpg
  •  Forum Threads about this Location
    New Thread
     SubjectStarted ByRepliesViewsLast Post
    You must log in for this feature to work.More Historyseicer213735/13/2005 12:52 PM by Oherian
    You must log in for this feature to work.FOSTORIA GLASSTHWN219815/18/2005 1:03 PM by Oherian
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