There have been more than 450 glass companies in West Virginia.

Monongah Glass Company was only around from 1904 till it was purchased by Hocking in the early 1930s.

But the glass made by Monongah Glass still is for sale on eBay and other Internet sites, including Cat Lady Kate’s Elegant and Depression Glass at www.CatladykatesGlass.com  The prices are at or close to $200 per glass.

Monongah’s Springtime etch, with center motif of Isidora Duncan dancing with scarves surrounded by swags, was copied by Hocking as its Cameo depressing glass.

Other famous Monongah Glass pieces are the Bo-Peep etch, and the subject is Bo-Peep who lost her sheep in the famous rhyme; Roseland, arching flowers with stem and double wreaths and four ribbon streams that look like arrows; and Secretaries Primrose, five-petaled flowers grouped into bouquets.

The Monongah Glass factory opened in Fairmont in 1904 and, in 1908, made 144,000 pieces every hour! In 1933, the glass plant closed. It was built by William Riley Hickman, who was born in Greene County, Pennsylvania and married Frances Anna Martin.

As they did in the coal miners, fathers brought their children with them to work in the Monongah Glass factor. The dad got $1.75 a day, the children 80 cents to $1.25 depending on their ages.

I’ve never been able to find out why it was called Monongah Glass Company when the plant and home office were in Fairmont. If you have authentic proof, email the URL to me at jo4wvu@neo.rr.com Thank you.