Foster Glassworks
The gift to this year’s guests at the White House will be a white hand-blown, glass ornament with the year and the White House engraved on it. This large ornament was made by Seneca County’s Jim Maxwell, the owner of Foster Glassworks in Fostoria.
The story starts in 2000 when Maxwell’s ornament was chosen by Governor Taft from among many to decorate the tree in the governor’s mansion. Then in 2001 the governors from each state were asked to submit four ornaments from their state for possible selection for the White House. Laura Bush chose Jim’s submission and ordered 625 of them to give as gifts this year.
Jim began in April, 2002. First he blew each ornament, then, using a technique called sand carving, he placed an outline of the White House on it. Then one side was frosted. Through the clear side he could see to hand engrave the details on the White House. On 325 of the ornaments George and Laura Bush’s signature was engraved. Then the back side of the ornament was frosted.
Jim and his wife, Kim were invited to the White House on December 4th and 5th for two receptions. The first was for the artists from each state who had made ornaments for the national Christmas tree and the second was to introduce the three artists that were honored by President and Laura Bush for their contributions to their Christmas celebration. The Maxwells were honored for Jim’s Christmas ornament; Cheryl Barnes was honored for her illustrations in a children’s book; and Zhen-Huan Lu for his painting in oils of one of the rooms in the White House which was chosen for the Bush’s Christmas card.
Inside the card is a quotation from Psalm 100, vs.5 : For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations. That is followed by: May love and peace fill your heart and home this holiday season and throughout the new year.
The theme for this year’s Christmas at the White House is ‘’All Creatures Great and Small’’. The Bush pets were at the parties, Spotty, who is a pup from Barbara Bush’s Millie, and Willie, a black cat, and Barney, a Scottish terrier.
How did a native of Seneca County achieve such success and such honor? When Jim Graduated from high school in 1973, he considered going to Heidelberg, but his dad was plant manager at Tiffin Glass and he asked if he could be an apprentice out there. They hadn’t had an apprentice for 30 years but Clyde King taught him how to be an engraver. Many of our readers will remember the oval engraved glass side panels on the Lincoln Town Cars. That work was done in 1973.
After the plant closed, Jim learned to blow glass. Orie Mitchell taught him how to make glass apple paperweights, and he learned how to shape vases and bowls. He first set up shop at 20 East Market Street. He opened his present store and glass blowing shop in Fostoria in 1996. Fostor Glassworks is located at 103 North Main in Fostoria close to the WFOB radio station.
This is a great time to visit his store. Each year he makes a limited edition of hand-blown ornaments with the year engraved on them. He also makes varicolored ornaments. Glass cherries, complete with stems, and glass candies are some of the small items on display. His most popular item is a made-to-order glass plaque with the homeowner’s house engraved on it. A clear glass paperweight has all the continents of the world engraved on it. One of the most beautiful pieces in the shop is a heavy tall glass vase with iris deeply engraved on it.
Groups of school children and adults, too, schedule visits to the shop to watch Jim blow glass. He has two furnaces. One is heated by electricity to 2100 F and the other to 2300 F. Between them sits the ‘’glory hole’’. It is gas fired and is used to reheat the glass while it is being shaped. The final step is a kiln which starts heating at 900 degrees F and is electronically controlled to cool gradually.
When he adds color to the glass, he heats a pipe and attaches a piece of colored glass to it, then he grabs a piece of clear glass from the furnace and combines the two pieces and swirls color into the clear glass.
Jim is happy to tell us that his daughter, Jodi, is joining him in the glass blowing business. She is married to Brian Zirger who works in Findlay. They have a two and a half year old son, Kamren. Jim and Kim’s second child, Jim, works in public relations for Business Wire in Cleveland. Their youngest, Michelle, is studying at Ashland College.
It is not too late to visit Foster Glassworks in Fostoria and find a unique gift for someone on your list.
- Mary