ARTHURDALE — Stained glass artists lined up Friday to look over the 800 pounds of stained glass being sold at Arthurdale Heritage. The sale was conducted by Dave and Rosemary Houser, who donated the glass to the nonprofit.
“After 37 years, I retired and tore down the glass shop,” Dave Houser said. “I taught a series of one-day classes here and thought this would be a good fundraiser.”
All the glass brought to Arthurdale on Friday was sold in about an hour. More will be for sale today.
The glass is being sold for 50 cents per pound. Houser said all proceeds will go to Arthurdale Heritage. He said some of the glass was from West Virginia, some Blenko and some Wissmach.
“There’s glass from Europe, California, Maryland, Germany and France,” Houser said.
“It’s wonderful how generous and kind it is of Dave and Rosemary to donate all of their stained glass inventory. Dave is our most requested instructor. He taught classes here for years,” said Darlene Bolyard, executive director of Arthurdale Heritage.
Debbie and Larry Cress were among those who purchased glass Friday.
“We’re buying for the Pleasant Grove Baptist Church,” Debbie Cress said. “We are going to make stained glass panels for one of the windows.”
She said the window has six panels and each will have a different picture.
“One is going to have three crosses, there will be an angel in one and a praying Jesus in another panel,” she said.
Jane Stewart said she is a retired, novice stained glass artist.
“I’m learning to cut glass and do small pieces as gifts,” she said.
Tina Hunt said she took Houser’s class and is going to use the glass she bought to make a gift for her 91-year-old uncle who lives in California.
“He taught me how to do Bonsai trees, so I am going to make a stained glass Bonsai for him,” she said.
Sierra Hebb, from West Virginia Stained Glass Creations in Independence, said she will use the glass she bought to make custom stained glass items. Hebb said she has been working with stained glass with her mother and grandmother for 10 years.
“I make custom-made pieces, cemetery stakes, animals — anything custom-made,” she said.
There were several shoppers like Maureena Andrews, who said she was accumulating glass.
“I’m a hobbyist, a beginner,” she said with a smile. “I’m buying for future projects.”
The stained glass sale continues from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. today at Arthurdale Heritage, along W.Va. 92 south of Reedsville. Buyers are urged to bring boxes, packing materials and gloves.
