Dorflinger Museum celebrates 200 years of glass making

WHITE MILLS n Two special exhibits will be the focus of the year at the Dorflinger Glass Museum. • The first, “Uncommon Treasures: New Additions to the Museum Collection,” will feature glass purchased and donated to the museum during 2006. Last year, the museum was offered a rare opportunity from a glass collector who was downsizing. Curator Henry Loftus and members of the glass committee selected pieces of patterns and shapes not already among the pieces in the museum. According to Hank this was an unusual chance to acquire several uncommon patterns including a Pattern Number 4 humidor, a flower center in the elusive Fifth Avenue pattern, and vases in Gloria and Willow. “There were also a few small pieces in Russian and Pillar and some fantastic examples of the Sultana pattern,” said Hank. “Sultana is one of Dorflinger’s most beautiful patterns and we were lucky to acquire three rare forms in it.” • The second exhibit will spotlight “200 Years of Glassmaking in Wayne County.” The museum will also celebrate the bicentennial of glassmaking in Wayne County with a display chronicling glass made in the county during the last two centuries. This display will emphasize the ordinary glass made for everyday use from windowpanes to bottles, lamp chimneys and jars. Focusing on the early factories in Rockville, Traceyville, and Bethany and using groundbreaking research on these factories from Dr. Walter Barbe and Kurt Reed, this exhibit will include pieces on loan from other museums and from the Dorflinger collection. Highlighting the exhibit is a custom-made diorama depicting the steps used in creating cylinder glass, which was how window glass was made in this area. The diorama, which was crafted by artist Jennifer Llewellyn of Nanticoke, is funded by a private donation. The museum gift shop has features glass gifts and treasures. A new buying team stocked the shop for 2007, and shoppers will enjoy new lines of glass jewelry, unusual glass gift items, and affordable art glass. Among the features items are handblown glass flowers, traditional glass cake stands with or without domes, glass animals, and a wide assortment of suncatchers and ornaments. All proceeds from the shop are used to support the Dorflinger Museum. The museum and gift shop hours for 2007 are Wednesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Sunday 1 to 4 p.m. until Oct. 28. During the month of November, the museum and gift shop will be open on weekends. Admission to the museum is $3 for adults; $2.50 for members and 55+; and $1.50 for children, ages 6 to 18. Guided tours of the museum are available for groups of 15 or more. For information, and directions call museum curator Hank Loftus at 570-253-1185 or email museum1@ptd.net.