History and Future of Glass Production in Kansas

The History of Glass Production in Kansas

Glass production has a long and storied history in the state of Kansas. While Kansas may be better known today for its agricultural products and prairie landscapes, glassmaking was once an important industry in certain regions of the state.

The first glass factory in Kansas was established in 1869 in Leavenworth. The Leavenworth Glass Company specialized in window glass and operated until 1875. The abundance of natural gas used to fuel the glass furnaces in Leavenworth helped establish the city as an early center of glass production in Kansas.

In southeast Kansas, Baxter Springs became another important hub for glass manufacturing beginning in the late 1800s. The Kansas City Crystal Glass Company set up a glass plant in Baxter Springs to take advantage of the natural gas supplies in the area. For a time, Baxter Springs was the “Glass Capital of the West.” Several other glass companies operated in Baxter Springs throughout the early 20th century.

Prominence of Pittsburg Glass Production

Perhaps the most significant glassmaking center in Kansas history was the city of Pittsburg located in the southeast region of the state. In 1900, the American Window Glass Company established a large factory in Pittsburg with 12 glass furnaces. This plant brought jobs and economic prosperity to Pittsburg for many decades. At its peak, Pittsburg was one of the largest window glass producers in the world.

A variety of other glass companies set up shop in Pittsburg over the years, including the Lanyon Glass Company, the Pittsburg Plate Glass Company, and the Central Glass Company. These firms manufactured everything from window glass to glass bottles and tableware.

One of the reasons Pittsburg attracted so much glass production was the discovery of natural gas in the area in 1892. The ready availability of gas fueled the energy-intensive glassmaking operations. The coal and silica deposits nearby also provided important raw materials for glass production.

Decline of the Kansas Glass Industry

While Pittsburg and other Kansas towns thrived as glassmaking centers in the early 20th century, the industry eventually went into decline. As natural gas supplies diminished, Kansas lost one of its competitive advantages in glass production. Manufacturers also struggled with higher costs and labor shortages.

Automation and competition from other states led to the closure of many Kansas glass plants in the mid-1900s. The American Window Glass factory in Pittsburg shuttered in 1951, dealing a major blow to the city’s economy. Both Baxter Springs and Leavenworth saw their glass industries fade as companies relocated or consolidated elsewhere.

For a period Pittsburg attempted to rebuild its glass sector by attracting some foreign glass companies. The government also established a major glass research center in the city. However, most glass manufacturing ultimately left the state.

Modern Glass Production in Kansas

Although Kansas has lost its standing as a major glassmaking hub, some smaller specialty glass companies continue to operate in the state today. These producers focus on handcrafted and custom glass products using artisanal techniques.

Glass Artists of Kansas

In particular, Kansas has an active community of glass artists creating one-of-a-kind blown glass items like vases, sculptures, paperweights, and more. Many of these glass blowers sell their wares at craft fairs, galleries, and studios across the state.

Some notable Kansas glass artists include:

• Matthew Cummings of Cummings Glass Studio in Lawrence -Creates decorative and functional blown glass such as goblets, bowls, and pumpkins.
• Ken von Roenn of Von Roenn Glass Art in Hutchinson - Produces vivid hand-blown glass flowers and abstract sculptures.
• Robin Blakely of Robin Blakely Glass in Topeka - Fashions elegant blown glass vessels, ornaments, and sun catchers.

Visiting the studios and galleries of these Kansas glass artists provides a glimpse into the ancient craft of glassblowing and its contemporary practice in the state.

Industrial Glass Manufacturing

In addition to artisanal glass producers, Kansas also has a number of industrial glass manufacturing companies. Though not on the scale of the earlier Pittsburgh glassmaking era, these firms supply glass for construction, automotive, solar energy, and other commercial uses.

Some of the larger industrial glass manufacturers in Kansas today include:

• Cardinal Glass Industries - Headquartered in Wichita with plants across the country manufacturing residential and commercial glass products.
• Viracon - Located in Olathe, supplies glass for high-rise commercial buildings, hospitals, and labs.
• CertainTeed - Has a window glass plant in Independence producing residential and architectural glass.

The longevity of these firms shows that while diminished, glass production continues to play a small role in the Kansas manufacturing sector.

Glass Recycling Efforts in Kansas

As environmental awareness has grown, glass recycling has become an important initiative across Kansas. Major population centers like Wichita, Topeka, Kansas City, and Lawrence provide curbside glass pickup or neighborhood drop-off sites to encourage recycling.

Recycling glass reduces waste sent to landfills and helps conserve the raw materials and energy needed to manufacture new glass. According to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, over 158,000 tons of glass containers and packaging were recycled in the state in 2018.

Benefits of Glass Recycling

There are numerous benefits associated with glass recycling in Kansas:

• Reduces landfill waste - Glass is 100% recyclable and can be remade endlessly into new containers.
• Saves resources - Using recycled glass cuts back on the need for raw materials like sand and soda ash.
• Prevents pollution - Recycling glass decreases mining waste and air pollution from manufacturing.
• Creates jobs - The recycled glass industry employs people to collect, process, and make new products.
• Saves energy - It takes less energy to melt recycled glass than raw materials.

With its rich history of glass production, Kansas is an ideal state to lead glass recycling efforts. Community recycling programs make it easy for households and businesses to reuse glass and complete the production cycle.

Opportunities for Expansion

Despite progress on glass recycling so far, there remain opportunities to increase participation and collection rates across Kansas. Some ways to potentially expand glass recycling include:

• Adding glass recycling pickup in more rural communities
• Educating the public on proper glass recycling practices
• Installing interactive recycling kiosks in public places
• Collaborating with bars and restaurants to recycle glass
• Providing incentives for households that consistently recycle glass

With a coordinated statewide effort, Kansas can build on its grassroots glass recycling momentum. This will further the environmental and economic benefits of reused glass in local communities.

The Future of Glass in Kansas

Glass has gone from a thriving industry in early Kansas to a more limited but still active sector today focused on specialty and sustainable niches. Artisanal glass remains an important cultural tradition in the state thanks to the many independent glass artists.

For larger manufacturing, promising opportunities exist in solar glass applications. Kansas is already home to CertainTeed's solar panel glass plant. With the state's plentiful sun and wind resources, growth in solar energy could create new demand for glass producers in Kansas.

Environmental trends also point to continued expansion of glass recycling. Kansas communities can encourage glass reuse by making curbside pickup and drop-offs increasingly convenient. Advanced sorting technology is improving the quality of recycled glass for manufacturing.

While large-scale glass production may not return to Kansas, the future looks bright for smaller producers, renewable energy applications, and sustainability efforts. By supporting these niches, Kansas can continue leveraging its rich glass history while also innovating for the 21st century and beyond.

FAQs

What cities in Kansas were historically important for glass production?

Some of the major glassmaking cities in Kansas were Pittsburg, Baxter Springs, Leavenworth, and Humboldt. Pittsburg was especially significant as one of the largest window glass producers in the world during the early 1900s.

Why did glass production in Kansas decline in the mid-1900s?

There were several factors that led to the decline of the Kansas glass industry in the mid-20th century. These included the depletion of natural gas resources, higher costs, labor shortages due to World War II, competition from other states, and technological automation.

Where can I see glass being blown in Kansas today?

Many independent glass artists in Kansas offer glassblowing demonstrations at their studios and galleries. Some notable hot glass artists to visit include Matthew Cummings in Lawrence, Ken von Roenn in Hutchinson, and Robin Blakely in Topeka.

What are some benefits of recycling glass in Kansas?

Recycling glass provides many benefits such as reducing waste sent to landfills, saving energy and raw materials in manufacturing, decreasing pollution, creating local jobs, and more. Over 158,000 tons of glass was recycled in Kansas in 2018.

Could glass production return to Kansas in the future?

It's unlikely Kansas will see large-scale glass manufacturing again. However, growth opportunities exist in solar panel glass and continued expansion of glass recycling due to environmental trends. Artisanal glassblowing also remains an important cultural tradition.