Historian Alex Prizgintas has curated special programs for the Cragsmoor Historical Society throughout the month of May. Among these offerings is his renowned lecture on the Rondout Valley’s Glassy Past: The History of the Ellenville Glass Works, scheduled for Saturday, May 18 at 4:30 p.m. The last standing structure of the factory, its company store, met its demise in 2019.
“This project stemmed from the loss of that building,” remarked Prizgintas, who authored “The Rondout Valley’s Grassy Past: The Ellenville Glass Works,” featured in the Spring 2022 edition of Marist College’s peer-reviewed Hudson River Valley Review. “Simultaneously, a close friend of mine stumbled upon some unique glass telegraph insulators manufactured by the Glass Works. While these items were known to originate from Ellenville, information about them remained relatively sparse.”
Beginning in late 2019, Prizgintas meticulously gathered data from local newspapers, fellow antique bottle collectors, and the Ellenville Public Library & Museum to craft his comprehensive article. “At thirty-three pages, this article represents the most detailed account of the glassworks since the early 1940s when Benjamin Taylor contributed to the proceedings of the Ulster County Historical Society. My aim is to build upon Taylor’s and other authors’ efforts while enriching the breadth of available information on this captivating subject.”
Operating from its inception on October 2, 1837, until its abandonment circa 1896, the Ellenville Glass Works played a pivotal role in glass production, dispatching its wares nationwide and boasting over 700 employees at its zenith. Despite its prominent legacy, the scant remains of the glassworks today evoke surprise and lamentation.
The one-hour program will delve into the glassworks’ history throughout much of the nineteenth century, showcasing a myriad of rare artifacts it once produced. Exhibits of Ellenville glass will be available for viewing, accompanied by copies of Prizgintas’s article, which will be offered for sale.