Local colour

Sometimes you don't have to travel far for a picture with local colour. From 1894 until 1999 Wallaceburg, Ontario about an hour's drive from London, Ontario, had a glass plant. In fact, Wallaceburg was known as the Glass Town of Canada.

The first plant was run by the Sydenham Glass Company and the last operator was the Libbey Glass Company. The plant closed after being bought foreign competitors.

Very sad. People with decades of service thrust out of their jobs. A small town losing a major employer. Why? All to save a few cents. I still use glasses made in Wallaceburg and they cast beautiful shadows on my table. When these glasses are gone, sadly they will be irreplaceable.

For more information about Glass Town check Virtual Museum Canada.