Glass show at New Kensington Quality Inn draws hundreds for 'treasure hunt'

Susan Conforti of Green Tree stopped counting her collection of Depression-era wine glasses at 120.

As she gleefully perused the offerings Saturday at the 46th annual Depression Glass and Pottery Show at the Quality Inn in New Kensington, her husband tagged along behind and playfully shook his head.

“I just look for something that catches my eye, anything cobalt blue or ruby red,” Conforti said. “I started coming to the show when it was out by the (Greater Pittsburgh International) airport. It’s one of the largest shows around.”

Inside the ballroom at the hotel along Tarentum Bridge Road, hundreds of shoppers browsed collections that date back to the turn of the 20th century.

Hosted by the Three Rivers Depression Era Glass Society, the event draws dealers from across the country to show their wares.

Jack Peacock of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, has been participating more than 30 years. He said people are enamored by the variety of colors and sizes, along with the history of glassware.

“It’s art and it’s beautiful,” Peacock said. “It’s easy to decorate with. You put a few vases in the window and you’re good.”

Peacock’s most talked-about piece during this year’s show was a crystal punch bowl in the shape of swan.

It sells for $1,300.

“Can you imagine putting that into a mold?” he asked. “Something like that is scarce because it’s from before (World War II). When the war hit, glass production was centered on making windshields for jeeps and other items needed by the military.

“After the war, styles changed and people wanted modernism.”

Society President Jim Leasure said that while the event draws upwards of 1,000 people, glass is becoming a bit of a hard sell.

“It used to be that people put out the good stuff more often,” he said. “Now everyone’s using paper plates.”

A special exhibit of H.C. Fry Glass from Rochester, Pa., was on display at the show, which continues from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.

Mia Sabo, 17, of Beaver County, was among the younger faces in the crowd.

“I’ve been coming to these things since I was a baby,” she said, noting that people treat the glass show like a “destination.”

“They save up money to come to this every year,” she said.

Others, like Lori Zunic of West Leechburg and Missy Jones of Millvale consider the outing a treasure hunt.

The friends each collect glass and circle the event on their calendar each year.

Zunic was searching for Fenton Glass, known for its opalescent hues and artistic shapes. The company was founded in 1905 in Martins Ferry, Ohio before moving to West Virginia.

“All the pieces I have came from this show,” she said. “I always find something I love.”

Likewise, Lance Davis and Mac McKay of Monroeville said they enjoy picking through each booth not only to discover new pieces for their collection but to uncover local history.

“We’re from Westmoreland County, and we’ve learned that the Ohio Valley produced the most glass in the country for a number of years,” Davis said. “I feel like more people should appreciate the story behind all these pieces.”

“It’s a real learning experience,” McKay said.