Stories of the workers of Fostoria Glass. At one time, Moundsville had many well-known businesses. Among them was Fostoria Glass. Fostoria was the #1 glass company in hand blown glass in the United States. People wanted Fostoria settings on their Sunday dinner tables. Holidays were occasions to bring out your best Fostoria place settings. China cabinets were in the dining rooms, showing off the extensive collections of Fostoria that people had acquired. Later generations didn’t wish for glassware place setting for eight or twelve as wedding gifts.. The simpler and more useful the setting, the better it became. That shift in mentality and foreign competition were key factors leading to Fostoria’s closing. The workers who created these beautiful patterns and pieces of glassware were artists, who worked hard for the company and also to provide a decent living for their families. Fostoria gave them the opportunity to have a job that would last for decades in many cases. Fostoria was a ‘family’ to the men and women who worked there. They provided the labor to produce glassware and the company took care of the workers. Many individuals stated that if they needed something in a time of tragedy, Fostoria’s leaders and the workers were there for them. The workforce put in long hot days in the summer months, but didn’t complain about working. They hired on to have a job from which they could retire. Many of the young men who were unemployed when Fostoria closed, said, “I planned on retiring from there. They made it through the Depression and didn’t close.” This announcement that Fostoria was closing was one of the last nails in the coffin for our community and surrounding area. The loss of the Benwood Mill, Marx Toys and U.S. Stamping, finished an era when Marshall County was a prosperous community and jobs were everywhere and easy to find. We, the authors, hope you find this book enjoyable as your read about the individuals who helped create the glassware patterns and the glassware itself. They made Fostoria a success with their skill, talents, artistry and devotion.