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45-597: After arriving in the United States, Bischoff worked in New York, Fostoria, Ohio , Detroit , Michigan , and Dearborn, Michigan . While in Detroit and Dearborn, he gained success as a porcelain painter , and as a teacher of the techniques, as well as a manufacturer of ceramic glazes as well as a teacher of watercolor painting . Franz Bischoff decided to visit California in 1900 and ultimately chose to settle in

90-413: A glassblower, who would blow into the pipe to start the creation of a hollow cylinder. The glassblower would enlarge the cylinder, sometimes with the assistance of a wooden mold. Periodically the glassblower would reheat the cylinder to keep it elastic. The reheating was done at a section of the furnace called the glory hole, which was a small hole in the side of the furnace that was often at right angles to

135-436: A need for more skilled glassworkers during a time when there was a shortage of that type of talent, so more experienced workers were hired from Belgium. The U.S. economy suffered through multiple recessions during the late 1880s and 1890s, making life difficult for manufacturing firms. The U.S. business cycle peaked during July 1890, and declined until May 1891. Leopold Mambourg was managing three glass companies and facing

180-595: A population of approximately 15,000 people and has 5,500 metered service connections. The City of Fostoria also provides water to the Village of Arcadia with a population of 537. The water treatment system obtains its water from the East Branch of the Portage River. Most of the water is stored in six upground reservoirs. The system also has three groundwater wells that currently serve as the back-up source for

225-477: A result, the city is often visited by railfans , hosted by a railroad viewing park. Fostoria was created in 1854 with the merger of the communities of Rome and Risdon. The combination of both communities' Methodist churches, on land donated by Charles W. Foster, led to the merger. To show their appreciation for Mr. Foster's generosity, the new community was named Fostoria. Charles W. Foster's son, Charles , became one of Fostoria's most famous citizens—becoming

270-497: A train viewing park in 2013 to help capitalize on the thousands of railfans who visit yearly. According to the United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 7.77 square miles (20.12 km ), of which 7.55 square miles (19.55 km ) is land and 0.22 square miles (0.57 km ) is water. As of the census of 2010, there were 13,441 people, 5,417 households, and 3,432 families living in

315-429: Is a city located at the convergence of Hancock , Seneca , and Wood counties in the northwestern part of the U.S. state of Ohio . The population was 13,046 at the 2020 Census , slightly down from 13,441 at the 2010 Census . It is approximately 40 miles (64 km) south of Toledo and 90 miles (140 km) north of Columbus . The community grew substantially during the end of the 19th century, coinciding with

360-459: Is called a lehr . In the case of window glass, a combination flattening oven and lehr could be used. The glass tube was placed in the oven with the slit side up. Workers known as flatteners make sure the reheated cylinder unfolds into a flat sheet. After the flat glass has moved from the hot end of the oven to the cool end, which can take hours, it is inspected, cut to the desired size, and packed. The size of each piece of window glass varied, but

405-416: Is more efficient than a pot furnace, but more costly to build. One of the major expenses for the glass factories is fuel for the furnace. Wood and coal had long been used as fuel for glassmaking. An alternative fuel, natural gas, became a desirable fuel for making glass in the late 19th century because it is clean, gives a uniform heat, is easier to control, and melts the batch of ingredients faster. During

450-402: Is placed inside a pot or tank that is heated by a furnace to roughly 3090   °F (1700   °C). During the 1880s, window glass was made using the hand–blown cylinder glass method . A crew led by a glassblower started the process of shaping the glass. A gatherer removed a glob of molten glass (called a gob) from the furnace using a blowpipe. The blowpipe, with its gob, was then passed to

495-489: Is the site where the Norfolk Southern Railway 's ex-Nickel Plate Road mainline crosses the previously mentioned CSX ex-B&O and ex-C&O lines. The three crossings form a triangle, with the site known as the "Iron Triangle." The area is a popular spot for railfans and has a park located in the center between the three mainlines. The City of Fostoria operates a community public water system that serves

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540-649: The Los Angeles area in 1906. Shortly after arriving, he started making arrangements to design and build a large Italian Renaissance style home in Pasadena that also became his studio. This landmark home was completed in 1908. Bischoff was one of the earliest members of the California Art Club , and the group's second meeting was held at his studio on February 5, 1910. Also present at that meeting were Carl Oscar Borg and William Wendt . Inspired by

585-801: The Mambourg Glass Company (the city's first glass factory), the Fostoria Glass Company , the Seneca Glass Company , the Novelty Glass Company , and others. Although the boom in gas and glass is long over, railroads continue to be important to the community. More than 100 trains pass through Fostoria each day. The Fostoria Railroad Preservation Society, aided by a $ 815,760 grant from the Ohio Department of Transportation, completed

630-611: The Panic of 1893 , bringing deflation and a high unemployment to the nation. In May the nation was shocked when Foster, who had recently completed his term as U.S. Secretary of the Treasury , failed financially and assigned control of his financial interests to his creditors. The three window glass companies where Foster was a major investor (Mambourg Glass Company, Crocker Glass Company, and Calcine Glass Company) shut down and some banks and non-glass companies were also affected. During

675-575: The 1870s Ohio had a glass industry located principally in the eastern portion of the state, especially in coal-rich Belmont County . The Belmont County community of Bellaire , located on the Ohio side of the Ohio River across from Wheeling, West Virginia , was known as "Glass City" from 1870 to 1885. In early 1886, a major discovery of natural gas (the Karg Well) occurred in northwest Ohio near

720-504: The 1880s, Belgium was known for its window glass manufacturing, and about two thirds of the window glass it made was exported. The window glass workers were skilled as glassblowers, gatherers, flatteners, and cutters—and these skills were learned in long apprenticeships. Many of its window glass works, over 130 operating furnaces, were located in Charleroi , which is not far from the border with France. In 1886, approximately 30 percent of

765-495: The 35th governor of Ohio and U.S. Secretary of the Treasury under President Benjamin Harrison . Fostoria is known for its glass heritage and railroads : two CSX main lines and one NS main line intersect in downtown Fostoria, an area called the "Iron Triangle." A natural gas boom in the 1880s, the railroad lines, and recruiting efforts by the community caused Fostoria to become home for numerous glass factories, including

810-572: The American window glass plants needed skilled labor, and a good supply of skilled labor was available in Belgium. The Belgian window glass workers that came to America around this time made their product using the hand–blown cylinder method. Among the Belgian glass workers that came to America was Leopold Mambourg (1860–1929), who started his American career at Pittsburg Plate Glass Company . In

855-555: The Belgian glassworkers were unemployed because of strikes and a recession. In America, natural gas was discovered in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Indiana during the 1880s and 1890s—causing economic " gas booms ". Politicians and businessmen in these American communities took advantage of the newfound fuel source to entice manufacturers, including glass makers, to locate their plants near the low–cost fuel sources. The glass manufacturers also needed skilled labor for their plants. Thus,

900-664: The Calcine Glass Company in August 1888. Later in 1888, the Crocker Glass Company was started by Foster, Rawson Crocker (Foster's brother–in–law), and others. Mambourg managed all three companies. The expansion work at the Mambourg Glass works was completed in late January 1890. The plant expansion included a new tank furnace, flattening ovens, and an additional building. The expansion caused

945-970: The California countryside, Bischoff attempted to capture the area's brilliant light and diverse landscapes. Spending less time with ceramic painting following the start of World War I , Bischoff took up canvas painting. He painted local farms, fishing wharfs, coastal landscapes and scenes of the Sierra Nevada and the mountains of Utah , including Zion National Park . Recognized during his career for use of color and vivid composition, his paintings always displayed reverence for nature. One critic commented that some of his later works flirted with Expressionism and his use of colors were reminiscent of Fauvism . Franz Bischoff died of heart failure at home in his adopted city of South Pasadena, California , on February 5, 1929. Fostoria, Ohio Fostoria ( / f ɒ s ˈ t ʊər iː ə / , foss-TORR-EE-ə )

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990-467: The Mambourg Glass startup. Production was ready to start on the evening of October 25, although it did not actually start until after midnight (October 26). It took another week before production was made at full capacity. A state inspection report later noted that the glass works had 60 male employees and access to the Columbus and Toledo Railroad . The window glass produced was such good quality that

1035-428: The age of 18 living with them, 39.1% were married couples living together, 17.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 7.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 36.6% were non-families. 31.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.97. The median age in

1080-420: The age of 18 living with them, 44.9% were married couples living together, 15.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.8% were non-families. 29.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 3.03. In the city the population was spread out, with 27.0% under

1125-460: The age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 27.7% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 15.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.0 males. The median income for a household in the city was $ 31,166, and the median income for a family was $ 38,427. Males had a median income of $ 31,476 versus $ 22,016 for females. The per capita income for

1170-464: The beginning of May until the end of August. Because most glass plants melted their batch in a pot during the 1880s, the plant's number of pots was often used to describe a plant's capacity. The ceramic pots were located inside the furnace, and contained molten glass created by melting the batch of ingredients. Tank furnaces, which were less common than pots in the 1880s, were essentially large brick pot furnaces with multiple workstations. A tank furnace

1215-575: The city was $ 15,568. About 9.0% of families and 11.2% of the population were below the poverty line , including 14.1% of those under age 18 and 7.0% of those age 65 or over. The city is served by one airport, called Fostoria Metropolitan Airport . Fostoria was served by the Three Rivers Amtrak Service which ran between Chicago and New York City on CSX 's B&O line until train service there ended in March 2005. The city

1260-399: The city was 37.9 years. 26% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.9% were from 25 to 44; 25.8% were from 45 to 64; and 16% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.3% male and 52.7% female. As of the census of 2000, there were 13,931 people, 5,565 households, and 3,628 families living in the city. The population density

1305-479: The city. Plant design capacity is 6.08 million gallons per day, but current average production is about 2.2 million gallons per day. Mambourg Glass Company Mambourg Glass Company was a window glass manufacturer that began production on October 26, 1887. The company was the first of thirteen glass manufacturers located in Fostoria, Ohio , in the United States, during northwest Ohio's gas boom. The plant

1350-478: The city. The population density was 1,780.3 inhabitants per square mile (687.4/km ). There were 6,225 housing units at an average density of 824.5 per square mile (318.3/km ). The racial makeup of the city was 84.1% White , 6.4% African American , 0.1% Native American , 0.4% Asian , 4.3% from other races , and 4.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11.5% of the population. There were 5,417 households, of which 33.0% had children under

1395-404: The company received more orders than it could handle, causing some orders to be refused. Management soon decided it needed to increase capacity, and work began to accomplish that objective on August 1, 1888, after the beginning of the summer stop. In addition to managing this plant, Mambourg was also managing two other window glass plants controlled by Foster. Mambourg, Foster, and others started

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1440-603: The difficulty of Fostoria's natural gas shortages. Recessions plus periodic shutdowns caused by the fuel shortages caused all three window glass plants to have financial problems. To help the over–taxed Leopold Mambourg, management hired T. T. Lewis to manage daily operations at the three glass plants. In the summer of 1892, Mambourg left town to establish a new glass plant in Circleville, Ohio (near Columbus ). An economic depression began in January 1893 and became known as

1485-491: The glass industry had over–expanded. Some local companies, such as Fostoria Glass Company , decided to move elsewhere to be near better fuel supplies. The Mambourg Glass Company was incorporated in Ohio during August 1887 with capital stock of $ 25,000. Charles Foster was named company president, and J. E. Wilkison became secretary and treasurer. Those two officers were also directors, as were Leopold Mambourg, J. J. Bastin, and B. B. Barry. Ground had already been broken for

1530-412: The main gathering hole. A typical cylinder was up to five feet (1.5 m) long. The cylinder was cooled and then cut at both ends (the "caps") by a craftsman called a cutter . The cylinder, now a tube, was then cut lengthwise to prepare it for flattening. Glass products must be cooled gradually ( annealed ), or else they can become brittle and possibly break. A long conveyor oven used for annealing

1575-480: The new glass works on July 20, 1887, and construction began in mid–August. The new glass works would have a 13 pot furnace. Mambourg (the company's namesake) was the company's general manager, and he supervised the plant's construction—Fostoria's first glass works. Although Fostoria Glass Company was incorporated before Mambourg Glass Company, it did not start construction of its plant until September 12, 1887—and it did not start production until almost two months after

1620-401: The northwest Ohio gas boom. Typical of Rust Belt cities, Fostoria peaked in size in 1970. Fostoria was a major site for the glass industry, having over a dozen glass factories during the end of the 19th century. As the area's gas supply became depleted, many of the factories closed or moved. The city is now known for its railroads, as approximately 100 trains pass through the city each day. As

1665-437: The small village of Findlay . Communities in northwestern Ohio began using low-cost natural gas along with free land and cash to entice manufacturing companies (especially glass makers) to start operations in their towns. The enticement efforts were successful, and at least 70 glass factories existed in northwest Ohio between 1886 and the early 20th century. The city of Fostoria , already blessed with multiple railroad lines,

1710-461: The three companies (and others) to his creditors. The Mambourg Glass Company plant was leased from the creditors and restarted in December 1893 as an employee-owned co-op . However, after it closed for the summer stop on June 19, 1894, it never reopened. Glass is made by starting with a batch of ingredients (mostly sand), melting it, forming the glass product, and gradually cooling it. The batch

1755-453: Was 1,917.6 inhabitants per square mile (740.4/km ). There were 6,024 housing units at an average density of 829.2 per square mile (320.2/km ). The racial makeup of the city was 87.32% White , 5.75% African American , 0.19% Native American , 0.48% Asian , 3.60% from other races , and 2.66% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.92% of the population. There were 5,565 households, out of which 32.0% had children under

1800-466: Was close enough to the natural gas that it was able to use a pipeline to make natural gas available to businesses. Eventually, Fostoria had 13 different glass companies at various times between 1887 and 1920. The gas boom in northwestern Ohio enabled the state to improve its national ranking as a manufacturer of glass (based on value of product) from 4th in 1880 to 2nd in 1890. However, northwestern Ohio had serious problems with its gas supply by 1891, and

1845-439: Was done because the summer heat combined with the heat of the furnace to make the work environment almost unbearable for workers in the hot end (near molten glass). The summer stop also allowed time to perform maintenance on the facility without disrupting the production process. Window glass workers spent more time adjacent to furnaces and ovens because they reheated their product, so some companies had summer stops that lasted from

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1890-401: Was limited by the size of the cylinder. Statistics for unpolished window glass imported into the United States in 1880 show that about half of the tonnage consisted of glass above 10 inches (25 cm) by 15 inches (38 cm) in size and below 24 inches (61 cm) by 30 inches (76 cm). Most glass factories had a summer stop where the production was shut down for about six weeks. This

1935-401: Was managed by Leopold Mambourg, a Belgian immigrant and experienced glassmaker. Much of the company's work force was also from Belgium. Former Ohio governor Charles Foster was president of the company and a major financial backer. He was also a major investor in other businesses and two additional Fostoria window glass companies: the Calcine Glass Company and the Crocker Glass Company. Mambourg

1980-404: Was plagued by fuel shortages as northwest Ohio's natural gas that was used to power the glass company furnaces began to be depleted. In the summer of 1892, Leopold Mambourg left town to start another glass company near Columbus, Ohio . During the Panic of 1893 Foster could no longer meet his financial obligations. In May his three window glass companies were closed and Foster assigned control of

2025-457: Was the chief operating officer for all three of Foster's window glass companies. The startup for Mambourg Glass Company went well, and the company was busy producing high quality window glass. A capacity expansion was finished in January 1890. The company continued to hire glassworkers from Belgium to meet its need for more skilled workers. By mid-1891 the plant, and other factories in Fostoria,

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