This video covers the early history of the McKee glass family and early glass manufacturing in Pittsburgh. They arrived in Pittsburgh in about 1810 and would eventually run not one but two of the most important glassworks in the region, S. McKee & Co. and McKee Glass. They also married into other leading glass manufacturing families including Charles Ihmsen, Frederick Wendt and Frederick Lorenz. They family produced glass bottles, fruit jars, window glass, vials, early American pressed glass (EAPG) and much more. Their factories were in Birmingham, now South Side Pittsburgh and their warehouses and offices were in Pittsburgh.

#americanglass #antiques #pittsburgh #glassbottles #eapg #history #antiqueglass #earlyamericanhistory #1800s #pittsburghhistory #glasscollecting #monongahela #allegheny #birmingham #southsid

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Transcript

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[Intro music] Nothing like that in our family. Nothing like that. Our family tree.

Hi, I'm Melanie, and this is Artifact and Landmark. This episode is about the McKees and the early history of Pittsburgh glass manufacturing.

So you may have come across McKee Glass if you happen to be interested in collecting vintage or antique glass. You'll find EAPG (Early American Pressed Glass, antique bottles, fruit jars, vials, and other unique items, including this example here of this Wren House.

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You can also find McKee Glass in museums, which is always fun. These are some of the museums where you can find McKee Glass as part of the collection. So we have the Winterthur Museum, Garden and Library, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Corning Museum of Glass, the Heinz History Center, Carnegie Museum of Art, Chrysler Museum of Art, and the Museum of American Glass.

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Here's a quick overview of the McKee family. They established two distinct businesses. One branch, which was S. McKee & Co. They produced windows, insulators, bottles, vials and fruit jars. And they also went by Pennsylvania Glassworks. The other F & J McKee who were at first mainly focused on tableware. This company will eventually become McKee Glass, which operated into the 1980s from Jeannette, Pennsylvania.

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So let's get started and delve into the family's early history. So this branch of the McKees begins in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, with the marriage between Daniel McKee and Mary Stewart in 1793. The previous year, Mary's father, Archibald, unfortunately passes. But Mary's mother, Isabella, continues to live on the family farm in Tyrone, Pennsylvania, and we see that in the census of 1800 that Daniel and Mary have chosen to live close to mother Isabella and Tyrone, and at this time we also see that they're raising a growing family of four children.

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Unfortunately, Daniel dies in about 1810, so he's leaves Mary, now 35, to raise her five sons, ranging in ages from 2 to 17. We see Daniel Jr. He's the eldest at 17. We see John at 12, Thomas at ten, James at five and Samuel is just two years old. The youngest three, Thomas, James and Samuel, will together establish the S. McKee & Co glass house in Pittsburgh, while John will marry into the Wendt Glass family. Soon after Daniel's death, Mary must have seen better opportunities for her sons in Pittsburgh, so she soon leaves Tyrone for Pittsburgh, traveling by wagon over the Allegheny Mountains with her five sons.

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This move would have taken the family about 5 to 8 days to travel the 160 miles.

Mary's sons will become glass manufacturers. There are many other opportunities in Pittsburgh, and two of her sons will chose these other professions. So at the time of the McKee's arrival, Pittsburgh was experiencing growth and this was because the U.S. was expanding west, and Pittsburgh was ideally situated because of their rivers to be a gateway to bring both goods and people down

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those rivers to these expanding areas. This was also a period of great innovation. We see a boom in the use of steam both in manufacturing and on the rivers. Pittsburgh will see their first steam-powered flour mill in 1809, which is owned by George Evans. We also see the first steam powered boat manufactured west of the Alleghenies, in Pittsburgh.

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So the name of this ship was in New Orleans, and it launched in 1811. That same year, in 1811, we see the founding of a new county town called Birmingham. And this new development in Pittsburgh will be where the McKees spent most of their lives. We also see businessmen organizing to build bridges across the rivers. But it would be about a decade before we see any of these completed.

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So for now, the McKees and everyone else in Pittsburgh are using ferries and boats to cross the rivers. One additional event to mention is, of course, the War of 1812, which did boost the economy both in Pittsburgh and in the U.S. due to the embargoes.

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Now on to a little history about the glass houses of Pittsburgh. What's unique about the history of Pittsburgh glass industry is that it managed to persevere, overcoming the many economic and manufacturing difficulties that caused other regions to fail. A great deal of thanks is actually owed to General James O'Hara, who continued to invest in the business. Often he became very frustrated by the progress of the business as well as the attitude of his glass workers.

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Although General James O'Hara and his initial partner had no experience in glass manufacturing, they did manage to attract skilled workers to the area.  These workers would ultimately form their own glassworks and become the fathers in law to two of the McKee brothers, paving their way into the glass business. So we see in 1808, the first of these workers, Edward Ensell, establish his own glass business.

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He ends up selling his works to Bakewell glass. And then by 1812, we see him as establishing a new glassworks with other workers from O'Hara in the new town of Birmingham, a few miles down the river. This is most likely where the McKee brothers worked, and this was their home for most of their lives.

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So their directory of 1815 lists four glassworks, with their location mostly found on the west bank of the Monongahela River. And we'll take a trip down this river, and I'll introduce you to these works. So the first at the top here is, the O'Hara glassworks. So it's also known as a Pittsburgh Glassworks. It's built in 1797 and produced windows, bottles and some tableware.

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It was located on the west bank of the Monongahela, across from the point today where today we have the point. The Duquesne Incline is located at the midpoint of the property, and you can find a historical marker at the base of the incline. So some of these works would essentially be located in the parking lot across from the Duquesne Incline.

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The second glass house is Bakewell, also known as a Pittsburgh Flint Glass manufactory or works. It was established in 1808, and this would have been the glass house that Ensell had sold to the Bakewells. It was located at water and found on the east bank of the Monongahela River, and they mainly produce tableware. The third, we're going to go back to the other side of the river and visit Trevor and Encel, which was established in 1812.

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This glass house was located south of O'Hara works, on the west bank of the Monongahela River, opposite Wood Street, in what is now known as Station Square. This firm also produced tableware. And finally, we'll get to the glass work that we really want to focus on, which is the Birmingham Glassworks. They produce windows and bottles and they were established in 1812.

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And this is the group of workers that came from the O'Hara works, including Ensell and Wendt, the two fathers-in-law to the McKees. So why this is also central to the McKee family history is because this is most likely where they worked. It was located in the recently founded town of Birmingham, established in about 1811, was the town, and of course, they're established in 1812 on the west bank of the Monongahela River.

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This town would be the home of the McKees for most of their lives. So this work included Charles Ihmsen, who would become both Frederick Lorenz and Samuel Mckee's father-in-law, Frederick Wendt, which is John's future father in law, Edward Ensell, senior and junior, Peter Hain, George Sutton and John McNickle. With the growth and industry in the McKees, would also see their region's population grow between 1810 and 1820.

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We see the population growing by about 52%, although this figure may not capture the full picture. The directory from 1815 suggests a population of around 9000, while the 1820 census shows a 7000. This difference could be due to the downturn of the economy with the panic of 1819. It was an economically bleak time for the country, but Pittsburgh would weather this period with some key projects to help increase the business flowing through this region.

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Some of these projects included the long anticipated bridges we see the first one opening up in 1818. This would be the Monongahela Bridge, which opened November 22nd, 1818 and crossed the river at Smithfield. The Allegheny Bridge, located at the foot of what is now sixth Street, then Saint Clair Street, opened the following year. On November 2nd, 1819.

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The following month, we see the passing of General James O'Hara. He was also eventually removed and buried at the Allegheny Cemetery. By 1824, we see the country recovering, and it's during this time that we see President Monroe invite Marquis de Lafayette to help celebrate the 50th anniversary of the American independence. A direct consequence of the Marquis's visit is the promotion of Pittsburgh glass, specifically Bakewell glass.

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Lafayette was and is still a celebrated figure of the American Revolution. As part of his tour, he spent several days in Pittsburgh in 1825. Lafayette's personal secretary during the trip against Levasseur and he recounts the impression of Lafayette when he was observing some of the glasses that were presented to him. So, he says, some patterns of which were presented to him - the glass - that for their clearness and transparency they might have been admired even by the side of the glass

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of Baccarat. And luckily we have samples of these glasses or examples of these glasses at different museums. And we also have a at example from the same era. So we can kind of judge them side by side. So on view online and in gallery 704 the met a fifth avenue are some of the Bakewell glasses gifted to Lafayette and one tumbler was gifted by his brother.

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Sorry his foster brother, Doctor Felix Brunot, a resident of Pittsburgh, and it features a sulfide portrait of Andrew Jackson at the bottom. Another showcased a cameo of Lafayette. To compare we travel to the Toledo Museum and they have a couple of Bacharach commemorative plaques with sulfide cameos of Marie Antoinette and Louis the 16th from the same period.

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So that 1830 period. And I suggest they're actually quite similar. It seems these glasses were also a sort of souvenir, since Bakewell advertised them for sale in 1825.

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In 1826, the year following Lafayette's visit, Samuel Jones publishes a new directory for Pittsburgh. So bearing the same name, he is the grandson of Samuel Jones, who served as Allegheny County's first register recorder. So we're going to catch up now with the McKees with this directory. We see that, the McKees in 1826 -- Mary McKee is now 51, and her sons have reached some milestones.

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Daniel, the eldest, is 33 and is married to Louisa. John, age 28, he marries Charlotte, one of the daughter of Frederick Wendt in 1825. Thomas is now 26 and married to Harriet. James is 21 and Samuel is now 18. With his directory, we find that most glasshouses have survived the downturn in the economy, and so we will revisit the glass houses.

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Pittsburgh Glassworks. This is the O'Hara glassworks is now being run by Frederick Lorenz, who marries Catherine Ihmsen, Charles Ihmsen's daughter. Samuel McKee will also marry into the Ihmsen family. So Frederick Lorenz and Samuel McKee will become brothers-in-law by marriage. Frederick Lorenz has also taken charge of the old a glass house of Trevor and Encell.

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So we have a new entrant. We have the Stourbridge Glassworks. And it's established by John Robinson in 1823. It's very close to the Bakewell Glassworks at Ross and Second Street. Now second Avenue. And then we have the Birmingham Glassworks, and it's now operating under when Wendt, Ensell and Impson (Ihmsen). We have Bakewell, Page and Bakewell. As an interesting additional note, in Birmingham, this is the McKee's home,

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they have a population about 459. And this is just a fraction of the 10,000 in Pittsburgh. So what comes next is a time of change for the glass industry in general in Pittsburgh. So we essentially see the first, founding Glassman members passing away. The first of these events is the passing of Edward Ensell Senior in July 1828.

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So he was again one of the founders of Bakewell's Glass House and then also one of the founders of Birmingham Glassworks. That same year, in September, Charles Ihmsen dies and Filipina, his wife, and his son in law Frederick lorenz become executors of his estate. So among all these sad events, there's a much happier event. Around this time we see Samuel McKee, Marries Mary Ihmsen, the daughter of Charles and Filipina Ihmsen.

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By one indication the two families are very close and that indication is that the remains of both Charles and his wife, Filipina, will eventually be removed to Samuel McKee's plot in the Allegheny Cemetery. In 1831, we see another passing, Frederick Wendt, another founder of the Birmingham Glassworks, and of course, a leading a previously leading member of the O'Hara works. The McKee tie

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as a reminder, the McKee tie to the Wendt family is that John McKee marries Charlotte Wendt.

So a bit of a digression. So I mentioned earlier that O'Hara got very frustrated with some of his workers. So we get a glimpse into what he thought of Frederick Wendt and his independent character through a letter dated 1805. And this is from James O'Hara to Fred Amelung.

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He's another Baltimore glass manufacturer who will actually eventually come and spend some time working at the O'Hara's work for a few years. In it, O'Hara expresses his frustration with Frederick.

Fred K. Wendt, ignorant, obstinate, and seditious, has gone off down this river. I do not know where and has taken three others with him, still more ignorant than himself.

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My works are now clear of all encumbrances in that way and ready to commence a new.

After the passing of these Birmingham glassworks founding members Charles Ihmsen, Edward Ensell and Frederick Wendt, the works continue to operate, inherited by the next generation. By 1837 we see the wet location operating under C. Ihmsen & Co. and the C stands for Christian who is Charles

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Ihmsen's son. Around this time we see Samuel McKee establish the Pennsylvania Glassworks, also known as S McKee & Co, with brothers James and Thomas. Samuel is approximately 28, James is 31 and Thomas is about 36. They manufacture window glass, bottles and vials in Birmingham at what is now Armstrong Field at 12th and Sarah Streets on the south side.

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This would be the location of the glass work for its lifespan, and this early map view from 1852 shows the location. Although the works are in Birmingham, of course, the style of that time was that they would have their warehouses in, Pittsburgh. So S. McKee & Co., of course, they're going to have their warehouses and offices on the east bank of the Monongahela, first on Wood near Virgin Alley, which is now Oliver Avenue, then at Second Street, now Boulevard of the Allies, between Wood and Market and finally at 62 Water Street, which is now Fort Pitt Boulevard.

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We have this table to where we can now see in 1837, some of the glass houses, and you can see that, Samuel is essentially, manufacturing side by side by his brothers in law firms, Frederick Lorenz and Christian Ihmsen. So in 1841, we see Mary Stewart McKee, the matriarch, die at the age of 66.

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She is eventually removed to her final resting place at the Thomas McKee plot, again at the Allegheny Cemetery. And we see the first son die. In 1844, Daniel dies, after a long illness. I'm not sure what the illness was. He leaves behind a wife, Louisa, and a young family. And some of these sons will end up working in the glass houses, but will eventually go on to other things.

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The next year, in 1845, a fire consumes part of Pittsburgh. So we have a map here that shows the affected area, and it's on the east bank of the Monongahela. Most, if not all, the glass warehouses, including Samuel McKee's, were destroyed. Although the Monongahela Bridge, connecting Pittsburgh to Birmingham, burns the borough is untouched by the blaze.

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Pittsburgh rebuilds it is said within months. In 1846, we see another matriarch die, Filipina Ihmsen passes. And again, she's both a mother to Mary McKee, Samuel's wife, and Catherine Lorenz, Frederick's wife. In 1850, the four remaining brothers are John, he's now about 52. Thomas is 50, and he's actually, guiding his children, Frederick and James, to establish their own glass house.

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James is 45 and still a partner of S. McKee & Co, and Samuel is 42 years old. So the 1850 census lets us get a peek into Samuel's home life and children. We also see that his brother James is living with Samuel at this time. His home would be on Carson Street between what was called Oliver and Greg and which is now sixth and seventh streets.

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Samuel's sons will all join the glassworks, as well as Samuel's son in law, Robert Wallace. And we see in the 1860 census that Uncle James McKee is living with Robert Wallace. So going back to the census of 1850, we also get a peek into Thomas' family. We can see that Frederick is already in the glass manufacturing business. He has entered into a partnership with his brother James and James Bryce.

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Frederick leaves the partnership in 1853 and James soon follows, leaving it in 1854. Frederick and James will then form their own glassworks, F & J. McKee in 1853. The glassworks will eventually become McKee glass of Jeannette, Pennsylvania, which eventually closes in the 1980s. By the end of the Civil War, we see Samuel as the only son that remains from the union between Daniel McKee and Mary Stewart.

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John dies on June 11th, 1863. James dies in about 1864. Thomas dies on June 2nd, 1864.

That's it for this episode. Join me next time.

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