During the last quarter of the nineteenth century, the nation's thirst for glass was insatiable. As a result of improvements in food processing, foods, patent medicine and spirits became available to the general public and glass was the choice material for packaging. Also, the building boom required huge amounts of window glass and every community of any size had at least one window glass factory.
Art glass, tableware, light bulbs, bar goods, lamps and lampshades were offered in endless varieties. Again, numerous plants scattered throughout the East Coast, the Northeast, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio and eastern Indiana produced an endless array of products.
At this same time, a large natural gas field was discovered and Ohio and Indiana communities aggressively recruited the industries that required natural gas. An estimated 5000 wells existed in Indiana in 1895. "experts" predicted that the gas would last at least 300 years. Instead, the supply was exhausted in 15 years.
Two things brought Adolphe Bournique to Kokomo, Indiana. The first was the above described "gas boom". The second was the existence of Kokomo Opalescent Glass Company. In 1903, KOG had already existed for 15 years. At this time they needed to replace their glass chemist and Adolphe was available. Incidentally, KOG continues to export quality art glass around the world and they make it in the same way as they did in 1888.
After 3 years of employment, Adolphe struck out on his own and founded Bournique Glass Company. The main product line was the same as KOG's - cathedral and opalscent glass in sheet form. In 1912, the firm started producing molded glass lampshades, tableware and vases.
Thanks to these research sources for their assistance in information gathering:
Beth Hylen, Rakow Library, Corning Museum of Glass w Kokomo Public Library w J. Stanley Brothers w Paul Crist w Eva Hopkins w Tom Bredehoft w John Shuman w Bing Hilton w Dave Meshek w Dale Trick. Lastly, thanks to Rebecca Coath of Humphrey Printing Company for building this website.
