Glass Act

“I do enjoy the beauty of beach glass, its frosted appearance and the bold glow when it is wet and held up to light,” explains Jodie Pastor of Fairview, Pennsylvania. “But what fascinates me the most is the history behind the glass that is waiting to be discovered.”

Jodie is just one of many who regularly scour the shores of Lake Erie for beach glass, bits of glass that have been tumbled and polished by the water and sand, creating small pieces of smooth frosted glass. While it’s a relaxing hobby for most, some collectors create jewelry from the glass; others research their finds to discover what the piece may have once been.

“It’s very satisfying when you are able to say without a doubt what a piece once was,” explains Jodie, who identifies beach glass (also called sea glass) by perusing books on Depression glass and pottery patterns, as well as books on regional history.

Most beach glass comes from bottles and jars previously filled with liquids such as soda, juices, spirits, medicine, ink, and even poison. Jodie lists white, brown, green, and sea foam as some of the most common colors of beach glass, with orange, turquoise, red, and yellow making the rarest shades.

“Rarity of color can be general, but it does change depending on locality, too,” explains Jodie. “You can go to the beach in Conneaut and find an abundance of black amethyst or cobalt—whereas a beach in East Erie may offer an abundance of grays.”

The type of glass found in an area also links to the types of factories and industries that may have been located on the coast, says Jodie. For example, if a Coca-Cola bottling plant had been located near the lake or a tributary running into the lake, the area may have a predominance of sea foam glass, characteristic of the company's older bottles.

Collectors Unite
Whether it’s the thrill of finding beach glass, or unearthing its origin, the hobby of “glassing” has become popular all around the world. Lake Erie’s sparkling jewels, however, will take center stage this year as collectors gather in Erie, Pennsylvania, for the North American Sea Glass Festival, October 17 and 18. Sponsored by the North American Sea Glass Association (NASGA,) it’s the fourth year for the festival, but the first time the event has been held in a city on one of the Great Lakes. Previous festivals were held in California and Delaware.

Mary Beth Beauke, NASGA president and owner of West Coast Sea Glass in the state of Washington, says thousands of people from around the world are expected to attend the festival at the Bayfront Convention Center.

“I think people are starting to figure out that sea glass has really grown in popularity over the years,” explains Mary Beth. “The Internet has really helped with that. Sea glass is becoming rare, so it’s kind of this nostalgic hobby that we know may not last forever for people.”

Mary Beth says Erie was chosen for this year’s festival because they were looking for an area that has a lot of collectors, as well as a waterfront facility to host the event. They’re expecting record crowds for the festival, which showcases collections and provides a venue for glassing enthusiasts to discuss their finds.

Collectors will also have the opportunity to view rare glass items, like Asian fishing net floats that have drifted across the Pacific onto the western shore. “I have quite a few pieces that we show and put in museums . . . antique bottle stoppers in rare colors like reds and pinks and old marbles that ships used as ballast,” say Mary Beth.

In addition, the festival will also offer seminars and speakers. Mary Beth will be sharing her own beach glass adventures from around the globe, and Michael C. Cohill, of the American Toy Marble Museum in Akron, Ohio, will discuss marbles found along the beaches. Attendees will also get to see various businesses specializing in beach glass products and will have the opportunity to show off their own finds by entering the “Shard of the Year” contest, which offers a one-thousand-dollar grand prize.

Perhaps even more valuable than money, however, may be the inside tips visitors will get from experienced collectors. “There is really quite a bit to know. You can really get immersed in it historically and archaeologically,” says Mary Beth. “It’s more than just a hobby for some people.”

Join beach glass collectors for one of the largest events of its kind, featuring collections, seminars, lectures, vendors, and more. Bring your favorite find for a chance to win $1,000.

Hours: Sat. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sun. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Admission: $5 wristband provides admission both days