Glass City Key
Location 17
Date: 1950's
Owner: Valorie (Nelson) Mahas
This is a "key" to the City of Toledo. I acquired this piece (albeit broken) after the death of my Uncle James C Nelson back in 1998. My entire family was of the "Libbey Glass" family. To my understanding, our family moved here to Toledo in the 1950's to be gainfully employed by Libbey Glass. My grandfather James C Nelson Sr. was one of the original glass blowers in the area and he performed at the old glass pavilion teaching and demonstrating the art of glass blowing. He was also instrumental in "hooking " up my parents as both of them also worked for Libbey: my father, Robert G. Nelson, as a machine operator and my mother, Grace I. Nelson as Libbey's Commercial Artist. My Aunts, Careta Pinniger and Mary E. Nelson also worked in the factory at Libbey in final inspection. So as you can see, Libbey Glass has been an integral part of my family history and I probably would not be here today had my parents not met and worked together there. And as you can see, despite the "Key" being broken and all of the above-mentioned people are now gone there are still a lot of fond memories that go along with its story.