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Due to COVID-19 recommendations from the Tioga County Taskforce and Governor Wolf’s office, Christmas on Main Street is a mask-required event. If you do not have a mask when you arrive one will be given to you by the Chamber of Commerce free of charge. Other changes were also made to the schedule following guidelines for a safe, fun event for the whole family.

On today’s broadcast, Anja Stam of Pop’s Culture Shoppe joined Sara Vogt to discuss the items of manufacturing miracles being displayed at the newly renovated Highland’s Chocolates on Main Street in Wellsboro highlighting our Christmas on Main Street event. During Anja’s mini-tour, she points out the blowpipe used in the Corning Glass Factory to make hand-blown light bulbs and the transition to the Christmas light bulbs produced on the ribbon machines.

On Anja’s tour, she spoke about the different manufacturing molds that were attached to the machines being shown at different locations. At Highlands, there is an example of the round mold, at Antiques Around Us there is a bell shape mold and at Pop’s, there is a rare Santa mold and ornament designed by Ellsworth Brown.

At Bethany’s Jewelry and Design you can see one of the plates from the machine, that would have carried the ribbon of molten glass, and then you’ll see the leftover cullet that would have been sent back to the furnace.

Throughout the downtown tour, you’ll see nice examples of the many different styles of ornaments produced here in Wellsboro, and the Ornament History Guide will give you more details about them. Some of the displays, like Highland’s and the video presentation at Penn Oak Realty, may be viewed from outside. Photos of other indoor displays will be posted on the Christmas on Main Street Facebook page.

To read the whole story, you can pick up a copy of the Ornament History Guide at the Penn Wells Hotel, Wild Asaph Outfitters, The Farmers’ Daughters, and at Pop’s Culture Shoppe. The Ornament History guide may also be purchased online at popscultureshoppe.com and you can choose curbside pickup, or you can have it shipped.

The Ornament History brochure tells the story of the revolutionary ribbon machine, and thanks to Skip Cavanaugh, Ryan Root, and other former Wellsboro Glass workers, this year we are able to display the artifacts associated with the manufacturing process.

If you would like more information on Christmas on Main Street please visit their Facebook page and website.

If you would like to help us build a permanent home for these historical treasures, please send your tax-deductible donation to:

Wellsboro Foundation
(reference “Ribbon Machine”)
114 Main Street
Wellsboro, PA 16901

Wellsboro Foundation is a 501 C3 organization and questions may be addressed to Julie at juliev@wellsboropa.com or
call 570-724-1926.

And finally, if you have personal stories to share about your family’s history at the Wellsboro Glass plant please share them with the Christmas on Main Street Committee: WellsboroGlass@gmail.com