History of Village Glass

Village Glass Works was created in 1976 by Tom Kemper and David Pickering. Its first location was on the second floor of the Longbell Lumber building on north Ninth Street near Ash, a spot now occupied by a parking lot. In 1978 the business was moved to 115 N. 9th Street, a storefront next door to the original location of the Candy Factory. Bennet Singleton replaced Tom Kemper as co-owner.

Wayne Brotherton purchased Village Glass Works in 1980 and operated it at 1110 Wilkes Blvd. until 1993. It was owned for a short time by Chris Viers, who relocated it to the Atkins Building at 1123 Wilkes Blvd. Tom Fiegel and Mike Koonse purchased the business in 1993 and moved it to its present location in 1996. Wayne Brotherton is now employed as artist and craftsman on specific projects. The business is managed by Susie Fiegel and Molly Fiegel.

Village Glass Works is now located at 315 N. 10th Street in the historic Elkins home. Built in 1882 by Samuel and Isabel Elkins, the house represents the Italianate style with its low pitched, truncated hipped roof, wide eaves, three sided bays, cornices decorated by ornate double brackets, and tall, narrow double hung round top windows capped by segmental arches. An addition to the rear was built in 1900 to add bathrooms and central heating to the house and the carpenter’s gothic porch was likely added at that time. After 40 years as a private residence, the home was a doctor’s office, a boarding house and an apartment building. The house was placed on the National Register of Historic Places places in 1996, thanks to the efforts of Greg Olsen and Susie Fiegel.