Tours & Lectures
History
Frederick Dorflinger Suydam and his wife Dorothy Grant Suydam took over the farmhouse and property that was originally purchased by Christian Dorflinger in 1862. When Dorothy died in 1979, her Will stipulated the estate be used as a wildlife sanctuary in memory of her husband. She hoped a museum would be established dedicated to Dorflinger glass. The Suydam's gift was augmented by the kindness of June Dorflinger Hardy, who generously relinquished her life interest in the buildings located on the property. In 1980, the non-profit Dorflinger-Suydam Wildlife Sanctuary, Inc., was established under the guidance of Roger M. Blough, fulfilling the wishes of Dorothy Suydam.
The Sanctuary acquired its first piece of Dorflinger glass in September 1981 as a gift from Agnes Houth Baisden. Mrs. Baisden gave a Marlboro pattern decanter in memory of her father, Fred Houth, who had worked in the Dorflinger factory. Many glass acquisitions followed. In 1986, the trustees of the Sanctuary began a campaign led by William Adams and Daniel O'Neill to raise $150,000 to construct a museum on the Sanctuary grounds.
With the generous support of the community, the fund drive surpassed its goal in the fall of 1987. At that time, noted glass expert Helen N. Barger agreed to donate more than 300 pieces of Dorflinger glass. The trustees named renowned Dorflinger expert Ray LaTournous curator of the nascent museum in the winter of 1987. He was charged with the tasks of developing the collection and training volunteers. Construction of the building was completed in 1988. On May 20, 1989, the Dorflinger Glass Museum opened to the public.
In 1991, acting curator Mark Eggenberger installed a display of glass from Dorflinger family members June Hardy and Jane Beers. Henry Loftus, Jr., was appointed curator in 1992.
The Helen N. Barger Research Center and Library was established in an unused space in the museum building in 1996. Funded by money donated in memory of Helen N. Barger, the effort was directed by Dr. Walter Barbe and Marilyn Barger. Significant donations of important research materials have been made by David Dorflinger, Elaine Kreitner, June D. Hardy, the family of Helen N. Barger and the family of John C. Dorflinger.
The Dorflinger Glass Museum is recognized as having the largest display of Dorflinger glass in the nation. Annually, the museum attracts 3,500 visitors and is regularly featured in print and broadcast media at the local, regional and national levels. The museum was the first glass museum to establish a site on the Internet. Lectures and special events bring additional visitors to the museum each year. Over 100 volunteers donate their time to staff the museum and museum shop. Under the management of Fanny Marshall, the museum shop is an important source of revenue.
The museum must generate enough revenue each year to support its costs. Admissions and museum shop sales are the porimary sources of funds for the museum. The Sanctuary supports the museum by maintaining the building and grounds through the services of General Manager Tom Dein. The museum could not operate on its own without the support of the Sanctuary. Funds are always needed for educational programming, research and to develop and care for the collections.