John Craven lived in Eastern Guilford County and must have been close to 80 when he died in about 2014. Mr. Craven was passionate about collecting oil lamps. He attend the monthly glass collection meetings at Replacements LTD, just down the road from his house. Regardless of the theme of the glass meetings (cut glass, mid-century modern, Blenko, decanters, vases, salt and pepper shakers, etc.), Mr. Craven brought oil lamps for the "show and tell" portion of the event. He would listen patiently as we went around the room, describing our treasures. When it was his turn, he told the story of how he acquired his lamps and what they represented. Mr. Craven loved collecting oil lamps, loved knowing and learning about them, and loved sharing them with others. His wife, slightly less interested in lamps, diligently attended the glass club meetings with him. Dean Six, the glass expert who drove down from West Virginia to facilitate the meetings, shared his knowledge with Mr. Craven and learned from him, too.
When Mr. Craven died, his lamps were donated to the Museum of American Glass (MAG) in Weston West Virginia. Thanks to the Cravens and Dean, who facilitated the acquisition, people with a love of oil lamps, American glass, and Americana in general, can see many of the lamps on display. The above photo, MAG's current window display, features but a few examples of the oil lamps. The Cravens donated over 4,000 oil lamps to the museum, and upwards of 7,000 pieces of glass when you consider chimneys and other lamp parts. How wonderful that the lamps ended up where they will be appreciated.
We thought it would be appropriate to share this post with a Greensboro/West Virginia connection today as today is West Virginia's 153rd birthday. If you are ever driving on I-79 and are at exit 99, we suggest you stop and visit this museum* and ask them to point you in the direction of Mr. Craven's lamps! As of the last census, the population of Weston was 4,110, at least a lamp apiece for each resident!
*more information, here.
