Elwood
Glass Houses
On the Indiana Glass Trail, the beautiful glass objects in tiny Elwood are part of the offshoot of the gas boom in Madison County.
The boom attracted such artisans as John McClair, an immigrant from Alsace-Lorraine France, worked as a master gaffer at a glass factory back at the turn of the last century.
Encouraged to come in at night to create glass works, he often took his sons who watched him make the delicate glass flowers that were part of his heritage.
After the company went out of business, all of the family moved away except for John’s son Joe who in 1938 started a glass business. The company thrived for decades, evolving into the House of Glass which sells artisan glass items that are reflective of the Elwood’s glass heritage.
Glass making also is part of the family history at www.carolslegacy.com/
The Elwood Glass Festival, entering its fourth decade, is held the third week in August to celebrate the town’s glass history.