When Thomas and Mary McArdle arrived in the USA during 1866 Great Great Grandfather Thomas found work in the growing glass works in Pittsburgh Pa. As their four (4) son’s grew they found work in the same glass works. Twin brothers Thomas And Philip moved to Alton Illinois following the glass trade, James Joseph located to Steubenville Ohio and Patrick remained in Pittsburgh.
Before steel making filled the sky with the dark clouds of early 20th century industry, Pittsburgh was creating glass. As early as the 1820s Pittsburgh was a major distributor of glass products. Pittsburgh glass was used for globes that lit the nation’s streets, windows for homes, and jars for food. Being located along three rivers, Pittsburgh made good use of the waterways. It all started with three immigrants: Albert Gallatin, James O’Hara, and Benjamin Bakewell. By the Civil War, Pittsburgh’s glass trade was a $7 million business with 20 bottle and vial factories, 23 window glass factories, 22 flint glass factories, and a number of glass producers devoted exclusively to the production of chimneys. Invention was the key to Pittsburgh’s success in glass manufacturing. Over 100 patents were secured by Pittsburgh’s glassmakers.
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