1928 Hemingray picnic photo

ALBUM OF YESTERYEAR

ONE OF MUNCIE'S MAJOR EMPLOYERS during the 1920s was Hemmingray [sic] Hemingray Glass Co., with a workforce of 500. The above photograph was taken July 22, 1928. It shows a group of men at a Hemmingray [sic] Hemingray company picnic. The photo was supplied by Frank Hurst, who’s grandfather, Ben Smith is among them. According to Hurst, Ben Smith started working at the factory when he was about seven years old and worked there about 30 years. He later worked at Indiana Steel and Wire. The Hemmingray [sic] Hemingray Glass Co. moved to Muncie in 1888 from Covington, Ky. The plant was on Macedonia Avenue at Ninth street. The company was known internationally for the manufacture of glass insulators used by telephone, telegraph and power companies. During the 1920s, the firm added other items, including glass bottles (perhaps the ones the workers are holding up in the photo). In 1933, the company was sold to Owens-Illinois, which continued operations at the Muncie factory until 1972. Anyone with questions or comments for the album of yesteryear can contact Mike Mavis at 288-3307 or at features@thestarpress.com.