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Viking Plant Being Demolished

By Staff | Jan 16, 2013

Demolition of the former Viking Glass plant in New Martinsville, adjacent to Parkway, First Street, and the railroad tracks, began Monday. Robert Litman of Litman Excavating, the company that owns the site, said the demolition of approximately 20,000 square feet will probably be finished by the end of next week. The main plant portion is what is being demolished. He said the former office, warehouse, and retail store will stay standing. Litman said the building simply became in such bad shape that it was no longer usable.

The plant was opened as New Martinsville Glass in 1900. Attempting to change their image with their wares to fit the then-popular Swedish decor, the glass company changed their name to Viking in 1944. Purchased by Kenneth Dalzell, former president of the Fostoria Glass Company, in 1987, its name was changed to Dalzell-Viking Glass. Production ceased in 1998, when the company entered into bankruptcy. The glass furnaces have been idle since then. (Photo by Amy Witschey)