|
Joe
Zimmerman Room
|
|
BED - Jenny Lind - Quilt, Lone Star Pattern
CHEST - English Mahogany, circa 1800
SECRETARY-BOOKCASE - Oak, paperweights on inside made by Joe Zimmerman
LAMPS - Handmade glass, donated by Bart and Kerry Zimmerman
WASHSTAND - Marble Top & Towel Rack
AREA RUGS - Handmade by Bonnie Hayes
|
|
|
Among
the notable citizens in Corydon's recent history was Joe
Zimmerman. Not only was Joe loved and admired by those who
knew him, he was a catalyst in Corydon's tourism development.
Joe Zimmerman, a glass artisan, owned and operated the
Zimmerman Art Glass Company for over twenty years. He produced
hand crafted glass items which people across the country have
added to their prized collections. Each item was made by Joe
with painstaking care and no two pieces were exactly alike. He
had three passions in life: his work, his Tuesday fishing day,
and the family he was so proud of: Daughter Josie, and sons
Bart and Kerry.
Zimmerman's love of his craft was handed down from his
grandfather, Frederick Zimmerman, who had been an expert glass
presser at the U.S. Glass Company in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Frederick passed his appreciation for fine offhand glass and
schooling in the finer points of glass judgment to his son
Victor, who in turn passed the family talent to his son Joe.
Victor Zimmerman, Joe's father, started working in glass
factories at Marion, Indiana at ten years of age and was
engaged in glasswork throughout his career. Victor had
experience in several factories before he joined the Corydon
Enterprise, a lamp chimney factory. On May 4, 1923, Victor and
his wife Daisy were blessed with a son, Joe.
In 1938, Joe started spending summer vacations as a
glass worker at the Corydon Enterprise putting crimps on the
tops of lamp chimneys. He also helped his father make
paperweights.
Joe began in earnest to master the skills of offhand
glass production at Glass Handcrafters, a Corydon factory
where his father had become chief glass artisan. Later in
1957, while his father lay ill from a stroke, Joe worked
constantly to improve his skills, taking pieces home for his
dad's critical judgment and advice about how to improve the
glass products.
In May of 1963, Joe and a business partner opened
Zimmerman Art Glass Company. Joe continued developing his
talent and created a wide variety of art glass objects. His
beautiful paper weights were among the most popular items. He
also designed doorstops, pencil and ring holders, baskets,
vases, candleholders, lamps, and a wide variety of decorator
items. Joe welcomed visitors to the factory, where he
demonstrated and explained the glass making process. His
unique art objects were displayed and sold the the thousands
of tourists and glass collectors who visited Corydon -- some
were even shipped abroad. People were as drawn to Joe
Zimmerman, the delightful man, as they were to his glass
collectibles.
A short in the electrical system at Zimmerman Art Glass
Company caused a fire February 20, 1983, which destroyed the
factory. An outpouring of help came from within the community
as well as throughout the country. The encouragement and
donations Joe received enabled him to rebuild a
state-of-the-art building. When he opened the doors of his new
factory, he was joined by two enthusiastic partners, his sons
Bart and Kerry. The threesome worked together, with Joe
passing the family tradition and talent to the fourth
generation of Zimmerman glass artisans. Bart and Kerry were
apt learners and soon became vital to the business.
Admirers and loved ones were devastated to learn Joe
Zimmerman had been shot to death in his glass factory on July
29, 1986. The community mourned the loss of its friend and
highly valued businessman. Sons Bart and Kerry Zimmerman have
continued operating the Zimmerman Art Glass Company as their
father would have wished. They have proved to be as able and
talented as Joe and are encouraged by the community to
continue the fine craftsmanship taught by their father.
The Zimmerman Art Glass Company is open to the public Tuesday
through Saturday, 9:00 a.m. til 5:00 p.m., 300 E. Chestnut St., Corydon.
|
|