Rodefer Glass Company Letter

Check out this week’s Monday Morning treasure from the Museum of American Glass in WV. It is a letter from the Rodefer Glass Company in Bellaire, Ohio. Although Rodefer was in existence for the better part of a century, the company is scarcely known today, because they relied almost exclusively on private mould work. They made the blanks for C. F. Monroe’s Wave Crest line and years ago, I saw evidence that they sometimes filled orders for Heisey when that company was backed up. As the letterhead on this example of their correspondence enumerates, they were “manufacturers of blown and pressed specialties in private moulds, prismatic sidewalk, floor, sash and skylights, opal ware for decorators, lantern globes” – and that is just the tip of the iceberg.

What is fascinating about this particular letter is that it was sent to all of their employees, to make sure they were aware of a notice that had just been posted in the factory. It seems that C. M. Rodefer, president of the firm, was an ardent teetotaler. Written in 1937 some four years after Prohibition was repealed, Mr. Rodefer wanted to make sure that anyone who worked for him was aware that Prohibition was still in full force in his company.

The letter reads:

“The following NOTICE was posted in our plant on September 2nd. We are sending this copy of the notice so that each and every employee of The Rodefer Glass Company may have full knowledge of what has been done. The fact that you receive a copy of this notice does not necessarily mean that we are assuming that you personally violated the rule. If you have violated the rule – you know it. Please be governed accordingly.

“COPY OF THE NOTICE
“To all the employees of The Rodefer Glass Company:

“1 – We are posting this notice with the full knowledge of Mr. Fred Kuntz, President of Local No. 34, and Mr. George Kuntz, President of branch No. 558, Both A. F. G. W. U.

“2 – For times longer than we can remember there has been a rigid rule in this plant that no one is to have possession of or bring liquor upon the premises.
“3 – The same rule applies to people in our employ who attempt to come to work under the influence of liquor – in any degree.

“4 – It has come to the attention of the officers of this company that in recent weeks the provisions of these rules have been violated more than once. This is to notify each and every one of you that further violation of these rules, if detected, will be sufficient reason for immediate and permanent dismissal from our employment.

“Yours for the benefit of safety, good management, sobriety and for the prevention of accidents.

“THE RODEFER GLASS COMPANY”

So be warned! And now I’m off to have a glass of wine before dinner – please don’t tell Mr. Rodefer!