Lake Michigan living at its best

The Glass Blower of Birdland Hardware

Does anyone remember the fabulous glass blower who used to create those little animals at Birdland Hardware?

Permalink Reply by Chuck Cloutier on September 29, 2009 at 5:24pm: I sure do! Back when Birdland was on the east side of Hancock.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Denise G. Cantrall on October 2, 2009 at 1:41pm: I remember him so well! He was the big treat when my family would come to town from our cottage 1/2 miles north of the Bass Lake outlet. Our place had no running water, electricity, or indoor plumbing. We would walk down the beach to our car (at Sibley's place) because we had no road. Anyway, I still have many of the glassblower's things, although sadly many have been broken. I believe my daughter has my green ballerina. The Pentwater Library exhibited many of his pieces a few years ago.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Joan Schlee on October 7, 2009 at 1:05am: I sure do!! I went to school with Gibb Lucas, his Dad owned Birdland then. Every week we'd get a .50 allowance, I remember saving to buy the little animals, good memories!!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by George Kreager on October 11, 2009 at 7:43am: Getting off your thought a bit, as I recall there was a glass artist at Bailey's Hardware before the gent you are placing at Birdland. He was from Hart or Wear. He made a number of blown and fabricated articles. This could be checked out with Roger Bailey in Pentwater. I did not visit Pentwater during or see the fellow you are indicating at Birdland. I believe the fellow at Baileys passed away, during the 70's or early 80's.
Regards,
George; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by samual smalley on December 16, 2009 at 2:38am: I believe the "Glass Man" did begin in the Bailey hardware store then move across the street to the corporate colossus of Birdland, created after the huge and shocking merger between Bailey's hardware and the dime store.

When The "Glassman" appeared each summer it was like a magician had come to town. He would create his art with a group of twitching, drooling pointed head kids watching as if Michelangelo were at work.

If you would watch long enough he would create a very small glass animal and hand it to you for no cost, either to please you or make you go away. I was never sure.

As much as I liked the Glassman, the Puppet man was my favorite.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Dianne Boekeloo on December 30, 2009 at 11:26pm: I remember the "puppet man" also. His skeleton puppet performed to a scary song that still conjures images of him when I hear it.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Liz Uhl on January 30, 2010 at 1:35pm: Dianne - Theresa McKee is wondering if you know the puppet man's name?; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Theresa Mckee on January 30, 2010 at 10:21am: I completely forgot about The Puppet Man, sitting in the hardware store or wherever I can't remember. I was very small. But I do remember the magic I felt. Thinking this is so cool. Growing up in a small town you didn't get to see stuff like this very often. Do you know the puppet man's name?; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Liz Uhl on January 30, 2010 at 1:35pm: Theresa - I don't remember that person - Dianne Boekeloo posted that. But, I have asked her if she remembers.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Dianne Boekeloo on December 30, 2009 at 11:17pm: Yes, his name was Henry C. Johnson. He was very creative. Once we even were given a lesson and allowed to make our own "creation". There are many of his treasures on display at the library in a glass case. He worked on the East side of the street in Bailey's Hardware store. I'm not sure if he moved into Birdland. He challenged my sisters and I to guess his middle name and we spent many nights after "lights out" calling out names to each other in an attempt to succeed. We finally guessed it~~Carter.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Theresa Mckee on January 19, 2010 at 10:09am: I certainly do remember the glass blower at Baileys hardware store. I remember as a smalll child going in there with friends and watching in amazement, him turn blown glass into these remarkable treasure. I think I was like other children in Pentwater, saving money so I could buy one. Unfortunately, I have them no more.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by KayBee on January 29, 2010 at 8:35pm: When Henry Johnson left Pentwater, we found him again in Ferry, Mich. not too far away. He lived in a small house chock full of his bigger (MUCH bigger) creations -- all fabulous -- with a little separate studio building in the back (probably was the garage). We corresponded for a number of years and I continued to purchase from him. This was probably 20 years ago. He was looking for an apprentice and I hope he found one! He was a master; I appreciated the fact that his sense of humor came through his glass figures. I probably still have 50 -75 packed away somewhere.; ▶ Reply to This