Fenton Art Glass was started in Ohio in 1905 as a company that decorated glass made by others. In 1906, it built its own factory in Williamstown (Wood County).

Fenton became famous for its colorful, shiny products known as “carnival glass,” which looks like expensive Tiffany glass but costs much less. It was sold in five-and-dime stores and became popular as gifts and tableware. Fenton stayed successful by continually creating new shapes, colors, and designs.

The company made glass by hand and was known for patterns like hobnail and milk glass. It also had a glass museum and gave tours at its factory.

Fenton stopped making traditional glass in 2011 due to high costs and competition but kept making jewelry and selling leftover glass. In 2017, the factory site became a school, and the Fenton Gift Shop moved to a new location. Today, glass made from Fenton’s original molds is still produced in Ohio.