Site of Three Rivers Glass Factory

The glass company was a business story that ended in bankruptcy. Three Rivers Glass incorporated in May 1922 with $50,000, made glass by hand, partly because of Hartford-Empire's patents, and added machines in early 1925. It grew fast, taking over a plant at Bastrop, Louisiana, in 1929, but the Depression and pressure from larger makers undid it. Bankruptcy proceedings began in October 1932, and Ball Brothers bought the property at auction on November 27, 1936, for $80,000. Its common mark reads 3 RIVERS with a star.

What the plaque says

Site of Three Rivers Glass Factory Opened 1922 by company headed by Charles R. Tips (b. 1892), the founder of town of Three Rivers. Powered by local natural gas, plant used quartzose sand mined in area to make glass bottles for milk and other beverages and jars for food and cosmetics, attaining annual gross sales of a million dollars. Sold in 1937 to Ball Glass Company, it was closed in 1938, but had shown Texas potential in the industry. In later years, factory site became location of a warehouse. Glass with Three Rivers cipher is highly prized by collectors. (1973)

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• Choke Canyon State Park — 10 mi
  A reservoir state park on the Frio River in two units, built after a 1982 dam, with birds, alligators and fishing on land people have crossed for more than 10,000 years.

More markers nearby

• Three Rivers — 0.2 mi
• Felix Longoria — 0.2 mi
• Oakville — 5.2 mi
• Oakville Post Office — 5.2 mi