Joneses’ glass may be gone, but new adventures await

It’s hard to give up something you’ve been passionate about for a long time.

For many years Randy and Bo Jones of Holmesville have been collecting the rarest pieces of Millersburg Glass known to exist.

However, in life seasons change, and the Joneses felt it was time to explore new horizons, so recently in two auctions, one in Connecticut, the other right here in Holmes County, they sold off their entire collection of Millersburg Glass, thus ending what was one of the finest collections of carnival glass anywhere.

“We felt it was just time to move in a new direction and try something new,” Randy Jones said.

Bo Jones said, “We talked about maybe keeping a couple of items, but then we decided to just go cold turkey and sell it all.”

In preparing for the auctions, it was at times difficult for them to delicately remove each glass item from the many glass showcases and shelves throughout their house, but they were determined, so it all went on the auction block during two successful auctions.

“The way we see it, we were just keepers of this glass, and now it was time to let someone else enjoy it,” Randy Jones said. “Something this beautiful should be shared and enjoyed by others.”

Randy Jones’ introduction to Millersburg Glass actually began decades ago when he and his young elementary-age neighbors and friends would gallivant around the railroad tracks on the lower end of Millersburg, where the former Millersburg Glass Company produced glass decades prior.

“I knew nothing about Millersburg Glass, but I can recall looking out toward the old Flexi building and the dirt would kind of glow, so we always called it glittering dirt,” Jones said. “Later in life we realized that was the old dumping spot for the damaged glass from Millersburg Glass.”

He said the crew would oftentimes head to the local dairiette, and sometimes Lucille Lowe, the original Millersburg Glass woman of Millersburg, would beckon them in to help her move boxes around the house.

It was there Jones first realized Millersburg Glass was very unique, getting a glimpse of some of the pieces in Lowe’s home.

Later in life he started to learn more about the glass. He started collecting and immersed himself in the hobby. He said he would go to events for another one of his passions, drag racing, and there he would often get made fun of because his carnival glass passion was so off the rails from the drag racing scene.

Following the recent auctions that saw the Joneses sell off their collection for a huge chunk of change, the hobby doesn’t seem so dainty.

“Who’s laughing now?” Randy Jones said.

The Joneses married in 2010, and Randy didn’t have to encourage Bo very hard to immerse herself in the hobby. A few years after they were married, they had such an expansive collection of Millersburg Glass in their home that they decided to sell off much of the less expensive glass and focus on purchasing rare pieces.

While they chose to seek out rare and expensive pieces from coast to coast, Randy Jones said the hobby isn’t just about collecting the rarest of rare pieces.

“A lot of people get wrapped up in what’s rare and expensive, but really, beauty and value is all in the eye of the beholder,” he said. “These (Millersburg Glass) pieces are all rare pieces that are more than 100 years old, and for glass to survive that long is amazing. That’s what makes this such a unique hobby that anyone can get into. Just collect the pieces you can afford that you find fascinating.”

Randy Jones said while collecting the glass was fun, what he really enjoyed was the challenge of the hunt. He said researching and seeking out rare pieces that the couple had set their sights on was the intoxicating part of the experience.

It took them more than six years to locate and purchase the four known acorn vases, one of which is a very rare Vaseline piece that sold for $73,000 at the recent auction. Another piece, the green Hobstar and Feather rose bowl, was the centerpiece of their collection. It fetched $60,000 at the auction.

In pursuing carnival glass, Millersburg Glass in particular, the Joneses have traveled all over North America. In doing so, they purchased a great deal of quality glass, but both said the true blessing has been the many relationships they have made throughout the experience.

“We have been very blessed to have made some really sweet and wonderful relationships with a lot of people over the years, and that is what we will remember the most,” Bo Jones said.

Not only did they travel to purchase glass, but also they traveled the nation showcasing their rare collection and talking about various pieces at functions.

“We just loved traveling and sharing our passion and knowledge with others,” Randy Jones said.

With the shelves and glass showcases now barren, the couple has an opportunity to fill those with new memories, and they can do so together.

Bo Jones said she already has her sights set on collecting several other art forms, some of which they have already begun to collect.

“Right now the shelves look bare, but we will find something to fill them with, and we will have fun doing it,” Bo Jones said.

While some might see this as a sad occasion because of the investment the couple has made in terms of time, effort and money in putting the collection together, the Joneses are at peace with their decision.

“It’s been an exciting hobby, something we’ve truly enjoyed doing together,” Randy Jones said. “I can think back to when I purchased my first few pieces. Then I think about how much joy we’ve had traveling together and collecting and enjoying the hobby, and those are heartwarming memories.”

Which is exactly what a hobby should be.