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burned down about ten years ago.
While Tuthill Glass remains a subject of interest, another Middletown glass producer is all but forgotten. Middletown Glass Works was organized June 7, 1887 as Connelly, Cohalan and Co. by Samuel. S. Wickham, John Connelly, and Daniel Cohalan, The factory buildings were located off the end of Brink Avenue between the Erie tracks and Lake Avenue, or behind what would today be 111 (Brink Avenue) to 121 Lake Avenue. Construction began "immediately" as the owners wanted to start production by September 1st. Buildings included an octagonal "glass house" with attached store house, a shop where the pots were made, a box shop, boiler house, packing room, and another store house along the railroad siding. In August, a contract was let to build houses for the workers. These ten homes still stand at 20-30 and 23-29 Oliver Avenue.
Located in the glass house was a furnace which held six pots in which the materials were melted to make the glass. Production began October 10, 1887 with 40 employees. The company made green and amber bottles and other glass items which were mold blown, as opposed to free blown.
By February, 1889, the company was having serious financial problems, entering receivership on August 11 of that year. The plant continued in operation for about a year and a half until it was decided in March, 1891, to sell the factory. After problems finding a buyer, local businessmen formed a company to purchase and operate the glass works. The Middletown Glass Company was organized April 2, 1892. The new owners were quite prominent, and included George Clemson. Despite previous claims of the top quality of the glass making equipment, the furnace was found to be inefficient and was replaced. The worker's houses were fixed-up at this time, as well. Production began August 5, 1892. The plant closed down June 23, 1894, and didn't resume operating again until October 4, 1899. By the end of that year, the glass company was shut down for good. Although Standard Glass Co. of Rochester had agreed to purchase the property, the plant was damaged by a fire July 6, 1900 and the sale called off.
The Orange County Brewery at the end of Lake Avenue opposite the Davidge park baseball field was built 1897, beginning production the same year. The company got off to a slow start, briefly entering receivership before recovering. This was credited to Charles C. Young who took over management of the company in 1901. At one time, the plant had five buildings, including the brewery itself, the offices, the stable, cooperage, and blacksmith shop. Refrigeration was done by a 50-ton Consolidated Ice machine. The brewing department was equipped with a copper brew kettle, a mash tub and hop jack. The fermenting tubs in the cellar were glass-enameled steel. Known as "The King of Ali Beers," the brewery produced several products. These included Wurzburger (dark) and Pilsener (pale) beers, sparkling ale, cream ale, and porter. The company's product won