Digging Through My Swirls...

[Marbleneophyte]

I just finished watching Stephen B's Alley Agate Marbles Part 2 video with Ron Shepherd.  Fantastic video guys!  Thanks for putting it together.  Anyway, the video has me digging through my swirls.  No obvious treasures but I did find a few interesting ones.  This one is kind of flamish.  Sistersville Alley maybe?  Measures 21/32

[Chad G.]

2 minutes ago, Marbleneophyte said:

I just finished watching Stephen B's Alley Agate Marbles Part 2 video with Ron Shepherd.  Fantastic video guys!  Thanks for putting it together.  Anyway, the video has me digging through my swirls.  No obvious treasures but I did find a few interesting ones.  This one is kind of flamish.  Sistersville Alley maybe?  Measures 21/32

A definite Alley  

[wvrons]

Could have been made at Sistersville, Pennsboro or probably both locations.  Stephen B. Just finished editing the latest Alley video for You Tube. There is another one or two yet to come. The last one will probably be info and pictures on the Alley childrens dish sets, Alley small glass animals, flower pots and more.  The Tea For Six set, the Pastry set, Tiddle winks, etc. The Alley factory at Pennsboro WV in Glass factory hollow was known by and referred to by the local people as the dish factory.  Any child that came by the factory or to visit the factory always left with free marbles or free childrens dishes.  Anytime I ask a local about the Alley marbles factory. They looked puzzled and then they would say, oh yes you mean the dish factory. 

Back then, before and during our dig.

Now as it is today. All gone nothing but memories. You can see Nola standing looking angry at the bulldozer, but with great once in a lifetime memories. 

Gone but not forgotten ! 

Stephen has some great videos on You Tube for many different marble companies. Plus the Heaton dig and a little of making marbles at DAS.  They are all worth the time to view. You will probably learn something from every one of them.  

[wvrons]

I think there is still some blood from Bills head, on those concrete beams across the creek.  About 1/3 of the building sat across that creek. The creek ran along the road and the building went to the road edge.  It was total black under the building even at high noon. The dirt craw space was from about 4ft high to 18 inches high. The copperheads and rats liked it under there.  Oh what stories, even when the creek flooded with a couple diggers under the building.  

[Tommy]

5 hours ago, wvrons said:

Could have been made at Sistersville, Pennsboro or probably both locations.  Stephen B. Just finished editing the latest Alley video for You Tube. There is another one or two yet to come. The last one will probably be info and pictures on the Alley childrens dish sets, Alley small glass animals, flower pots and more.  The Tea For Six set, the Pastry set, Tiddle winks, etc. The Alley factory at Pennsboro WV in Glass factory hollow was known by and referred to by the local people as the dish factory.  Any child that came by the factory or to visit the factory always left with free marbles or free childrens dishes.  Anytime I ask a local about the Alley marbles factory. They looked puzzled and then they would say, oh yes you mean the dish factory. 

Back then, before and during our dig.

Now as it is today. All gone nothing but memories. You can see Nola standing looking angry at the bulldozer, but with great once in a lifetime memories. 

Gone but not forgotten ! 

Stephen has some great videos on You Tube for many different marble companies. Plus the Heaton dig and a little of making marbles at DAS.  They are all worth the time to view. You will probably learn something from every one of them.  

How many marbles do you think were dug out of there..?

[mibcapper]

the nite was cold ... quiet with a little wind. feet splashing in the creek, trying, to be quiet. pushing thru wild briar bushes, silently .. squealing with the sharp thorns snapping at me, crawling on our belly's as the storm blew outside. who can forget the .. emergency .. exit we made that nite. the saying ... when the creek rises ... came true that nite ... what tall tales ron and i can tell of our once in a lifetime experience. every time i see these pics, such good memories fill me. we were bold and determined to capture all the examples of l.e. alley's brilliant mind and efforts. and that we did. tunnel vision and hard work. new discoveries and knowledge came out of our days .. and nites. our timing was rite on. a good pair we made ... a true friend and brother ... bill

[wvrons]

How many marbles from there ? I have no doubts well over a million. That is over several years and at least ten people with the majority. While we had the lease, we took six to eight, five gallon buckets per day for several days. We had a three leases for a little more than a year. When we found the honey hole. One five day, four nights stretch we stayed with the site 24 hours a day. Nola and myself worked the 7am-7pm. Bill and Griff worked the 7pm to 7am. We had over a hour drive home to clean up, eat, sleep and get right back.  I could not do it today. It was exciting but so hard and tired. Probably none of us could do it today.  

[Marbleneophyte]

Ron thanks for all you do keeping the history alive!  I enjoy learning the history almost as much as I enjoy studying the marbles.  Thanks for sharing the photos and the stories.  I'm looking forward to the next video!  Many thanks to all and Happy New Year!

[Tommy]

Wow....that's incredible  .

2 hours ago, wvrons said:

How many marbles from there ? I have no doubts well over a million. That is over several years and at least ten people with the majority. While we had the lease, we took six to eight, five gallon buckets per day for several days. We had a three leases for a little more than a year. When we found the honey hole. One five day, four nights stretch we stayed with the site 24 hours a day. Nola and myself worked the 7am-7pm. Bill and Griff worked the 7pm to 7am. We had over a hour drive home to clean up, eat, sleep and get right back.  I could not do it today. It was exciting but so hard and tired. Probably none of us could do it today.