New business: ‘Spendor in the glass’
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
PUTNAM — The house’s loss is the town of Putnam’s gain. Justin Alvord loves collecting glass. A lot! The collection needed more space so Alvord opened The Glass Hole inside the Montgomery Ward building downtown.
The town and the Northeastern Connecticut Chamber of Commerce welcomed the new business Feb. 1. Different types of glass, including uranium glass which glows green under black lights, are all for sale.
Mayor Barney Seney noted at the ribbon cutting that small businesses are part of the heart of the town. State Senator Mae Flexer also welcomed Alvord with a citation of congratulations from the Connecticut General Assembly. She thanked him for bringing vibrancy and creativity to Putnam. Beth Markowski-Roop added a welcome from the Northeastern Connecticut Chamber of Commerce.
Alvord lived in Putnam for 34 years and recently moved to Killingly. He’s collected glass for 10 years. The glass needed a new home. He was coming through Putnam and noticed the empty space inside the Montgomery Ward building, contacted the owner and opened his shop.
His favorite glass is uranium glass which glows green under a UV light. He said sometimes strong sunlight will make it glow. “It just amazes me how it glows.”
He said The Glass Hole is a play on words.
Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fridays.