1st Generation
2nd Generation
Victor Zimmerman
As a young widow and mother of two, Anna moved to Muncie, Indiana with a group of glassblowers seeking work. In 1902, Victor, son of Ferdinand and Anna, began working in a large glass factory that produced lamp chimney globes. He was just 10 years of age but able to work because of the absence of child labor laws. Anna and her children remained in Muncie until early 1915 when the factory moved to North Vernon, Indiana.
Unfortunately, a fire destroyed the North Vernon factory in 1921, which ultimately brought the Zimmerman’s to Corydon, Indiana. Although, glassblowing has been in the Zimmerman pedigree for generations, it was this move to Corydon that established the beginnings of our shop today.
A group of Corydon businessmen met with the North Vernon glass factory employees and encouraged the families to move to Corydon, Indiana. At that time, there was a well-established rail system to transport the lamp chimneys and an abundance of natural gas to fuel the furnaces. In total, eighty families moved from North Vernon to Corydon, Indiana including Anna, Victor and Victor’s new wife, Daisy. Victor and Daisy had three children: Rita, Mary Alice, and Joe Zimmerman. Collectively, the families started the Corydon Co-op Enterprise in 1923 on the banks of Little Indian creek just southeast of downtown Corydon. Lamp chimneys were produced at this site, placed into nearby railcars, and shipped across the country and around the world.
The Corydon Co-op lamp chimney factory remained in business until 1949 but, several years earlier, Victor saw the need to use his glassblowing skills for other purposes. Electricity was becoming more available in rural parts of the United States and the demand for lamp chimneys was on the decline. As an astute businessman, Victor began Zimmerman Art Glass in 1942, prior to the closure of the lamp chimney factory, and some of the glassblowers from the Corydon Co-op joined Victor in this endeavor.
Using the same techniques learned over generations, Zimmerman Art Glass began producing more decorative pieces but, most importantly, creating functional pieces of art. Original pieces of Zimmerman Art Glass included candy dishes, perfume bottles, table lamps, and paperweights.
3rd Generation
Joe Zimmerman
Around 1945, Victor was joined by his son, Joe Zimmerman, who had learned the glassblowing techniques from his father. Joe married Callie Zimmerman and, together, they had three children: Josie, Bart, and Kerry. As employees of the original lamp chimney factory grew older and retired, Joe assumed a leadership role in the business and moved the glass factory about a half mile down Valley Road. Joe officially took over in 1961 and expanded the business through the creation of more contemporary items and the development of additional glassblowing techniques.
4th Generation
Bart and Kerry Zimmerman
In the 80’s, Joe was joined by his sons Bart and Kerry. Both sons worked with their father until his death in 1986 and, like their father, they continued to add modern items to the list of traditional items using innovative glass blowing techniques and adding new equipment. Under Bart and Kerry’s direction, the business continued to grow, largely, due to an increase in bus tours to their business from around the country. In 2008, Kerry assumed full responsibility for the business following Bart’s untimely death due to a boating accident.
Kerry and Bart both married and continued the Zimmerman name. Bart married Janet and have a son, Bart. Kerry married Michele and had four children; Brian, Alex, Gretchen, and Heidi.
In 2015, Kerry and his wife, Michele, purchased a Sinclair gas station and moved their business to the historic arts district of downtown Corydon, Indiana where the business resides today. Kerry has increased the inventory to meet the decorating preferences of today’s customer; yet, the equipment, tools and techniques largely remain the same. So does the mission of Zimmerman Art Glass and that is to produce functional pieces of art.
5th Generation
Brian recently retired from 21 years of active service in the military. He has traveled the world protecting our country and is ready to reside closer
to home. In 2023, Brian completed an internship at Zimmerman Art Glass to learn the tricks of the trade from his father.
Brian looks forward to showing his son Baer how to blow glass in the future; just like his father showed him.
Alex grew up watching Kerry work and always had the desire to learn the trade. Alex earned his Bachelor in History and Doctorate in Pharmacy. While he worked in retail and clinical pharmacy, he always found himself longing to be blowing glass. In July 2023, Alex and his wife Stephanie decided it was time for Alex to continue the family tradition.
Alex and Stephanie have two children; Layla and Beau. Stephanie works full time outside of the shop, but helps manage the website and media accounts.
6th Generation
The Grandbabies
We refer to the 6th Generation as “The Grandbabies” because they are the grandkids of Kerry and Michele.
Baer: Son of Brian
Layla: Daughter of Alex and Stephanie
Beau: Son of Alex and Stephanie
Jack and Julian: Sons of Gretchen
Bella: Daughter of Gretchen