History of Sparky



Sparky the Sparkle
The Mount Pleasant Glass and Ethnic Festival Mascot

Sparky
During the early 1900s, glass manufacturing was prominent in the friendly town of Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania. A young immigrant glass artist made Mount Pleasant his home while working for a small glass factory. He worked diligently day after day, hour after hour, creating crystal works of art with a delicate hand and unique precision. He was a gifted craftsman, capable of shaping glass into almost anything imaginable.

This young artisan was asked by the company's founder to create unique crystal pieces to give to the young men from Mount Pleasant who were going off to war. He wanted to give them a small piece of their hometown for when they got homesick.

Laboring late into the night, the glassmaker got an idea. Working carefully with the molten glass, he blew into the pipe and swung it back and forth while varying the temperature in order to create the desired shape. He cut designs into the glass with detailed artistry, then polished it for hours. The glass smith created an object that had a beautiful and flawless sparkle. When the young immigrant saw his reflection in the sparkle, he dreamed of a promising future in the small town of Mount Pleasant. Calling it Sparky, his heart felt proud.

The soldiers carried Sparky across the ocean. The lovingly crafted glass brought them hope and light in the dark of war. As the soldiers traveled through the war-torn regions, they gave Sparky away to others who needed a little hope in their lives.

Many years later he retired, no longer able to do the work he loved. When the elderly artisan was cleaning his work area, he found a shining, sparkling glass piece just like the ones he remembered making for the young soldiers. His heart filled with pride as he gazed upon the last Sparky.

Throughout the years, this sparkle of glass became a symbol of hope and inspiration for Mount Pleasant. The Glass and Ethnic Festival was formed to celebrate the ethnic diversity and glass heritage of the community, and took on the sparkle as a symbol of a hope-filled vision. The vision became reality through Sparky.

Sparky the Sparkle continues to bring hope and joy to all of Mount Pleasant. During the Glass and Ethnic Festival, people from all over celebrate a sparkling fall spectacular and homecoming tradition.


If you would like to have Sparky at your next event, please call Jeff at 724.542.4711.