Historic Studio To Offer 'Window' Into Stained Glass In Bergen County

RIDGEWOOD, NJ — The owner of J&R Lamb Studios, the oldest continuously operating stained glass studio in the U.S., will be outlining a brief history of stained glass, from the late 19th century to modern designs, in a program offered on Oct. 1 at the Ridgewood Public Library.

Donald Samick, owner of the facility established in 1857, will provide a glimpse into how the national and global economy affected the popularity of stained glass artwork, as part of the 2 p.m. program that will celebrate stained glass recently donated to the library, history librarian Sarah Kiefer said.

Samick will also examine how social and population movements brought about increased interest in stained glass. On display during his talk will be former Ridgewood resident George Bonawit's "Old King Cole" stained glass windows, which were donated to the Ridgewood Library by the Schoolhouse Museum, Kiefer said.

Originally in the former home of Bonawit, the windows were restored and reframed with a grant from the Bergen County Division of Cultural and Historic Affairs, Kiefer said.

Born in 1891 in New York, Bonawit established NYC-based G. Owen Bonawit, which attained great success, and later moved to Ridgewood, where he designed the Old King Cole windows on display in his home, Kiefer said.

Registration to the talk is encouraged at www.ridgewoodlibrary.org.