Virtually every piece of stained glass art seen along places through Highway 64 lead straight back to Laws Stained Glass Studio. Located in Statesville, North Carolina on Ebenezer road (right off of exit 54 off of I-77), Laws studio has been a name in the industry since 1946. Not only do they work for churches in North Carolina, but they provide service to churches and
institutions all over the country.
Ca “Jack” Laws found his passion for stained glass windows in St. Louis, Missouri after serving in World War II. He decided to build his legacy in a little shop right off the highway that now builds hundreds of projects a year and employs over 40 skilled craftsmen. His wife, Helen, supported him through this new adventure.
The stained glass window industry is timeless, with minimal change occurring in the process throughout the last century. However, Law's Stained Glass Studio still remains on the front end of technological advancements. They were one of the first studios to use faceted glass (also called chunk glass) in the 1960s, and now use computers to help create their designs today.
Their final projects (along with most stained glass windows–if made properly), usually last from 75-150 years before they are in need of a remodel.
Though Laws Stained Glass Studios is a force to be reckoned with today, hardship struck their place of business on May 18th, 1991. A rag soaked in linseed oil caught on fire and burned the entire shop down with no ounce of foundation to spare. The heat melted many glass projects and set the business further back in terms of production. However, Laws Studios had contractual obligations with many churches to complete these stained glass windows. This meant they had no choice other than to pursue their work. Even through the struggles they faced, Jack Laws didn’t lay off a single employee or miss a week of payroll.
The products listed for sale on the Laws Stained Glass Studio website includes opalescent, cathedral, hand stained and faceted glass windows. Opalescent glass usually has two to five different color combinations and is held together with narrow strips of H-shaped lead. Cathedral glass, on the other hand, is transparent and usually contains one to two colors. Hand stained glass utilizes a reddish/brown tint and is baked from 1200-1300 degrees for thirty minutes. Finally, faceted glass (and perhaps the most unique glass), is held together with a cement like substance that gives it a thicker/chunkier look than the rest of the artwork.
Through thick and thin, Laws Stained Glass Studios have certainly created a name for themselves in the Stained Glass industry. Today, the studio is run by Jack’s son Michael Laws. He holds the role of president, while his sister, Debrough Laws Coyler, is the office manager. Together they uphold the same principles of prosperity and hard work in their business. Their work is displayed in thirty five different states and nine different countries through local churches, schools and libraries.
--Olivia Grady