As part of our "Made in Winona" series, Garrick Haley came to give us information on Associated Crafts & Willet Hauser at the meeting on Wednesday. He told us about some of the fabulous works of both new stained glass and restoration projects that the company does through out the country and some internationally. Associated Crafts & Willet Hauser is celebrating 125 years in business making some of the most beautiful and unique stained glass. The business was started in 1898 by Willet and then in 1946. Hauser joined to be Willet Hauser. In 1997 Associated Crafts purchased Willet Hauser to become Associated Crafts & Willet Hauser. In 2022 the business was sold again and retained the name. They currently employe over 100 peopled have projects in some incredible places in the Us such as The United States Military Academy, Grace Cathedral in San Francisco and the National Cathedral in Washington DC. Garrick told us that the company average around 350 projects per year and while they have a sales team and installation teams spread out throughout the country Winona is home to the manufacturing plant. Each project starts with a small scale design then it's blown up to a large full size picture. Glass is then cut to match the design. Most of the glass is still cut by hand but some is also done with a water jet cutter. Next comes the glass painting where there are 8 people in the company that specialize in this art. The paint is then cured several times to become a permanent part of the glass itself. Next is the glazing and soldering and then finally connecting and bracing as a last step to complete the window and prepare for installation
