Associated Crafts Inc., has acquired Willet-Hauser Architectural Glass Inc., one of the oldest stained-glass studios in the U.S.
“It is an honor and privilege for me and for my family to have been invited and chosen by the Willet-Hauser families to continue their exceptional 116-year-old legacy in stained glass,” says John Phillips Jr., owner of Associated Crafts. “Our personal relationship with them goes back 40 years, so we have tremendous respect for their brand and their craftsmanship. It’s a truly exciting moment for us!”
Mike Hauser of Willet-Hauser concurs, “We are delighted that the Phillips family, whom we have known for over 40 years, will continue the tradition and legacy of the Willet and Hauser families.”
Renown for its expertise in stained-glass creation and major historic landmark restorations, Willet-Hauser is not new to acquisition. Willet Studios, founded in Pittsburgh in 1898, and Hauser Art Glass Co., founded in Winona, Minn., in 1946, merged in 1977, to become Willet-Hauser Architectural Glass Inc.
For 100 years, Willet-Hauser designed and restored stained glass in more than 20,000 churches and institutions, including The National Cathedral, Washington, D.C.; The Church Center at the United Nations, New York; Grace Cathedral, San Francisco; The Second Baptist Church, Houston; The Alice S. Miller Chapel and the Jeanne Vail Chapel at Northwestern University, Chicago; the Cathedral of Saint Phillip, Atlanta; Princeton University Chapel; The Cadet Chapel at the U.S. Military Academy, West Point; Arlington National Cemetery Chapel; and the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, New York.
“This merging of two giants in the stained-glass industry dramatically expands our pool of seasoned artisans and craftsmen,” Phillips continues. “It vastly increases the resources and expertise we can offer our clients. We’re in growth mode, and this puts us at the pinnacle of the stained glass industry in the U.S., if not internationally.”