Rosebud Mining Co., a coal mining company based in Kittanning, recently purchased the building formerly operated by Pittsburgh Glass Works, according Allegheny County real estate records.
The building, at 150 Ferry St. in the Creighton section of East Deer, has been vacant since last year.
Pittsburgh Glass Works was once East Deer’s largest employer and taxpayer, providing almost 200 jobs at its facility. The facility closed due to extensive upgrades needed for automobile glass production.
The complex was Pittsburgh Plate Glass Co. (today’s PPG Industries) first glass factory.
Creighton Property Holdings LLC brokered the transaction, selling the 135-year-old facility for $1.25 million — about half what it was sold for a year ago. The property — land and building combined — was recently assessed at $5 million.
It is unclear what Rosebud Mining intends to do with the facility. Rob Higbee, land manager at Rosebud Mining Co., declined to comment.
There is only one other operating coal facility in Allegheny County, according to the Energy Information Administration — the Champion Refuse Disposal Area, on the other side of the county.
Commissioners in East Deer could not be reached before publication.
