Willie and his sister Amelia attended the Copner school on Walnut Street until the age of 13. Their older half brother Henry Schnell was a master glass blower in one of the local glass-works and William started work at age 13 there in heat of the glass-works. William went on to become a master glassblower and married Gladys Cannon Jan 4, 1890 when he was 23. The house at Olive Street was large enough to accommodate William and his bride and their two children, Conrad Birchmire born June 29 1892, and William Peck Birchmire born December 15, 1895. William changed the spelling of the family name Birchmeire to a more English sounding Birchmire. Many immigrants changed their name to make it sound more American and perhaps it did make it easier to succeed.
Willliam’s half brother Henry Schnell and several Master Glass Blowers from the area decided to start the Virginia Glass Co in Alexandria, Va 1897. William who was a master glass blower in his own right was invited to join the new venture. Of course, this meant moving Gladys, Conrad and William away from the only home they had ever known.