 There lived many Belgian immigrants in the Monongahela area at the end of the 19th century, some of whom were glass makers.The Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company, today PPG Industries, had one of its major factories located at the current chamber plaza, at one point employing up to a thousand employees, making it one of the largest glass factories in the world at the time.For years it was the home to one of Corning Glass Companies leading employers.