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At the age of twenty he formed his own company, William D. Somers Studios. For over a half a century he created thousands of stained glass windows for commercial, residential and religious institutions around the country. One of his many accomplishments was to be commissioned by Eleanor Roosevelt for a stained glass window for the military chapel at Camp Upton, now the Brookhaven National Laboratory.
In 1968 the four brothers of Somers Studios disbanded. Harold, the founder’s third son and master craftsman, opened Somers Stained Glass with his younger brother. They also experienced success with the revitalization of the tiffany style lamp. Somers Stained Glass was one of the first companies to recreate Louis Tiffany’s work, which was nearly extinct. In 1975 Harold’s eldest son Guy joined the nationally renowned stained glass company to begin the third generation of Somers in stained glass. Soon afterwards Harold’s other sons Gary, Glenn and Gregg would also learn from their father to become master craftsmen. Growth was sure to come, and the Somers family needed a larger factory. Their studio moved to Smithtown, NY. Here they completed over 5,000 tiffany style lamps and hundreds of stained glass windows for the popular eatery TGI Friday's Restaurant at over 500 locations worldwide. Harold, though semi-retired (yes he'd rather be fishing) oversaw the day to day operations for the family business started by his father. Carol, his wife of over forty years (affectionately known by all as Mama) helped out with the phones and purchasing of the hobby supplies. Guy handled the corporate sales and managed the office. Glenn and Gregg were the master craftsman in charge of designing and production. In addition to TGIF the Somers Family created hundreds of custom tiffany style lamps, stained glass and beveled glass panels for other national and local restaurants, commercial buildings, religious institutions and residential homes.
Change would come once again with Harold retiring and moving to North Carolina with his wife. Gregg also left to persue other adventures. This left Guy & Glenn to carry on their Grandfather's legacy. Recognising the need for a teaching studio, they moved to Oakdale ~ Long Island, NY. Here in their new studio they still continue to provide custom work with addition of Evening Stained Glass, Mosaic & Fusing Classes. A designer showroom with Tiffany Style & Reproduction lamps and bases decorates the sales area with a backdrop of assorted custom stained glass and beveled glass panels. The public is invited into the factory-studio where they can watch skilled craftsman, using turn-of-the-century techniques, create stained glass products. With nearly 40,000 square feet of opalescent, cathedral and mottled art glass, customers will find the glass just right for their future family heirloom. The work created by the Somers Family is a visual sensation, and we are sure you will agree. If your future travel plans include Long Island, please stop by for a tour. The Somers Family Old
World Stained Glass
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Born
in 1882 of Dutch descent, William D. Somers first learned the art of
stained glass from the glass masters of the 19th Century. Among his
teachers were Louis Tiffany, John LaFarge and fine European Craftsmen.
He started as a young boy of fifteen working as an apprentice at LaFarge
Glass Works. In later years he also studied with the craftsmen of Tiffany
Studios. He wanted to learn more about art so he attended night school;
first at Cooper Union, then at Pratt Institute where he studied under
several European Stained Glass painters. 
Mr.
Somers passed away in 1954 leaving his business to his sons. They shortly
changed the name of their business to Somers Studios. The second generation
of Somers flourished for eighteen years enjoying the new construction
of churches and synagogues though out the United States. In addition
to the manufacturing and installation of new stained glass windows,
their father taught them well in the art of stained glass restorations
and repairs on existing stained glass windows. 
It was 1982 when Harold wanted to pursue his dream and start his own
stained glass studio with his sons. Harold, and his four sons, left
Somers Stained Glass and formed Somers Designs Inc. At their original
factory in Holbrook, NY, the third generation Somers, with the guidance
of their father, created new original tiffany style designs that would
have made Grandfather Somers proud. Years later, their studio moved
to Huntington, NY. Gary Somers left the company and moved to N. Carolina
to start his own stained glass business. 
