CANTON — State Senator Patty Ritchie, R-Heuvelton, joined in a celebration of Corning Incorporated’s 50th anniversary of its operation on Thursday praising management and workers — past and present — who have made the company successful since it began manufacturing glass mirrors at its McAdoo Road location in 1966.

“Workers at this plant have always taken pride in their jobs and the high quality of products they have made,” said Sen. Ritchie.

She represents the western half of St. Lawrence County including Ogdensburg, Canton and Gouverneur.

“From making space shuttle windows to producing the glass mirror blanks that are providing spectacular images from the Hubble space telescope and other major telescopes, it’s clear the role this plant has played in St. Lawrence County has been marked with tremendous milestones and accomplishments.”

At the event, Senator Ritchie presented Corning Plant Manager Dave Lucht with a framed front page of the newspaper that announced the company’s plans to build a manufacturing plant in Northern New York 50 years ago.

Through the years the plant has also been responsible for producing materials for several classified government contracts and currently is providing materials in both display optics and semiconductor industries.