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THE BIRTH OF THE SLEEPY EYE CLUB
Amid the idyllic rural
setting of the Martin farm near Monmouth, IL, a group of Sleepy Eye
collectors met in January 1976 to discuss the formation of a club.
The end of the meeting formed The Old Sleepy Eye Collectors Club of
America, Inc. It was chartered as a non-profit organization, based in
Monmouth, IL., the home of Western Stoneware, the plant which produced most
of the Old Sleepy Eye pottery. The Club is dedicated to the collecting and
preservation of items related to the Chief Old Sleepy Eye and the Sleepy
Eye Milling Co., which operated from 1892 to 1921 in Sleepy Eye, MN.
Members come from throughout the United States.
The main
event for the members is the annual convention held the last weekend of
July in the Midwest. Convention events include a display contest, show and
sale of Sleepy Eye items, seminars, an auction, reproduction educational
displays, business meeting, a banquet and a free commemorative.
The
commemorative is a limited edition item available free for pre-registering
and attending convention.
It was
decided to have 6 newsletters per year with the first one dated March 24,
1976 and written by Dick Reed.
In
February 1977 Jim Martin and Betty Hallam were named as editors to replace
Editor Reed.
The
newsletter features articles on unusual Sleepy Eye items or rare bargains,
reproductions, auction results, ads - both wanted and for sale (free to members), as
well as other Sleepy Eye related information.
The first
membership was issued on March 24, 1976 to Howard Cooper of Monmouth, IL
(deceased). Patti and Jim Martin purchased the next two memberships, and E.
W. Kolbe (deceased) of Sleepy Eye, MN. purchased #4. Currently the Club has
over 433 members from 35 different states.
Email: ose@oldsleepyeyecollectors.com
Old Sleepy Eye is a registered trademark of the Old Sleepy
Eye Collectors' Club of America, Inc.
Use of this trademark is strictly prohibited.
Trademark registered 8 March 1983.
Last Updated: August 04, 2008
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