Source: Rockford Register Star 4/3/2018; by Corina Curry, Susan Moran, front page and A5
A Digital Collection of Rockford, Illinois History
Source: Rockford Register Star 4/3/2018; by Corina Curry, Susan Moran, front page and A5
See Rockford Historical Society’s Nuggets of History Vol. 53 No. 2, Spring 2015 Article by Carol J, Fox
The original sock monkey was made with Nelson Knitting Co. red-heeled socks (red heels since 1932) of Rockford, Il in business from 1880 – 1992.
In 1953 Helen Cooke from Aurora, IL patented the sock monkey. She sued Mr. Stanley Levy for patent infringement. Levy enlisted the help of Nelson Knitting Co., of Grace Winget, who made a sock monkey in 1951. Nelson Knitting Co., then bought all patents for the sock monkey until it expired in the 1970’s.
Joan Sage, marketing director of Midway Village and Museum Center, inspired by Chicago’s fiberglass Cow Parade, suggested that Rockford could do similar with Rockford as the Hometown of the Sock Monkey. In 2004-5 businesses and individuals were asked to sponsor six-foot tall fiberglass sock monkeys, Lpcal artists designed each monkey.
Where they are located: [pictures of each in the article] additional information in article
Source: Nuggets of History, Midway Village, 2015 President: Scott Lewandowski
Seven acres of land was donated by the Severin Family in 1999.
Midway Village opened to the Public in 1974. The first paid employee was in 1980.
It was created by Harlem, Rockford and Swedish Historical societies in 1968.
There are 25 buildings; 12 of them are originals and 13 are reproductions.
6799 Guilford Rd.
David Byrnes has been the president of Midway Village Museum since 1999.
The Mowry Brown house was built in the 1840’s, near the present day YMCA camp on Rt. 2.
Source: Northwest Quarterly Magazine, Summer 2008, Vol. 5, No. 2
GoRockford Vodcast, 2010
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