by Fred Phelps fredlmia@email.msn.com
Convention Host and EAPGS Trustee & Membership Chair

The first ever Central States meeting of the Early American Pattern Glass Society was held in Colesburg, Iowa on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, the 7th, 8th and 9th of October. There were a total of 36 people attending from Kansas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Missouri, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois and Iowa. The three-day event was hosted by Fred Phelps, the EAPGS trustee from the central states, and his wife, Ellen.

Activities began on Thursday evening when the Phelps' hosted all the attendees at a dessert and coffee gathering in their home. Much getting acquainted took place and those attending enjoyed seeing the Holly Amber and toothpick holder collections owned by the Phelps. (The dessert consisted of Amish Apple Strudel and Amish Rhubarb Strudel, all home made and for which recipes are available upon request!!!!)

The first formal activity of the gathering occurred on Friday morning when all attendees gathered at the Colesburg United Methodist Church basement where many many tables of Early American Pattern Glass were set up by those attending for the purpose of identifying, showing unusual finds, buying and selling during the two full days that followed. The highlight of the gathering occurred on Friday morning when those attending were present at an outstanding and interesting presentation on Iowa City glass which was conducted by Mr. Jack Senander of St. Paul,Minnesota. Assisting him were Mr. David Christiansen of Mason City, Iowa and the host. Between the three of them, they had two 8 foot tables completely covered with various Iowa City glass pieces with very few duplicate pieces being exhibited. Mr. Greg Boyd of Iowa City, Iowa also contributed pieces for viewing and discussion. This presentation proved to be most enjoyable and educational for all attending, being able to see actual pieces of Iowa City glass and the numerous variations in the glassware produced by that factory for 2l months beginning operation in l880. Goblets, plates, bread trays, water trays, parts to table sets and whimsical items were all on display and discussed in great detail. It was the general consensus of those attending that this was one of the most complete and outstanding combined collections of this particular form of EAPG that those present had ever seen. Lunch on Friday noon was enjoyed at the Lone Pine Country Club in Colesburg.

Friday afternoons activities began with a short drive to Strawberry Point, Iowa where attendees enjoyed touring the Wilder Museum. This is a small museum which houses one of the finest collection of dolls, porcelain (Royal Dux, Dresden, etc.) furniture and lamps in the country. The highlight of the collection is what can easily be described the finest accumulation of colored and art glass hanging lamps in the world!! Dozens of hanging and kerosene lamps are featured in this magnificent display. An unplanned, but what proved to be one of the most exciting events during the conclave, was when all 36 people descended upon a very small antique shop in Edgewood, Iowa at one time!! The result was, nearly every member participating came away from the shop with at least one EAPG treasure in their hands. Some of the members came away with numerous pieces and among them were so very very rare finds. Perhaps the highlight find of the afternoon was that made by Phyllis Petcoff, EAPGS president from Kentucky, who found a white opaque flint compote in Icicle pattern. This magnificent piece was discovered within the recesses of the shop at an amazingly reasonable price. (And, to think that I have visited that particular shop dozens upon dozens of times and I never spotted it> I have to think that it was "planted" just for the occasion for some lucky person and unfortunately, it was not me!!!) On Friday evening all attendees gathered at the Cardinal Restaurant in Dyersville, Iowa for dinner.

Saturday morning, all attendees again joined at the church basement and the forenoon was spent in identifying pattern glass for those who brought things for such purposes, sharing interesting glass finds, showing off unusual pieces of EAPG and more buying and selling of glassware. The forenoon seemed to end at the blink of an eye and before we knew it, it was time for lunch prepared and served by the women of the United Methodist Church.

On Friday afternoon, most of the participants traveled to Dyersville wheere they toured the Dyer-Botsford Mansion, the original home of the founder of Dyersville. This wonderfully authentically restored home houses outstanding furniture, many dolls and a multitude of other museum pieces. Following this tour, a large number of the participants then traveled to the "Field of Dreams" movie site in the country near Dyersville. On Saturday evening, the final gathering of the group took place when they all gathered at the Family Restaurant for tremendous servings of all you can eat barbecued ribs and all the trimmings.

During a general business meeting that was also held on Saturday morning, those attending decided that a group regional gathering of EAPGS members like this was a tremendous idea and they made plans to do so again next year. The meeting will be hosted by Gloria Dobbs and Courtney Sloan in Leawood, Missouri (suburban Kansas City). The group also felt that they wanted to involve even more people from the Midwest and Central States area and will be extending invitations to members of various other glass collecting organizations. Those participating in this meeting have membership already to the following organizations: Vaseline Glass Collectors, Inc; National Greentown Glass Association, National Toothpick Holder Collectors Society and the Individual Salt Dip Collectors organization. If any of you have addresses for other glass collecting groups, please send them to Fred Phelps, P.O. Box 266, Colesburg, Iowa 52035 and he will see that notification is sent to each of these organization so that information regarding the 2000 meeting can be distributed in a sufficient amount of time to appear in their various organization newsletters and publications.

In summary, the weekend seemed to be a total success, one enjoyed by all those attending and an event which everyone wanted to participate in again, especially since most of the EAPGS members attending have never been able to attend the annual meeting of the EAPGS in Harrisburg, Pa. each April.

--Fred Phelps

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