Minutes
November 15, 2008
Seventeen members of the GPHC journeyed through snow flurries to the home of Glen Gall in the Des Moines suburb of Urbandale for our November 2008 Club meeting. Glen's home holds wonderful groupings of Heisey displayed for all to enjoy. And Glen's dog, Callie, loves to have guests.
Our first event was a delicious turkey/ham dinner with all the seasonal trimmings plus a variety of salads that delighted our palates. The meal was an experience for everyone to "dig into". Thanks to Glen, Max, Rick, and all the contributing cooks.
President John Mock convened our official meeting with well-deserved compliments for a great meal. The minutes of our September 2008 meeting were approved and Tom Files gave the Treasurer's report - the starting balance being $488.07.
Five of our GPHC members attended the Percy & Vivian Moore weekend in Jackson, MI: Pat & Rex Lucke, Jean Will, and Tom & Kathy Files. They reported it was a fun time and congratulated the Michigan Club on a well run event, great food, and the beautiful display of Heisey at the Ella Sharp Museum.
Nominations were taken for 2009 GPHC officers with a motion made and approved to retain the 2008 officers for 2009. The campaigns were very low key and low budget (like zero money spent).
We then set our 2009 Club meeting dates and locations:
March 28 - Leavenworth, KS home of Jean Will
May 9 - Elkhorn, NE home of Pat & Rex Lucke (Program, Heisey Winchester '73 Etch)
July 18 - Omaha, NE home of Trudy & John Mock
September 19 - Clay Center, NE homes of Lynn & Sherrill Echternkamp and Marilyn Sampson
November 14 - Ames, IA home of Mary & Gregg Cameron (Program, Heisey Cake Stands)
If at all possible, plan to join us - members and guests are always welcome. Our Club meetings are always informative and we share lots of laughs and good times.
Trudy Mock's "Martha Moment" included pictures of her mother-in-law's 95th birthday party with Heisey candlesticks adorning the table. She also circulated pictures of our previous program on 1567 Plantation. Always pretty to see a table full of Heisey.
Host Glen Gall and Max Wiese presented a "short" program on Heisey's 'short candlesticks'. The qualifier was that the candlestick had to be 4 inch tall or less. The program table was nearly full of the little pretties that were divided into 3 periods: Early, including the colonials of 1896-1923; Middle, the 1924-1940 patterns and color; and Late, patterns of 1940-1956. About 75 different Heisey candlestick patterns meet this "short" criteria and most were available for our viewing pleasure. Our thanks to Glen and Max for preparing this program - it was a great learning experience for all present.
We had a quick 50/50 auction of Heisey glass and some tasty jams, jellies, and cranberry breads to help bolster the treasury. Thanks to those who donated and to those who purchased.
Show and Tell was full of great finds - certainly too many this time to list (we don't intend to offend anyone by omitting your items from the list - keep bringing what you want). Some of the items included: a #1255 Pineapple and Fan 11 inch celery tray in a showy silver bride's basket holder, #150 one pint Banded Flute jug, #300 1/2 Peerless 1/2 gallon Pitcher with cutting, #1590 Zodiac 6 inch comport, 466 Great Plains basket, #1405 Ipswich 1/2 lb. candy in Sahara, #3404 Spanish 10 oz. goblet with Barcelona cutting, #1184 Yeoman cream and sugar with amethyst stain, #355 Quator cream and sugar with cutting, #99 Little Squatter candlesticks with amber stain, both styles of #1540 Lariat oil bottles, #1225 Plain Band toy sugar with cover, #4035 Bethel decanter and #3311 Velvedere sherry - both with #815 Sweet Briar cutting, #300 Peerless cake salver, #113 Mars candlesticks in Marigold with Empress etch, #160 Locket on Chain cake salver, #343 Sunburst goblet, #1235 Beaded Panel & Sunburst butter with patterned finial cover, and many, many other pieces. Strange coincidences sometimes occur at our meetings. Two members from different states each brought an elusive #7011 Daffodil 9 inch nappy. Even though this is believed to be a one-item pattern, each of the nappies was different. One had the plain rim shown in the Vogel book - the other had an inverted "v" section of glass at each low point in the rim. Why would Heisey make a pattern with only one item and then make two variations of that item? Did they make two styles for comparison and then mass produce only one?
The grand finale was dessert: 2 kinds of apple pie, pumpkin pie & pumpkin dessert bars, cherry pie, and homemade ice cream! Thanks to Rick for that final touch. Full and happy Club members gathered their Heisey glass and departed after the meeting was adjourned.
A cold north wind had blown as we drove to Iowa but our meetings are always worth the trip. A good program, wonderful food, and a few tall tales and laughs! Happy Holidays to all!
On a personal note, the deer hunting season opened in Missouri on the day of our meeting. On our way home shortly after dark, a thirty point buck appeared in our path on I-35. Fortunately, our driver swerved and missed the stately animal but it was a close call. (OK, it wasn't a 30 point buck but he sure looked big in the headlights).