The "Memories From A Past Friend" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Sitting in my leather recliner reading the morning newspaper.  Turned the page and there at the top left of page 4 was the headline, "Everthing Must Go."  Studied the photo of a gentleman straightening out his 500-plus collection of mugs and then it struck me.  "Carol, I know this guy in the paper.  I think I taught school with him."  Sure enough, after reading the photo's caption I realized it was Jim Siglin who taught metal shop at Manheim Township High School when I started teaching at the school in the fall of 1967.  Just had to read the story to see what Jim might be up to these days.  Found that he had been collecting mugs since taking a trip to Bar Harbor, Maine in the summer of 1966.  

Shelves display about a third of Jim's mugs

He now would like to find a good home for his collection, since the retirement home he will be moving to in the near future is too small to hold not only the mugs but the many other collections he has spread through his home on the west side of Lancaster.  

Photo of Jim and I taken in his home in Lancaster, PA.

The newspaper article gave his phone number so I picked up the phone and called him.  After about half an hour of reminiscing he told me to stop the next day so he could show me the collection.  I hung up and told Carol of our visit the next day to see Jim and his wife, Peg.  "You're not bringing all those mugs home with us you know!" she said.  "You know I wouldn't do that," I responded.  Her comeback was, "I do...and that's exactly why I told you what I did."  A little less than 24 hours later I was in his "Man Cave" taking photos of some of his most memorable mugs.  Some are rather large while a few wouldn't even be worth drinking from since they are so small.  The following photos will show you a few of his, and my, favorites.

This ceramic mug was the first mug collected by Jim and Peg.  It came from Bar Harbor, Maine in 1966.

This is the final mug they added to their collection.  It is from The Dobbin House Tavern in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

This Alaska Mug came from a shop near Mt. McKinley.

This was one of my favorites since it came from Lancaster's Rocky Springs Park.

This one caught my eye, since I too have visited English Harbor on the island of Antigua.

Naturally have to add a few Amish mugs to his collection since they can be found just about anywhere in Lancaster County.  Jim said the one on the left was the least amount of money he paid for any of his mugs.  Still has the $.10 tag on it. 

Jim and Peg bought this mug when they visited Austria.

This mug is from a stop in Maine.

One more location that Carol and I have traveled to during the past few years.  Jim bought this one in Curacao.

The next three are mugs look as if they are missing something.  After you pour hot water in them you can see the remainder of the scene on the side of the mug.  This came from Dyersville, Iowa where the movie "Field Of Dreams" story originated. 

After filling it with hot water, you can see the players appearing through the corn.

This mug came from China.  Here you can see a Dragon while below you can see...

The Great Wall of China after Jim had filled the mug with hot water.

This mug came from the Crazy Horse Museum in South Dakota.

By adding hot water you can see Crazy Horse riding off into the sunset.

I did get a chance to see some of Jim's other collections he has spread throughout his home.  He had a collection of old matchbook covers, a collection of magnets, a collection of framed artwork from around the world and even a framed collection of dollies.  Interesting visit with a good friend from the past.  Jim told me that he did find someone to take his collection.  An Amish farmer called and asked if he could see the collection and perhaps take it from Jim.  He wanted to add it to his collection of over 1,500 mugs he already had.  Jim felt it would be in a good home if it went with the Amishman.  He did save one for me though.  The following is a photo of the mug he saved for me.  A big thanks to Jim for thinking of me!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The Manheim Township mug that Jim gave to me.