17 Nov 2016 Nutcrackers adorn Mount Vernon home
by Sonja J. Keith
Todd Owens photos
Sherry Beeson’s extensive collection of nutcrackers takes center stage at her home during the holidays.
Sherry and her husband, Gary, are celebrating 40 years of marriage and live in a historic home in Mount Vernon. He is a sales representative for Southern Supply and she is the recorder/treasurer for the town of Mount Vernon. She is also a caregiver for a very sweet 94-year-old named Jewel.
Sherry’s interest in the collection stems from seeing “The Nutcracker” ballet when she was in school. “I fell in love with the story and the music,” she said. “I bought my first one in 1986 and purchased one a year after that. I never really started out to collect them, just bought a few.”
Her collection has grown over the years with gifts from family and friends. “My two sons, Josh and Ross, loved it because they said they always knew what to get me for my birthday, which is also in December, and Christmas. It all just started growing. I teased that I would quit when I got to 300, never thinking I would make it to that amount, but friends and family won’t let me.”
Today, she has 318 nutcrackers in her collection.
While most are just displayed during the holidays, Sherry has eight that are out year-round. “They are members of the military, a Marine, sailor and Army solider. These represent the close friends of my youngest son’s friends, whom we call our part-time sons since they spent so much time at our house with Ross. I was proud they all called me mom and they served our country.”
Another favorite is a police officer that Sherry got when son Josh became a deputy reserve officer. “I have a fireman and three Uncle Sam nutcrackers to round out the patriotic side of the collection.”
It takes about three hours to set up the remaining members of the collection in the Beeson home. “They are displayed mainly in the dining room with some spilling over into the front entrance and in the breakfast room,” she said. “My living room is where most of my 109 Santas and a few of the 73 snowmen are displayed. We also have three Christmas trees in the corner of the living room and two small ones in the dining room.”
The Beeson home, purchased in 2005, is more than 100 years old. “We worked restoring it, with the help of family members for over a year before we moved to Mount Vernon from Mountain Home,” Sherry said. “We are the first people outside of the original owner’s family to own it.”
The home belonged to the Hatfields, grandparents and then parents to Conway artist Gene Hatfield and his sister, Myra Hatfield Edmondson (known as the “hat lady” in Conway). The grandparents were also grandparents to former Razorback player and coach, Ken Hatfield. “He blessed us by stopping by soon after we moved in and shared childhood memories with us.”
Among all of the nutcrackers, Sherry has a favorite – it is called the toymaker and he is sitting at a work table. “I have never seen another one like it.”
Complementing the collection is a Mr. Christmas music box that features the nutcracker ballet. “It opens its curtains to a scene from the ballet, plays part of the song from that scene, closes its curtains and then opens to another scene. My husband, Gary, looks everywhere for old ones for me.”
When not in season, the collection is stored in the dining room pantry and in a buffet.
“As you can tell, I decorate the whole house.”
Sherry said Christmas is a special time, with her nutcracker collection adding to the festivities enjoyed by family and friends. “I have truly enjoyed the nutcrackers. I have enjoyed more how my friends are always looking for one that I don’t have.”
