By Kathleen Szczepanik
THE ERICKSON TRIBUNE

Seabrook residents appreciated Joe’s collection of vintage car slides, featured in this month's article Recalling the days of classic cars, because many of them have collections of their own—items coming all the way from Germany and even the pig pen.

German figurines
Claire Banavich has about 21 Hummels (a line of ceramic figurines in the artistic style of German nun Maria Innocentia Hummel) in her collection that started in 1959.

“One by one, I started receiving them as gifts, two are from my nephews who traveled to Germany, and my favorites are the little umbrella girl and the boy running away from home,” Banavich says.

Once a year, she lovingly washes each Hummel by hand and places them back into her curio. “They’re so cute,” she says, “with their little lips, they are just precious.”

Pig perfect
Carolyn Woolley remembers exactly how she fell into her collection of pigs.

“My aunt and uncle had a farm in Englishtown, and I loved the baby pigs that they had running around,” Woolley recalls. “Although I don’t have any pigs that fly, I have about 50 of them, and  that includes my cookie jar. Do my PJ’s count too?”

Great goldsmiths
Retired English professor Ruth Kane Fern collects Celtic jewelry and has more than 100 pieces including Celtic crosses and pins. She can tell you the history behind all of it and adds, “The Irish were great goldsmiths.”

 All residents have the opportunity to display their collections throughout the year on campus in display cases at the Village Center Clubhouse.