Sock Monkey autographed by Jane Goodall

Sock Monkey autographed by Jane Goodall

Story by Mike Wiser
of the Rockford Register Star
rrstar.com

This is no ordinary Sock Monkey. See that signature on the monkey's shirt? Anthropologist Jane Goodall, known for her primate research signed the Sock Monkey for Dena Mattausch at a lSan Diego conference.

Mattausch purchased the Sock Monkey at the Midway Village Museum and planned to auction off the autographed Sock Monkey. Proceeds are earmarked for reimbursment of her conference fees, which were paid by a Rockford, Illinois, professional organization.

Rockford, is the official "birthplace" of the sock monkey. The Nelson Knitting Mills was founded by John Nelson who invented a sock-knitting machine in 1869. The former factory made the red heel socks used to craft the original sock toy. In 1992, the Nelson Knitting Mills was purchased by Fox River Mills, who carries on the sock monkey legacy.

2009 Sock Monkey Madness is only 6 months away!

Sock Monkey is proud of his heritage

The 5th Annual Sock Monkey Madness Festival returns to Midway Village Museum on March 7-8, 2009 in Rockford, Illinois. Sock Monkey Madness is the only Sock Monkey Festival of its kind. It's held in Rockford, the home of the Sock Monkey.

The weekend long event has sock monkey making workshops, sock monkey vendors and the 2009 Miss Sockford Beauty Pageant. This year celebrates the 3rd Annual Sock Monkey International Film Festival.

The museum houses a one of its kind Sock Monkey exhibit entitled, The Missing Link: Socks, Monkeys and Rockford's Industrial Past. The museum's collection of Sock Monkey history dates back to 1870's with an up-to-date exhibit of all things Sock Monkey.

If you can't make it to Rockford next year, you can always shop at the museum's online Sock Monkey store.