Midway Village, National Bobblehead Hall of Fame team up for new sock monkey collectible

By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — The National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum and Midway Village Museum have partnered for a new collectible that pays homage to Rockford’s title as the home of the sock monkey.

The newest bobblehead is a replica of Soxanne, the roughly 5-foot tall fiberglass sock monkey statue that has greeted visitors to the Rockford museum for more than 15 years.

Soxanne, the Rockford Sock Monkey bobblehead, is available now in the Hall of Fame’s online store and at Midway Village and its online store.

More shopping: 815 Stocking Stuffer Guide | Shop Small for last-minute gifts in the Rockford region

The National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum in Milwaukee was founded by Guilford High School graduates Phil Sklar and Brad Novak, who often pay tribute to their hometown with bobbleheads of the Rockford IceHogs, NBA Star Fred VanVleet, NFL rusher James Robinson, and the Rockford Peaches, to name a few.

“As Rockford natives, Brad and I are very excited to team up with Midway Village Museum to unveil the first bobblehead featuring Rockford’s very own Soxanne the sock monkey,” Sklar said. “This bobblehead will be the perfect way for sock monkey fans to show off their love for the iconic toy and for people in the Rock River Valley and visitors to Midway Village Museum to own a replica of the statue that greets every visitor.”

The bobblehead shows Soxanne sitting on a gray boulder surrounded by grass and waving. A sign on the boulder reads: “Soxanne; Midway Village Museum; Rockford, IL; Home of the Sock Monkey.”

The bobbleheads cost $35 each, plus $8 for shipping per order. There were 2,024 of the collector bobbleheads made.

A portion of the proceeds from the sales will help Midway Village cover the costs of restoring Soxanne from damage endured during harsh winters. The statue was erected in 2008. It’s being restored now with plans to place it in a new selfie-friendly location at the gateway to the museum’s Victorian Village in spring.

The sock monkey is a symbol of Rockford’s industrial history. The city was once home to multiple sock factories that outfitted soldiers during World War I.

Three knitting companies made brown socks with a tan toe, top and heel, according to Midway Village Museum. The Nelson Knitting Co. used red yard for its heels as a way to stand out from the pack. During the Great Depression, mothers started using those red-heeled socks to stitch together dolls for their children.

Nelson Knitting Co. won the patent for the sock monkey design in 1955 after litigation between multiple companies. The patent expired in 1970, allowing anyone to use the sock monkey design.

Midway Village hosts an exhibit dedicated to sock monkeys called “The Missing Link: Socks, Monkeys and Rockford’s Industrial Past.” The exhibit features a 7-foot-tall sock monkey named Nelson. Midway also has a sock monkey mascot named Babs.

Soxanne is one of at least a dozen different fiberglass sock monkey statues at different locations throughout the Rockford area. The series was commissioned by GoRockford to celebrate Rockford’s connection to the sock monkey’s origins.

“Midway Village Museum, celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year, is proud to team up with The National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum to share this iconic symbol of Rockford, Illinois,” said Luke Fredrickson, marketing director for Midway Village Museum. “So many guests have pictures taken standing next to the greater than life-size statue and now will have the opportunity to have one to take home as a reminder of their visit.”