RWCS Inducts Two Local Red Wing Area Couples Into Hall of Fame

Red Wing, Minn.- At the Red Wing Collectors Society Annual Business Meeting held on July 12 in conjunction with their 43rd Annual Convention to local Red Wing area couples were inducted into the organizations Hall of Fame.

The Red Wing Collectors Society Hall of Fame was established in 1991 to recognize individuals who have made a major positive impact in the collecting, preservation, and/or education about Red Wing stoneware, pottery, and dinnerware. There have been only 27 recipients previously inducted into the RWCS Hall of Fame.

Steve and Barb Brown with their presenter Cathy Wurzer. Photo courtesy of David La Haye.

 Four new recipients of this prestigious award were recognized during this year’s Convention during the annual meeting of the Collectors Society on Friday, July 12. They are Steven and Barbara Brown and David (posthumously) and Bonnie Hutchson.

Steve and Barb Brown, Red Wing, Minnesota, have generously shared information about the pottery manufacturing companies of Red Wing and organized projects and displays to preserve that information. They have also shared information about their particular passion for Red Wing Oddities, lunch hour pieces and rare examples of pottery made in Red Wing. They both served on the Pottery Museum Foundation Board of Directors a combined 22 years and Steve was the historian of the RWCS for 16 years among many other volunteer positions they have both held.

Bonnie Hutchson accepting the Hall of Fame plaque from her presenter Dian Hallstrom. Photo courtesy of Betsy Moenkedick

David and Bonnie Hutchson, Lake City, Minnesota, made a significant contribution to the preservation of historical information when they rescued, preserved and then donated an irreplaceable archive of historical catalogs, documents, molds, and rare pottery pieces to the Pottery Museum of Red Wing. Dave and Bonnie were mold makers alongside Dave’s father, Teddy, who was the last employee at Red Wing Potteries in 1967 when it closed. Without these artifacts and their first-hand knowledge, valuable information would have been lost. Dave spent many days volunteering at the Pottery Museum as a tour guide and shared detailed information to visitors about the mold making process and manufacturing of pottery wares.

The Red Wing Collectors Society is delighted to welcome Steve and Barb Brown and Dave and Bonnie Hutchson into the RWCS Hall of Fame.

Below is the information that was included in their presentation plaques.

Steven and Barbara Brown – 2019

Steven P. and Barbara J. Brown of Red Wing, Minnesota, Red Wing Collectors Society member numbers 1037 and 1056, have made significant contributions to the Red Wing Collectors Society, Steve and Barb are hereby inducted into the Red Wing Collectors Society Hall of Fame this 12th day of July, 2019 in recognition of these lifetime achievements:

  • Active RWCS members since 1979 and 1995 respectively
  • RWCS Board of Directors – Steve Publicity Committee Chair 1990-1991 and Historian 1998-2014
  • RWCS Convention Display Committee Chairperson – Barb 2001& 2002
  • RWCS 25th Anniversary Planning Committee 2000 – 2002 – Both
  • RWCS Newsletter contributors and RWCS Convention Educational Seminar presenters and KidsView volunteers
  • Steve was a founding Board member of the RWCS Foundation and served on the Board as Historian 2000-2014
  • Barb served as an RWCS Foundation Board member 2005-2015, serving as Secretary 2007-2015
  • Barb served on the “Wine-ing for Red Wing” Fundraiser for the Pottery Museum of Red Wing
  • Both have presented Educational seminars in support of the Pottery Museum of Red Wing

Steve and Barb have also significantly contributed to the preservation of historical information about the pottery manufacturing companies of Red Wing, Minnesota. Steve was instrumental in organizing an extensive oral history project, capturing memories and recollections of past pottery employees, relatives, and friends. This joint venture with the Goodhue County History Center was completed in 2003. Steve also completed the arrangements for the Pottery Museum of Red Wing to be gifted the Revoir Red Wing Pottery industry photographic collection.  Steve organized special displays during the convention to provide additional educational benefit to RWCS Convention attendees. Both Steve and Barb have generously shared information about their particular passion for Red Wing Oddities, lunch hour pieces and rare examples of pottery made in Red Wing. They have both volunteered many times as tour guides at the Pottery Museum. The RWCS is delighted to welcome both Steve and Barbara Brown into the RWCS Hall of Fame.

David (posthumously) and Bonnie Hutchson – 2019

David and Bonnie Hutchson of Lake City, Minnesota, Red Wing Collectors Society Members #15078, have made significant contributions to the Red Wing Collectors Society. David and Bonnie are hereby inducted into the Red Wing Collectors Society Hall of Fame this 12th day of July, 2019 in recognition of these lifetime achievements:

  • Joined the RWCS in 1979
  • Dave produced the 1980 RWCS Commemorative using remaining Red Wing Potteries Clay
  • Dave and Bonnie preserved Red Wing Potteries artifacts that are now part of the permanent collection of the Pottery Museum of Red Wing
  • Dave and Bonnie presented Educational Seminars in 2006
  • Dave served on the RWCS Foundation Board of Directors 2005-2007
  • Dave volunteered at the Pottery Museum of Red Wing

David and Bonnie have contributed significantly to the preservation of historical information about the pottery manufacturing in Red Wing, Minnesota. Dave and Bonnie were mold makers alongside Dave’s father, Teddy, who was the last employee at Red Wing Potteries in 1967 when it closed. David and Bonnie kept records, molds, and artifacts from the Potteries safe for many years until they donated all of it to the RWCS Foundation. The Pottery Museum also holds an irreplaceable archive of historical catalogs, documents and rare pottery pieces thanks to David and Bonnie. Without these artifacts and their first-hand knowledge, valuable information would have been lost. David spent many days volunteering at the Pottery Museum as a tour guide and shared detailed information to visitors about the mold making process and manufacturing of pottery wares. The RWCS is delighted to welcome both Dave and Bonnie Hutchson into the RWCS Hall of Fame.