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[Harp]

Saw this on Ebay today, thought some of you may have some interest.


http://cgi.ebay.com/Original-Photo-1978-Silver-Dollar-City-Missouri-/220596073516?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Art_Photo_Images&hash=item335c8cf42c

Harp

[Junior]

The fellow in the picture is Donnie Ellison, master basketweaver. He learned the trade from Leslie Jones and his wife, who were long time SDC basketweavers...they were true hillbillies...and they learned basketweaving as young folks who had to have the skills to survive in the hills in the true old days. Donnie is honored at SDC by having his name on the basket shop. I never worked directly with him, I was 15 in 1978 when that picture was shot, but knew him to be a good man and a good "citizen." Anyone with a serious interest in SDC and building a good collection will want that photo. My photos of Donnie are etched in my memory, and cannot be sold on Ebay.

[Harp]

Cool history, so is he still living or are any of his family still associated with SDC?

Harp

[Junior]

To the best of my knowledge, Donnie Ellison is still with the city as their master basketweaver. I think he spends a few days each week on park in the shop, making baskets and meeting with people. You may have to let a current "citizen" reply here with a better answer, but I think I'm on the mark.

[marolinesdad]

^ I think you are right.  They have moved him a few times in the last 2 seasons.  He is now located where the Broom making was by the General Store.

[Junior]

Anyone who wants to build a good SDC collection of items should regularly cuise Ebay. Many unusual and rare items pop up, and unless you are a collector of this stuff, an individual item will not have much value and can be picked up at a cheap price. I have seen a ticket from Marvel Cave, when the Lynch family owned the cave, pop up on Ebay, and have seen many paper items, postcards, novelty items, and so forth on Ebay. RUBE DUGANS has built an amazing collection, and he has made it known on this site that he plans to release a photo book of the items in his collection at sometime in the future. I really look forward to this, his collection is fabulous. I personally don't have the income to invest time and money in buying on Ebay, but I wish I did. There is so much stuff out there, floating around, much of it very rare and interesting. The way I look at it, a serious collector is like a museum director...putting a collection together with great value and historical interest.

[rubedugans]

Donnie is still there, and this season can be found between the Basketweaving area on the upper level of the woodcarving shop, and the spot between the General Store, and The cowboy store on the square.

And yes many of my items came from eBay, and yes the book is on its way soon enough....

[Junior]

YEAH! Can't wait to see that book.

[rubedugans]

Now that my trip is out of the way I can work more on it! 1 month till school starts back up, I gotta get going!