Jim Baumgart urges Sheboygan to celebrate, and support, the return of the Homespun Post
Jim Baumgart, Sheboygan County Supervisor
The Homespun Post shop in Sheboygan seems like a good holiday story to tell. First developed years ago in cooperation with Sheboygan County, and located at 811 N. Eighth St. in Sheboygan, it was a place that sold crafts made by senior citizens and people with disabilities. Proceeds from sales were never enough to fully support the program. So, after some years, the county cut its funding (although not without a good deal of debate) and the store closed. Hundreds of people lost a small but steady source of income.
That was about four years ago.
The next chapter of the story introduces Patty Rapin Knaus, owner and manager of Family Hair Care at 813 North Eighth St. in Sheboygan. She had additional room adjacent to her business and was approached by Steve Hendrikse, director of TLC (a job development service for people with disabilities) to set up a small coffee shop so people could get job experience. Knaus asked “What about the Homespun Post? Could it be restarted?” After Hendrikse found out more about the history of the store, he initiated a discussion with the county about using the old name, and worked with former senior crafters. Everything fell into place by March of this year. Thus, Homespun Post once again became a reality.
What is interesting is that it can be found in the same location it was some four years ago.
Tracy Krause is the manager of the Homespun Post and its coffee shop, located at 811 North Eighth St. in Sheboygan. The coffee shop, now called Patty’s Perks, and the Homespun Post, are closed Mondays, open Tuesdays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Wednesdays through Fridays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. During the holiday season, it has also been open on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The telephone number is 207- 1022.
Locally produced craft products by the hundreds now line the store walls. Seniors (60 years and over) and people with disabilities are again earning a few dollars and making their lives a bit easier and more enjoyable. As shoppers find out that the Homespun Post is open, they are coming in to buy.
It is a good story.
What kinds of crafts are available for purchase? It has a good selection of American Dolls dresses, small pillows, kitchen materials (pot holders, scrubbers, wash cloths, towels, and place mats), scarves, mittens, gloves, children’s dresses, knitted sweaters for the young – and teddy bears.
There are lots of Christmas items of all kinds – wood art products, ceramics, baby bibs, baby blankets, slippers, wooden toys, dolls, and more.
If you visit to shop, you can stop for a break to have the house coffee, espresso, latte, mocha, or cappuccino. While you are doing that, you can scan the store for any item you may have missed.
Patty Rapin Knaus, Steve Hendrikse and the TLC organization played a vital role in the return of the Homespun Post; but mostly it was due to the questions continually raised by seniors and people with disabilities who liked and/or needed the program. They kept asking Knaus why they couldn’t get back the store.
Well, its back! The Christmas season is a good time to tell the story, give credit to those who made a difference, and make people aware the store is open. So far, it has a happy ending. With the help of shoppers in need of quality crafts, it will stay that way.
This is a good time to say to all, “Merry Christmas” and “Happy New Year” from my family to yours and to all the people who brought back the Homespun Post.
