Teapot collection will boost economy

With April 22's trip to the Mint Museum in Charlotte, a few more of Alleghany's people have an idea of what Sonny and Gloria Kamms' teapots are about.

But what will the collection's permanent home in Sparta mean for the county?

The California couple wanted to find a small community that could use an economic boost, explained Jonathan Halsey, project coordinator for a future museum in Sparta that will house the teapots and other exhibits.

"They were inspired by what the Baseball Hall of Fame has done for Cooperstown, New York," he said. "They wanted to help a small community revitalize. The Kamms decided they wanted to establish a museum in a community that needed that," he said.

After being asked to consider Sparta, the Kamms learned that Alleghany had lost 1,400 manufacturing jobs in recent years and that it could benefit greatly from hosting their collection, Halsey explained.

With some details worked out, in December 2003 the Kamms and New River Community Partners signed a memorandum of agreement — a sort of written handshake — for creating a museum and housing the teapot collection here.

New River Community Partners, an economic and community development

group, was designated to spearhead the efforts. Top-notch architects have been hired to design it and plans are underway for a $7.5 million fundraising effort to pay for it. The Kamms will establish an endowment for its permanent care, Halsey explained.

"The focus will be in creating a structure that will blend in with the architecture and landscape of Sparta. We don't want it to look like a spaceship landed here," he said.

Hopes are to use wood and rock on the exterior. The building will be "green" in the sense of being environmentally appropriate.

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