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Sorensens have more than 140 nutcrackers

By Kim Gooden, For the Tribune

ALDEN — There is no Mouse King or army of mice ready to do battle with the Nutcracker Prince in the home of Dean and Myrna Sorensen, but there are 140-plus nutcrackers standing guard throughout their home.

The Sorensens, who live in Alden, began collecting nutcrackers 20 years ago.

Myrna, who had been a widow for five years, had two nutcrackers when she married Dean and moved into his home.

It turned out that Dean was a collector of many things, and he liked Myrna’s nutcrackers.

That’s when the collection began to grow.

“It was fun when I married him because this is what he liked to do,” Myrna said. “I thought ‘this is a good deal’ because I liked to shop.”

Dean found that she was a good shopper, often finding treasures at really low prices.

“It’s entertainment for us to go and find them,” Myrna explained. “And the cheaper they are, the more elated we are with them!”

Many of their nutcrackers have been given to them as gifts, and the rest have come from estate sales, flea markets, rummage sales and end-of-season sales.

“Estate sales are the best,” Myrna said. “Because they are usually in top condition.”

Their collection contains nutcrackers from about 3 inches to 4 feet tall and they are displayed throughout every room on the main floor of their home.

Historically nutcrackers came in a variety of shapes and colors, and that is definitely the case with the Sorensens’ collection. They have nutcrackers from almost every walk of life, except the medical field, as well as famous characters and favorite sports teams.

They have musical and dancing nutcrackers.

But they only have one nutcracker that can actually crack nuts. It is a two-sided metal nutcracker that hinges on top and breaks nuts open when squeezed together.

While Myrna doesn’t have a favorite, she admits to liking the red ones best.

The dancers are Dean’s favorite, although he is partial to the Marine as well, having served in the Marines.

When they entertain, their company enjoys going around the house and looking at all the nutcrackers.

Their grandchildren like them, too, because they are Grandpa’s.

Myrna puts them out before Christmas and leaves them until the end of February when she wraps them in plastic and stores them in plastic totes.

“It gets really empty when they aren’t out,” she said.

But there are plenty of other collectibles to enjoy as Dean has collections of Boyds Bears, Country Cousins, old cars, eagles, Steins, lighthouses, Coca Cola trucks, and farmer caps to name a few, neatly displayed throughout the house and basement.

Myrna said they have not studied the history of nutcrackers, but she has read the story of the nutcracker and would like to see the “Nutcracker” ballet someday.

Despite the time and effort it takes to get the nutcrackers out and displayed, the Sorensens are proud of their nutcracker collection and happy to share it.

“It’s a unique collection that did not cost an arm and a leg,” Myrna said.

German legend has it that owning a nutcracker will bring good luck to all who live there. With over 140 of them, the Sorensens must be very lucky people.