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By Alicia Noragon
HOUGHTON LAKE- Some people collect coins, stamps, records, or cards but Melissa Rickwalt-Sugden collects Tip Up Town badges.
Her love for the small metal keepsakes began in the late 1980s, after an early visit to Tip Up Town left a lasting impression. What started as a simple souvenir quickly became an annual tradition, one that was circled on the calendar and shared with family and friends. Year after year, Tip Up Town meant winter fun, laughter, and time together, creating memories that would last a lifetime.
Years later, while cleaning the family cabin in Prudenville, she opened a drawer and discovered several Tip Up Town badges tucked away from years gone by. That unexpected find sparked something bigger. It was at that moment she decided to see if she could collect them all, officially launching a treasure hunt that would span years.
Her search took her everywhere; garage sales, online auctions, marketplaces, Facebook pages, and through friends and family who kept watch during their travels. Along the way, she met many generous and knowledgeable people who shared her passion. One of those connections was Brian Lince, administrator of the Tip Up Town memorabilia page, who became both a valuable resource and fellow enthusiast. Through collectors like him, and others whose collections are proudly displayed at the local chamber, she learned that the hobby was about more than badges; it was about shared stories and community.
After nearly 15 years of searching, her collection became impressively complete. She now owns every metal Tip Up Town badge ever made, including the rare “oops” mistake badges that many people don’t even realize exist. Only the wooden badges remain elusive, highly prized and difficult to find. Her collection starts in 1964 and totals 146 badges.
As the collection grew, it became part of the cabin’s story as well. Her sister-in-law created a banner to display the badges, hanging them proudly on the cabin wall. What began as a personal hobby turned into a conversation piece, drawing people together to reminisce and share their own Tip Up Town memories.
For Melissa, the greatest value isn’t in the badges themselves, but in what they represent, celebrations, laughter, and time spent with family and friends. Today, that same Tip Up Town experience is being enjoyed by the fourth generation of her family, and she’s confident it will continue for generations to come.
It’s more than a collection. It’s a family tradition, one she’s grateful to share.
