The Mystery of Willmina Sloppye

“She loved me, and she was so kind,” says 89-year-old Jeanne McGrath as she visited the old East Sacramento home of her late grandmother, Willmina Sloppye. Built in 1907, the home at 1400 37^th Street brought back childhood memories to Jeanne who is now living with Alzheimer’s.

In 1932, Willmina Sloppye wrote and copyrighted a love song called, When I Dream My Sweet Dream of You. Says Jeanne’s daughter and caregiver Kathryn McGrath, “No one in the family had any idea that my great-grandmother was musical. How did she write this song? Why did she write it?”

Indeed, this was an amazing feat for someone with no formal education as census records show. The melody, harmony, and lyrics of the song could have been right out of Jerome Kern’s Showboat in 1927. The song is musically legit.

In 1998, before she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, Jeanne discovered Willmina’s manuscript after her mom passed, but she filed it away for another 23 years. In April 2021, Kathryn brought the song to the attention of Soojin Yoo, a social worker at ACC Senior Services, who was helping her plan for Jeanne’s care. Kathryn wanted Jeanne to hear the song while she was still able to appreciate music.

ACC Senior Services collaborated with James Scott, the archivist at the Sacramento Public Library, to research Willmina Sloppye and the mystery song. On July 28, 2021, ACC and James Scott presented their findings to the McGraths at ACC Senior Services in Pocket-Greenhaven.

Original manuscript of “When I Dream My Sweet Dream of You”

Willmina Sloppye was born on August 12, 1882, in Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, and passed in Sacramento on November 15, 1958. She married Charles L. Sloppye, 13 years her senior, on November 14, 1900. Her mother Erie was a founding “pioneer” member of the Millport Lutheran Church. According to James, “It was common in those days for children to receive much of their primary education from church. The bible, hymnals, and musical education would have been part of this. One can only assume this is how she learned to read and write music.”

What could explain Willmina’s musical influences? James dug up the 1930 census showing that the Sloppye family owned a radio. They could have acquired it at Weinstocks or Bruener’s on K Street. And they would have listened to the Sacramento Bee’s KFBK 1310 to the likes of the Guy Lombardo Orchestra and songs from George Gershwin. Living on 37^th Street, Willmina could have taken the streetcar to the Fox Senator and Hippodrome on K Street, and to so many other entertainment venues. The Alhambra Theatre, built in 1927, was just a 10-minute walk away.

The presentation at ACC was hosted by Mary Nakamura and livestreamed on YouTube. Christine Miyashiro performed Willmina’s original composition to the visibly moved McGraths. “That was amazing. She was a smart lady,” reacted Jeanne. Kathryn said she had goose bumps and added “That was absolutely beautiful. Thank you for bringing it to life.”

This story is as much about Willmina’s music as it is about Alzheimer’s and the love between a daughter and her mother and their connection to their past. Thank you to Jeanne McGrath, Kathryn McGrath, James Scott, Mary Nakamura, Christine Miyashiro, and Robbie Yee for participating in this story.