By Patricia Breakey
Delhi News Bureau
WALTON _ A well-loved Raggedy
Ann doll sits on an antique
settee waiting
for her little girl
to come back and
sit down beside
her to look at the
Christmas tree.
Under the
tree, an assortment
of toys representing
several
eras of playthings may be the beginning
of an annual tradition at
the Walton Historical Society.
When Terry Rogers was appointed
historian earlier this
month, there was no holiday display
planned.
After the Christmas tree went
up in the front parlor, he suggested
the board members search
their homes for toys.
Society President Elinor Oles
found treasures waiting in her
home. Oles lives
in the same
house her mother
lived, so there
are generations
of belongings
stored in the attic.
Rogers said
Oles brought in
her childhood dolls that were
still in a little Vogue Dolls Inc.
steamer trunk with all of their
clothes.
She also contributed Howdy
Doody earmuffs and an electric
projector labeled National Plastic
Corp. that looks like a precursor
for the View-Master.
“We have been having so much
fun,” Rogers said. “Just hearing
Elinor laugh while she was
changing her dolls’ clothes was
priceless. We all go back to our
childhoods now and then.”
Rogers found his old Mickey
Mouse Club ears, his brother
Scott’s fire truck, his mother’s
Yankee Clipper sled and a Dukes
of Hazzard car.
Treasurer Dave Carroll said he
brought in his daughter’s handmade
wooden rocking horse.
The eclectic collection includes
a rusted tricycle from
the early 1900s, a jar of marbles,
Donald Duck stuffed animals, antique
cast-iron toys, a hound dog
pull-toy from 1938 and numerous
other items.
“The toys on display
are just from the board
members,” Rogers said.
“But we would welcome
anything anyone would
like to bring in — either
to donate to the historical
society or just to loan for
the toy show.”
Carroll and Rogers
began to talk about other
toy treasures they know
of throughout Walton, including
elaborate train
layouts and doll collections.
“Someone said this was
the best idea I ever had,”
Rogers said, laughing.
“But it would be wonderful
to make this an annual
event where people could
showcase old and unusual
toys.”
Rogers said any toy
from any era is welcome,
but some of the older, rarer
ones would be wonderful
to see.
He listed the toys that
are not represented, including
skates, board
games, a ball, a jack-in the-
box or a doll carriage.
Rogers noted that the
Barbie doll is celebrating
its 50th anniversary this
year, and the Kewpie doll
first appeared 100 years
ago. An original Cabbage
Patch doll is 30 years old.
Rogers said he would
like to mount a larger collection
next year and perhaps
showcase the toys
under a tree covered with
antique ornaments, so he
is hoping that people will
keep the historical society
in mind.
The toys will be on display
until mid January
when another exhibit is
scheduled to begin. The
Walton Historical Society
is located at 9 Townsend
St. and is open Saturdays
from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and
by appointment during
the week.
