Doll and Toy House Opens May 27
By Verna Barr Eleven glass cabinets, designed for this specific purpose, line two walls. Additional display cabinets, purchased at a garage sale, have been added. Lighting fixtures and overhead fans are installed. A rug donated by Glen Hansen has been laid, curtains placed at the windows and dolls and toys catalogued by Betty Brown and displayed by Lois Baker. More items will be added from time to time, but as of right now, it's ready!
Doris' Doll and Toy House will open to the public for the first time this Saturday, May 27, 2000 to coincide with the seasonal opening of Pioneer Town. Exhibits include items that have been given to Pioneer Town or are "on loan" from a number of interested people, local and "not so local". Many of the dolls are from Velma Shreeves' extensive doll collection. Among the other displays are some of Doris Stewart's collection including Story Book dolls and some of her childhood favorites. Vinetta Butcher has shared some of her collection. Two hand made dolls from the depression days made by Duane Jackson's mother have found a spot in the exhibit. T. J. Sheley of Grand Junction has brought some of her dolls to add to the display. Mary Baker has dolls on exhibit along with an antique china doll donated by Vera Aust. Some of the dolls and other toys were brought to the building from exhibits elswhere in Pioneer Town. Others have added their treasures to the display to make an interesting variety something for everyone. The exhibit will continue to grow, changing from time to time. Several doll houses will be added as soon as appropriate display spaces can be arranged. Doris Stewart said, "We stared thinking 'Doll house' back in the early days of Pioneer Town. The town was open only on special weekends then, like during holidays of the Little Britches Rodeo. At that time, we had some of the buildings, but not much in the way of diplays, lots of empty shelves. We asked around and found a number of people willing to bring in their dolls, so we scheduled a Doll Show. It was such a hit! Velma Shreeves was looking for a place for some of her dolls. We were thinking then of building a doll house. It was on the 'to do' list. First one thing and then another took priority, some other building was available and if it was not moved right away it would be burnt or torn down. Money was scarce and the doll house took a 'back burner' and over a period of time, was forgotten." About five or six years ago, Doris marked a memorial donation for a Doll House. Others begun doing the same. Donations began coming in. Find raisers helped. A campaign to donate funds for specific items, windows, nails, 2x4's, etc. was started. Dedicated volunteers donated time to erect and complete the structure and provided for a multitude of other needs. More show cases are still needed and additional dolls and other toys will be gratefully received. As for now, Doris' dream has come true. The door is ready to open! Come, see the results. An entrance fee, payable at the Welcome Center, entitles a vistior to enjoy the Doll House and all of the other exhibits within Pioneer Town. |