Vintage Toys at the Museum
I think nearly everyone has this in common – we all had favorite childhood toys and games. My favorites weren’t yours or vice versa but we all loved one toy more than our others.
There wasn’t always a vast toy selection but for most children who are now grown up, there were a lot.
Some have become iconic such as Legos that followed Lincoln Log and Tinker Toys.
Rag dolls were followed by baby dolls and porcelain dolls. Then came Barbie and Ken, GI Joes, Cabbage Patch Kids, American Girl, Care Bears, Strawberry Shortcake the list goes on and on.
We don’t have all those displayed at the Sturgis Historical Museum but we’ve gathered some from people who were willing to share their toys.
One recent guest picked up a “Cootie” game piece and said with a smile, “I used to have this game.”
It came out after World War II and who didn’t have a checkers set in their homes. Some really lucky kids had bigger toys like the Hook & Ladder kid-sized fire truck on display belonging to Tom Templin.
Roger Ringenberg of Ringenberg Farm Museum loaned some, including Tinker Toys and Lincoln Logs.
I remember both of those in the toy box when I was little. But I’m not sure Tinker Toys are for kids. Talk about complicated. They were invented in 1913 and the instructions are pretty complex.
“No wonder World War II veterans can fix anything,” I thought when I looked it over.
I’m not saying Legos are better, but I must admit, once you have something built with Legos it doesn’t fall apart when it’s moved unlike Lincoln Logs.
Some toys are timeless. I had an Etch-A-Sketch, my sons had one and I saw they are still available at Meijer. GI Joe and Barbie haven’t gone anywhere and plush toys that started out as Teddy Bears and sock monkeys may be more popular than ever.
Also on display is Elma Gephart’s childhood play tea set from the turn of the century. It would delight today’s little girls 120 years later.
