Museum features antique toys

Hundreds of

items on

exhibit through

Jan. 2

By FRITZ BUSCH

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- Antique toys tell us how we became what we are and remind us of what life was like decades ago.

Learn about the past of some of New Ulm's leaders who were among the donors of hundreds of toys of the past on exhibit at the Brown County Museum through Jan. 2.

The donor list includes Mayor Joel Albrecht's steel trucks, Police Chief Erv Weinkauf's train set, a circus set owned by the late Dr. Kurt Bell who sang with the Concord Singers; and many others.

Museum director Bob Burgess talked about the significance of toys.

"If you want to see how a person turned out the way they did, look at their toys," Burgess said.

Other featured toys include train sets, Keupie and Shirley Temple dolls, a 1912 doll house owned by John Pelzel of New Ulm, Betty Fenske's 1930's era miniature electric stove, a doll house chair made from a comb, turn-of-the-century doll houses, Tinker Toys, Mrs. Lowell Juni's "Lee" doll, and animal exhibits from the former St. Paul's Lutheran School.

Brown County Historical Society Board of Trustees member Penny Purtzer donated a complete "Frontier Town" made from cut-outs on the back of Cheerios cereal boxes.

Wooden picture blocks, storybook dolls, Barbie's playhouse and Barbie and Ken in a car can also be seen.

Many of the 350 donated toys are made of wood. Metal was expensive and plastic was just a gleam in children's eyes, decades ago, Burgess said.

Toys make up about four percent of the museum's collection. Donors are always welcome.

"Loans are important," Burgess mentioned. "We like them because it enables us to add lots of depth and variety to our exhibits. It's the best of both worlds."

The toy exhibit has been viewed by six Gingerbread Tours (ladies from the Twin Cities and Wisconsin). The tours were arranged through the New Ulm Area Chamber of Commerce.

Marilyn Hesse, museum office manager, set up the toy displays.

Museum hours at 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 1 to 5 p.m. Saturdays. The museum, located at the corner of Center and Broadway, will close at noon on Christmas Eve. Call 354-2016 for more information.