The Harriston Historical Society is currently displaying an exhibit of miniature lead toys from a bygone era.
These items are not only pristine, but have been hidden away in a farmhouse closet for decades. The items were only re-discovered when 94-year-old Milly Brown recently moved from her farmhouse in Minto Township to Caressant Care Nursing and Retirement Home in Harriston.
“It is amazing”, says Minto resident Susan Zaryski of her mother’s 1920s and ‘30s collection. “We had no idea these even existed until we were clearing the house.”
Grandson Toban laments that two complete generations missed out on playing with the toys.
The toys on display are much smaller than protective modern mothers would likely allow for today’s children, yet in the 1920s they were common. The collection includes farm buildings and animals with things like hens smaller than a dime, and chicken-coop rats the size of a little fingernail.
The hollow figures, manufactured by the W. Britain Company of England, were made by pouring hot liquid lead into two-part moulds, swishing around so the lead would stick to the inside of the mould and cool, and then pouring excess lead out through the escape or breather hole in the top (a similar process is used for hollow chocolate Santa Claus and Easter bunnies). The hole is quite visible in many of the collector’s figurines. The men, women, soldiers, fox-hunters, etc. are about 2.5 inches high. A selection of zoo animals from the 1935 era was much larger, at six inches.
Due to public outcry and safety precautions, lead toy manufacture was discontinued during the 1960s in favor of plastic.
The toy exhibit is slated to continue until mid-March.
Complementing the toy display on the top floor of the Harriston library will be a February exhibit of nostalgic clothing. Just prior to Heritage week, on Feb. 13, the monthly Carnegie Café will feature Susan Dunlop from the Wellington County Museum and Archives.
Dunlop will be bringing styles from the ‘50s and ‘60s to augment her presentation. The Café starts at 2:30pm with refreshments available. A fashion show to be held in conjunction with the historical society’s nostalgic clothing display is also in the works.
In addition there are numerous shelves of ordinary “Remember When” items on display – the type of items which elicit an “oh my gosh, I remember those” reaction from the over-50 crowd.
Writing contest
The Wellington County Historical Society has launched its 2015 Writing Contest. This year’s topic is “Ghosts, Mysteries, and Tall Tales of Wellington County.” Story submissions are welcomed from both students and adults. Writer’s don’t have to live in Wellington, but the events recounted must have happened within the county boundaries.
A new and different project taken on by the Wellington society is “Stone Walls”. Dry stone walling is a centuries-old craft through which stone walls and other structures were built without the use of mortar. They are double skinned walls, with stones precisely laid so as to be held together by friction and gravity. Dry laid stone walls were beautiful, and made use of local stone.
The historical society is asking for help from the public to advise where such walls may be found within the county. They will be photographed, documented and later presented in a documentary Walls of Wellington. Call 519-338-3211 with the particulars.
– Submitted by Willa Wick
