鈥楾he Doll Dressmaker Is In鈥� declares a small red-and-white sign that catches your eye as you wander through what local town crier Kenny Podmore calls 鈥淪idney鈥檚 hidden jewel.鈥�
The towering Englishman is referring to the Sidney Historical Museum, the subterranean blink-and-you鈥檇-miss-it historical showplace at 2423 Beacon Ave. that got all dolled up for curator Ginni Stieva鈥檚 exhibit featuring 400 dolls of all shapes, vintages and sizes, most from her own collection. Stieva, executive director Peter Garnham and museum volunteers are hoping Best Loved Dolls of the Past 100 Years will continue to do what the annual Lego exhibition has achieved 鈥� put this fascinating historical oasis on the map for a wider audience.
鈥淲hat does this have to do with history? Absolutely nothing,鈥� laughs Garnham, reflecting on the Lego exhibits that have attracted 100,000 visitors, paving the way for shows like this.
鈥淲e had a mother come in with two teenage boys and she said: 鈥業f I鈥檇 asked them to come and visit a historical museum, they would have thought I was mad,鈥� but these are a major hook.鈥�
Even those who aren鈥檛 doll-lovers have marvelled at the dolls populating display areas that zigzag through the museum. They include a 1920s Raggedy Ann, Shirley Temple, Chatty Cathy, Storykins Cinderella, Flatsy, Knickerbocker Holly Hobby, Strawberry Shortcake, a Dorothy Hamill doll with skates, Groovy Girls, Barbies, baby dolls, American Girls, Bratzillaz and even some action figures, including G.I. Joe.
鈥淚鈥檓 more of a train guy,鈥� quipped Sidney Coun. Mervyn Lougher-Goodey, a fan of the railroad replicas in the museum鈥檚 6,000-item permanent collection. 鈥淒olls? Not so much for me, but it鈥檚 a tremendous attraction.鈥�
Acting mayor Steve Price said the exhibition is as worthy an attraction as the museum established in 1971.
鈥淵ou鈥檇 be amazed at the interest people have in dolls, especially antique dolls,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he museum鈥檚 quite important for people in town, significant enough that we fund it.鈥�
The doll dressmaker 鈥� steam iron, sewing supplies and tiny patterns at the ready 鈥� is Isabel Jones, a retiree who worked for 25 years at the Canadian Museum of Civilization.
鈥淚 thought I was done, but when I came here and I was invited to see the reserves at the back and went into the storage room, where it was dim and cool and smelled like a museum, I turned around and saw this Edwardian shaving cup with a beautiful pink rose on it,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 knew I was home.鈥�
Noting they decided to do the doll show 鈥渁s a lark,鈥� the volunteer reveals a tiny clothesline full of American Girl doll dresses on loan from 鈥淢adame Stieva鈥� 鈥� Ginni鈥檚 mother.
鈥淭his is an opportunity for me to make wonderful fashions I can no longer wear, but still enjoy,鈥� Jones said.
The youngest woman in the room is Elise Brunckhurst. She鈥檚 only 21, but old enough to recall her own doll memories.
鈥淚 had a few Barbies, but I was pretty rough with them,鈥� the museum assistant confesses. 鈥淎 few are missing heads now. I used to play parachutes with them.鈥�
The nostalgia factor was part of what Stieva hoped to inspire, also using the collection to encourage visitors to explore the community supporting the exhibit with promotional tie-ins.
鈥淥ur intent was to capture people鈥檚 imagination, the remembrance of what they loved as a kid,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 hope people will walk through and go: 鈥楬ey, I had one of those! I loved that doll.鈥� 鈥�
The admission-by-donation exhibit ends July 30.
For more information: sidneymuseum.ca
