Happy 4th of July! from American Doll and Toy Museum and we are nearly 300,000 strong!

 

Happy 4^th of July!

Scroll down to read the blog post, but there are lots of photos to enjoy as well!

 

 

 Once again, just like that, the 4^th of July is here!  We had wonderful memories from our 4^th as children.  In San Jose, the whole neighborhood had a block party, and we all had fire works, not just sparklers!  You could by them along the road side, in little stands.  I still have the cut outs of Smokin Sam, and boxes from caps and snakes.  My uncle George took me to buy an assortment for the 4^th of July 1972.  We had a great time picking them out, and later, us kids had home made ice cream, made by my friend’s parents across the street.  Shelley Hobson was my best California friend, and I miss her and her sisters very much.  Little did we know that George would die June 1973 in a car accident.

 

Earlier years, we ran around our Rock Island neighborhood, lighting sparklers and playing games long after dusk.  We could see fireworks from our yards, or we could go to the local high school and sit on the lawn.  On trip out west, we spent the 4^th at Disneyland, watching the electric light parade, and staying to watch Tinkerbell fly across the park at midnight amid even more fireworks.  The first Tinkerbell I remember was 72 and still flying! 

 

Bicentennial Betsy and 

Spirit of 76 Soldier from Carlson Dolls, thanks Jan F.  I new someone

named Betsy Ross Brewer, a direct descendant of the original Betsy Ross.

Thomas Jefferson and Friends from our Presidential Doll case. American Doll

and toy Museum.

Uncle Sam and Friends

Left, Carlson Dolls Betsy Ross with a gift from our friend Cate C. to her right

Carlson Dolls British soldier, thanks Jan F.

George Washington and Francis Scott Key

More Presidential dolls, including our Georgian Wooden Doll, center, Reign of

George III, and Lincoln and Trump  Dolls.  Note LBJ in his ten gallon hat in front, and the Garfield

Pez.

Lincoln's Son, Robert

President Obama by Hallmark

Left,

Lucy Webb Hayes, with dolls representing

Presidents Trump, Lincoln, and Clinton

Fanny Betsy,a Bru Brevete that belonged to

Fanny Hayes, daughter of President Rutherford B. Hayes.

Not so long ago, my parents and I went to Galena, IL for the parade, a good old fashioned 4^th that was!

 

Now our holidays are quiet.  I’ll take flowers to our family graves tomorrow for my Uncle Tom, whose birthday was July 5^th.  I’ve had a few fireworks; one year, my friend and I went to the courthouse grounds to watch our local Red, White and Boom!  

 

Some of us are off to the Barbie convention, but we stay here.  We had a great day at American Doll and Toy Museum, as we did last weekend.  I’m so grateful people are finding us!  We hope to do some videos to share with everyone, but for now, I share some patriotic doll photos.  We have lots of items like this; many from our Bicentennial, which is not to be forgotten!  Others came from the 1986 festival to celebrate the renovation of The Statue of Liberty.

 

We aren’t perfect, but we are the land of the free, and the home of the brave.  Long may freedom reign, and may it root itself and blossom in countries where there has been none.

 

Enjoy the photos, and a safe, Happy 4^th from American Doll and Toy Museum!

Jack the Doll, American Doll and Toy Museum