HomeMy WebLinkAboutDolls 2 march 2026Dolls and Fairs by Sue Thompson, Enfield Historian
How many of you remember the Tompkins County Fair? The “old fair grounds” was located on a patch of land off South Meadow Street in Ithaca. The last fair held there was in 1964. It wasn’t
until 1977 the site was developed into a Tops Supermarket Center. What caught my attention was the fact that a “Doll Show” was held at the fair. This doll show was first held on August
27, 1948, first in the history of New York State Fairs to hold a Doll Show. Mrs. Marie Gilbert was the director of the show for many years. The Show included dolls and stuffed animals.
Winners were listed most years in the Ithaca Journal, however, I never saw listed winners from Enfield. Does anyone know of someone who entered this Show? Names listed were not always
identified as to where they resided. Here are some more of the “Doll” research I discovered: In 1975 the Enfield Community Council’s first Harvest Festival a “doll making demonstration”
was listed, but no names were given as to who was providing the demonstration. This demonstration was listed for 1976 also. Maybe this would be a nice addition to the Enfield Harvest
Festival – a Doll Show and Doll Making Demonstrations! In 1940 Romeyn Berry, local writer of State and Tioga newspaper column, wrote a story about “Doll” their gray mare that needed
a new shoe so they traveled to Enfield Center to Mr. Fitchpatrick, the blacksmith, to arrange for a new shoe for Doll. (Clarence Fitchpatrick Hall – Blacksmith shop and Post Office on
the corner of Enfield Main and Enfield Center) On his way to Enfield in from Millers Corners he noticed two barns that had been newly painted cream color with a brown trim and that roses
and delphiniums made the whole village seem spruce and trim. Mrs. Frank Fisher and Mrs. Donald Freelove in 1958 a hosted a Home Demonstration Unit lesson (Cooperative Extension program)
on making stuffed toys. I learned from an Ithaca Journal article in 1973 that Mrs. Nina Linton made ceramic, china dolls. In 1966 a softball game was held to benefit the Enfield PTA
between Ithaca Cuties and Enfield Dolls. Roger Brown, old time Enfield Ball Player, was coach for the Enfield Dolls team, Linda Crombie was captain. The game went on for 4 hours with
Ithaca Cuties winning 61 – 13. A few of the other references to the Tompkins County Fair were: Enfield Valley Grange exhibits - Mrs. Raymond Hubbell exhibiting Vegetables grown at home;
Mrs. Arland Crester, Mrs. Ferdinand Brady, Mrs. Mabel Purdy and Mrs. George Calkins in 1951 exhibited the use of aluminum trays. Home Bureau units from Enfield – Bostwick Road and Enfield
Falls participated also. Fred D. Rumsey took part in the fair in 1894 when he exhibited a Stallion. He became superintendent of horses at the fair for 24 years and Officer of the Tompkins
County Agricultural and Horticultural Society for 40 years. On August 9, 1950 a Pet Parade was held at the fair involving residents, Larry and Lorraine Lanning, Anthony Lupo and Namoi
Johnson. The Ithaca History Center and Ulysses Historical Society have doll collections if you are interested!