Historic Treasure of the Week - April 12, 1992
By Helen F. Mitchell
Vigo County Historical Society
Historic Treasure of the Week - April 12, 1992
By Helen F. Mitchell
Vigo County Historical Society
Popularity of toy blocks timeless
Of all the toys children have played with through the years, sets of blocks have been among the most popular.
Blocks are colorful, interesting to the sense of touch, and they allow the child’s imagination to activate. Girls and boys alike play with blocks, so they could be classified as a unisex toy.
Blocks can be used to build all kinds of interesting buildings and mark off boundary lines acting as fences. In groups, they are wonderful soldiers and can form an impressive parade across the living room. Games similar to dominoes can be played if alphabet or number blocks are used.
Toy catalogs of the middle- and late-19th century had several pages of blocks listed. They show pictures of stack or nesting blocks, ABC cube blocks and blocks of rectangular shape. They were given names such as "Babes-in-the Woods," "ABC Picture Blocks," St. Nicholas," "Railroad," and "Menagerie" blocks. Other sets were named for nursery rhymes such as "Baby Bunting," "Tom Thumb" and "Little Bo-Peep."
Stack or nesting blocks took up very little space when nested inside of each other but provided blocks of difference sizes when separated. They were open on one side and were adorned with beautiful pictures of animals and children. They could be used in a variety of ways.
The Historical Museum of the Wabash Valley has several sets of blocks. One of the most interesting is the subject of this article and photograph.
This set of ABC animal blocks was given to Kathryn M. (Katie) Boyll by her uncle, O,C. Boyll, in 1890. This information is written on the lid of the box in Katie’s own handwriting.
The set consists of 27 blocks contained in a wooden box with sliding lid. On one side of each block is an embossed Old English style letter and on the opposite side is a picture of an animal whose name begins with that letter.
The set is titled, "Combination Building Blocks." It was made in Seneca, N.Y.
The blocks are rectangular in shape similar to an oversize domino. The twenty-seventh block of the set pictures an "&" ampersand.
Many children of previous generations Leonard their numbers and their ABCs through blocks. You might say that blocks helped provide a home-based kindergarten. Using their imaginations, children invented many ways to use this simple toy. Blocks were present and being enjoyed many years before the term "educational toys" was thought of.
Sets of blocks may be seen in the toy room, the nursery and the general store at the museum.
The Historical Museum of the Wabash Valley, 1411 S. Sixth St., is open from 1 to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.