Smoky Mountain Toys
Who knew that a
trip to the Great Smoky Mountains could be an
enlightening experience about toy making? Believe it
or not, Appalachian toys have a history right here
in the Great Smoky Mountains- bring down the family
and stay in a Smoky Mountain cabin rental today, and
become educated on the history of Appalachian toys.
Many people hand-made toys in the Appalachians for
spare change- some of the toys they made are those
that children still find entertaining today. Willard
Watson has become one of the best known toy makers
in the Appalachians. Watson began making toys in the
1960’s when he became unable to perform demanding
physical labor he had done all his life. Toy making
provided him with a steady income- as tourists and
guided tours were constantly visiting him. What
inspires him to make these toys? He claims that he
imagined creations in his head first and was able to
use his mental picture to create them. Watson’s
array toys he made range from sling shots-to
extravagant wagons, from dancing dolls to a bubble
blower.
Many native Appalachians are revealing antique toys
they have collected through-out the years. A simple
ball and cup toy was made out of whittled pieces of
mountain laurel or rhododendron. The handles and the
cups are glued together and the balls were made out
of pine wood. It’s also exciting to see how other
unique toys were made, such as Watson’s bouncing
pig. A rod runs through the front feet of the pig so
that its hindquarters are free to rise up and down.
When you see this toy in action, you can witness the
movement as the crank at the back end of the toy is
turned, the man’s right arm moves up and down to
whop the pig, and each time the pig is whipped, its
hindquarters rise off the platform. Dolls were made
from a variety of materials, some toy makers liked
to use apples while others used potatoes!
Come take a trip to the Great Smoky Mountains- you
may get the chance to speak with a native
Appalachian who still has unique hand-made mountain
toys today. Stay in a Pigeon Forge cabin rental, and
spend some time shopping in antique shops in order
to see these unique toys for yourself! |
