July II, 1936
THE STATE
Page Three
The Tryon Toy-Makers
THEY represent one of the
most interesting industries
in North Carolina and have
given employment to many
hundreds of young people.
Ktj HI A J EL IVEY SEAY
The attractive and unique home of the Tryon Toy-
Makers and Wood-Carvers
HIGH
а
a hill just off the
main thoroughfare of the
thriving little mountain city of
Tryon, is located one of the mast origi¬
nal enterprises t«»
!«•
found in the South
— the Tryon Toy- Makers ami Wood
Carvers.
The size of the diminutive home of
the Toy-Makers— a little creaiu-colored
stone structure made more artistic with
green trimmings, red roof and profuse
shrubbery, is out of all proportion to the
vast work that is carried on within.
Upon entering the attractive house,
one is amazed that one tiny house could
hold such a profusion and such a va¬
riety of toys and carved and woven
objects. The original work of the Toy-
Maker.- has become1 famed throughout
America and even in many foreign
countries, yet many North Carolinians
are yet to learn of it.
Started After the War
It was after the World War and
George W. Vanderbilt's death at Hilt-
more that the novel industry had its
beginning. Miss Eleanor Vance and
Miss Charlotte Yale, the originators
and owners of the shop, were also
originators of the handicraft work of
the Hiltmore Industries, where they
worked for fourteen years.
As a child, Miss Vance was more
interested in hammer and nails than
she was in playing dolls so it is not
surprising that her life work develojied
along that line. Her artistic and crea¬
tive ability was so striking that she was
sent to the Cincinnati Art School for two
years, after which she studied for nine
years with William Fry, the famous
craftsman.
It was while studying the art of
teaching children the arts and crafts
at Chicago that she met Miss Yale, who
was also interested in the same phase
of the work. Each gave the other re¬
newed inspiration and together they
went to Alfred, New York, and entered
the State School of Ceramics.
After completing their course there,
they journeyed to Florida where they
began their dream of teaching children
the art of toy making, wood carving
and weaving.
Then came the introduction of handi¬
craft work in connection with George
W, Vanderbilt’s experiment at Hill-
more, which was just in its infancy.
During their fourteen years there, they
took frequent trips abroad, continuing
their studies with great sculptors and
artists of England and Ireland.
Teaching Hand-Carving
Their work at Tryon, following Mr.
Vanderbilt's death, at first consisted in
teaching hand carving to children. This
instruction became so popular that it
finally grew to include not only carving
hut weaving and the making of toys.
Twice their quarters were outgrown
and finally the home which now houses
the Toy-Makers, was built. People from
far and near came to look and to buy
the novel objects made by the enthus¬
iastic young workers.
Dolls, toy villages, toy furniture, sand
pails and shovels, The Old Woman In
a .Shoe and Noah’s Ark are among the
innumerable toys made. In addition
to the toys, there are tea trays, book
ends, picture frames, fireside (tenches,
woven scarves, spreads, etc., all sorts of
novelty souvenirs, and many other
attractive and useful objects.
According to a recent announcement,
tin* educational development depart¬
ment of the Farmers Federation is to
cooperate with the Toy-Makers in the
future in carrying out their work. The
plans call for enlarging the business so
that additional employment will lie
created. The training classes will be
enlarged so that a .-till greater number
of young people will have the oppor¬
tunity of learning the toy business and
the art of weaving and wood carving.
With the possible exception of the
Hiltuiorc Industries, the Tryon Toy-
Makers are probably doing more to
give young people an opportunity to
learn and do creative work than any
other similar establishment in the
state.
If you want to see the young workers
in action and to view their handicraft,
stop by to see them the next time you
pass through Tryon. Visitors are al¬
ways cordially received, whether they
come to buy or merely to look. Patrons
of the industry include many distin¬
guished persons all over the country,
the wife of the President being one of
the hosts of admirers of this original
and unique project.
