The Edwards holiday rocket ride
/ Action News photojournalist: Brian Erb
Onondaga Historical Association display
By Laura Hand
Tuesday, December 09, 2008 at 6:14 p.m.
If you're looking for holiday nostalgia, check the temporary exhibit of popular toys from the 50's at the Onondaga Historical Association. 'We have over 100 toys,' says exhibit curator Tom Hunter. 'Most of them came from peoples' attics and basements.'
There are the 'standards,' including Howdy Doody, Shirley Temple dolls, Erector sets, slinkies and cooties, not to mention ViewMasters and Lionel Trains (there's a running display.)
There are also some locally crafted toys, including a wooden rocking horse, and curator Hunter's favorite, an early recorder--it looks like a child's record player--made by General Electric in Liverpool.
And, to 'bring it home', there are pictures from the OHA archives of holiday shopping along South Salina Street, and interior pictures of Dey Brothers and Edwards, including the rocket ride, which our photojournalist Brian Erb remembers riding as a child, while his mother shopped below. There are also original boxes from the big downtown department stores---all watched over by a 50s decorated tree, complete with bubbler lights.
The 'Nifty Fifties' exhibit is open Wednesday - Friday 10am-2pm, Saturdays and Sundays 11am-4pm, and in the evenings of December 18 and January 15 from 5-8pm, until January 18th.
There's more at cnyhistory.org click on 'museum' and then 'temporary exhibits.
