Barbara Massenburg has loaned her 1960s Madame Alexander dolls to the Wake Forest Historical Museum for an exhibit in the main room that will last through the end of January.
Many of the 8-inch dolls are dressed in costumes from different countries – Scotland, France, Spain, India for example – while the cast of the movie “Little Women” are dressed with petticoats and pantaloons. Assistant Director Jennifer Smart even found an old playbill from the first movie that starred Katherine Hepburn.
It was a job assembling the exhibit because most of the arms and legs had to be reattached. The elastic bands holding them had disintegrated through the years. Also the clothes had to be washed and pressed. A volunteer did all the work.
Massenburg, who lives in an historic home, is a museum supporter and longtime supporter, board member and chairman of the Wake County Historical Society and the Wake Forest Historical Association.
The museum is at 414 North Main Street and admission is free. It is open in the winter from 9 a.m. to noon and 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. There are no open hours on the weekend in the winter. Call 919-556-2911 to confirm the hours
