Story Mountain, 1986

Volunteers Marion Lardner and Mary Cleaveland recreated and reimagined the fairyland dioramas as Story Mountain in 1986, as part of the Main Library renovation. Since November 21, 2020, the dolls, case, and accessories have been on permanent loan to the American Doll & Toy Museum, 3059 30th Street, Rock Island, IL. For details and open hours, see the Museum’s Facebook page or blog.

1986 Newspaper Article: "Library doll mountain measure of success—smudges, noseprints"

By Stephanie Peterson, Argus staff writer

[photo caption] Magical Mountain: Mary Cleaveland, right, and Marion Lardner present their latest recreation of Catherine and George McDonald's doll mountain. Work on the project began in early September through the efforts of Cleaveland, Lardner, Babs Murphy, Martha Cleaveland, and Barb Wheelan. The new doll mountain will be named after entries have been submitted by children readers during library week, November 17-23.

What do Little Boy Blue, Charlotte's Web, Jack and the Beanstalk, and Rapunzel all have in common? Their own invitation into children's imaginations of fairy tales, of course, and a mountain in which to reside as well.

This mountain, which is currently on display in the Children's Room of the Rock Island Public Library, was handmake and donated to the library by former Rock Island residents Catherine and George McDonald. It originally measured six feet tall and was 30 feet in circumference at its completion in 1939.

The mountain, made of chicken wire, papier mache and cornstalk cellulose, was constructed by Henry Broendel, a well-known cabinet maker of the time, at the respond of the McDonald children, Susanne and George, Jr.

"The couple started with a haystack and the Little Boy Blue figure. They read until the characters came alive; they loved it so much. It took a couple of years to complete all the scenes," said Mary Cleaveland, who is rebuilding the 50-60 figurine set-up within the library.

"We've (Marion Lardner and Cleaveland) had a lot of fun fixing it up. The whole structure was donated and cut up into 10 pieces so that it could be recreated. Over the years it got a little shabby, but we've tried to preserve as many original dolls and scenes as possible."

The structure, which currently sports dolls and animals of all tales along with electrical wiring and sparkles for effect, originally centered around a wooden castle labelled Fairyland and a workable waterfall.

"It apparently was quite beautiful and somewhat enchanting to all the children. The couple and the cabinet maker put so much work into it that they were asked to exhibit it at the World's Fair in New York," said Cleaveland.

Cleaveland also relayed that one of their Nancy Ann trademark doll's gown (depicting the Queen of Hearts) was made from pieces of her own wedding gown.

"When she (Catherine) explained this once, an interested child couldn't believe Mrs. McDonald could have ever been that small," laughed Cleaveland.

Each of the dolls is dressed and ornamented as closely to the fairy tale or nursery rhyme as possible, including the embroidered 'Some Pig' in Charlotte's Web, the Lion's medal of courage in the Wizard of Oz, and the soon-to-be suspended fluttering Tinkerbell of Peter Pan.

"Broendel was a real artist, so it's pretty difficult to reflect his skill. We try to make everything proportionate with its surroundings and to update some of the dolls. For example, we've added Pippi Longstocking and Laura of Little House on the Prairie," said Cleaveleand.

"Whatever we've done, it must be somewhat successful, because we've finally received fingerprint smudges and noseprints on the glass case surrounding the mountain."

Future dolls will include a dragon, Johnny Appleseed, and a Santa Claus, which will be placed in the front portion of the case used for seasonal depictions.