“Sunbonnets and doll clothes Delight to young and old” from the May 23, 1967 Door County Advocate
Mrs. Thomas Wagner of Sister Bay, alias Mrs. Santa Claus —Hagedorn
Sunbonnets and doll clothes Delight to young and old
By KETA STEEBS
If a certain rotund habitue of the North Pole, known for his once-a-year generosity, ever needs help in augmenting the happiness of little girls, all he need do is place a collect call to Mrs. Tom Wagner, Sister Bay’s counterpart of Mrs. Santa Claus. She’ll be happy to oblige.
Mrs. Wagner, a pixie-faced, effervescent little woman with a flair for sewing, dotes on little girls and has been sewing almost exclusively for them and their dolls since the early days of the depression when, often as not, one doll’s outfit was all their financially pressed parents could afford. If this was all a little girl got for Christmas, Mrs. Wagner made doubly sure she wasn’t disappointed.
Formerly of Chicago, Mr. and Mrs. Wagner moved to Sister Bay about a year ago choosing a home with a wide, sunny front porch, perfect for sewing and displaying handiwork. Built-in shelves are lined with row after row of exquisitely sewn doll dresses, each individually detailed and boasting its own matching accessories.
Tiny, colorful prints vie with each other for attention and trying to decide on one particular outfit would tax both the patience of Job and the wisdom of Solomon. One instinctively wants to scoop them together and depart with the carload lot. Even for someone without a little girl to her name — they’re irresistible.
Each dress has its own hidden, secret pocket (perfect for hiding a well-earned penny or an extra tootsie roll) tucked in the folds of a meticulously shirred shirt with its own ruffled panties and as an added inducement, its own lace trimmed sunbonnet. All are gaily arrayed on miniature doll hangers contributed by Mr. Wagner.
Sunbonnets come in all shapes and sizes and are worth special attention. Mrs. Wagner wanted to make “something different” and after canvassing local shops for ideas, she asked herself, “What can I possibly make that I don’t see in Door county?”
The answer came unexpectedly one night while both Wagners watched a late Western on television. Mrs. Wagner took one look at the frail heroine carefully tying a sunbonnet under her chin before driving a covered wagon westward and decided sun bonnets were just as practical a headcovering today as they were a hundred years ago.
She had no idea as to how to make a sunbonnet as no patterns are available, but after purchasing plenty of buckram, gingham and lace, she experimented until she came up with a perfect model. Now she says, “they’re a cinch.”
Koepsel’s Fruit Market, which sold Mrs. Wagner’s output last summer, found the sunbonnets most saleable. In fact, last Halloween, Mrs. Koepsel had an order from Wausau for three adult bonnets to be worn to a costume ball. Fortunately, Mrs. Wagner happened to have the required amount on hand and all three ladies wore “Wagner Originals” to the party. Chances are these same bonnets will be seen picnicking, gardening, and maybe even golfing this summer.
Authoress Keta Steebs with a Wagner sunbonnet
Tote bags, roomy, convenient and unusually attractive are another specialty. Ideal for toting almost anything, these bags are hand-lined and hold their shapes perfectly. Like the dresses, they come in an assortment of patterns and colors.
Mrs. Wagner keeps a weather eye out for spotting distinctive designs and is especially interested in material with tiny figures (the only type used in doll’s clothes and little girl’s dresses). Right now her stockpile is running low and she is shopping for more unusual patterned percales and eye-appealing ginghams. Some patterns were purchased in Chicago, before moving here, and can’t be duplicated anywhere.
Future plans call for making complete doll wardrobes. Everything from christening gowns to wedding gowns and including hand-knit suits (yes, she also knits professionally), night gowns, granny bonnets, robes, reversible raincoats and skating outfits. Door county dolls won’t have to take back seat to any fashionable visitors by the time Mrs. Wagner gets through.
Both Wagners love Door county and share both their home and enthusiasm with Fritzie, a miniature Doberman, and Susie, origin unknown. And, although childless, Mrs. Wagner is ably fulfilling her destiny —— playing “Grandma” to countless little girls and their lucky little dolls.
Courtesy of the Door County Library Newspaper Archive
[Mrs. Thomas Wagner was also known as Nona Wagner.]
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