Oct 23rd, 2012
A bit of historical time traveling is available to the community through October 29, as Toys and Games of Yesteryear are on display in the library of Jackson States main campus.
The pieces belong to Covington native and former math instructor at Jackson State, Jack Hadley. The display consists of a wide range of toys and games - from jigsaw puzzlesand checker boards to representations of Noah's ark and toy buildings, said Hadley.
He continued, I have collected antique furniture for over fifty ears. While looking through magazines like Country Living and Country Home, I noticed how toys and games were often used as accessories in decorating country furniture.Game boards, for instance, made interesting wall art. Groupings of toys on chests caught the eye and created interest. Maybe I'm an architect at heart. I especially like toy buildingssuch as barns, stables, arks and dollhouses. Even when collecting banks, I concentrate on ones that areshaped like buildings.
Most of Hadleys finds were purchased at auctions and antique shows in Tennessee, Missouri, Indiana, Kentucky and especially Ohio. The Fiddler's Show in Nashville always had interesting items too, he said.
Quite the avid collector, previous displays Hadley has shared with the community via Jackson State have included metal bookends, tip/change trays, duck decoys and fishing accessories, early lighting (from rush lights and candles to kerosene), Broadway posters and early school collectibles.
When asked where his passion stems from in buying these items, Hadley responded, I have never bought an antique because of what I thought its future value might be. Even though antiques might be a good investment, I buy what I like and what I can live with, happily.
The display is available for viewing during library hours of operation, Monday through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. until 8:15 p.m.; Fridays 7:30 a.m. through 4:15 p.m.; and Saturdays from 10 a.m. until 1:30 p.m.
For more information, call 731-425-2609or email scohen@jscc.edu.