MANSFIELD – Toys for the young and the young at heart were on display at the Richland County Fairgrounds on Sunday.
More than 100 tables covered in comic books, baseball cards, train sets, matchbox cars and more sprawled across Fairhaven Hall at the Fairgrounds. The collectibles were fawned over by young children, but inspired memories in adults.
“It’s generally toys from the 1960s, your pop culture stuff that you grew up with,” said organizer Tim Babcock. “Barbie dolls, action figures, rock-and-roll records, Holly Hobby, TV show collectibles…there’s something here that everyone recognizes.”
According to Babcock, the toy show started in 1993 in the Masonic Temple on Lexington Avenue. As the show grew, it quickly outgrew its venue space and now is held twice annually at Fairhaven Hall.
“There’s something for everybody thanks to the variety,” he said. “And it’s one of the only shows in the area of this kind and size.”
Dealers from the tristate area flock to Mansfield’s show, but it also boasts a large number of dealers from Richland County and surrounding counties.
One of those dealers was Mary Jean Theaker, who brought with her a large collection of dolls, baseball cards, and stuffed animals including the Beanie Babies that were popular in the 1990s.
“Beanie Babies cost a lot a long time ago, but I sell them for $1 for parents to give to their kids,” Theaker said. “People will tell me they sold for a lot a long time ago but I don’t care.”
Theaker described the group of dealers at Fairhaven Hall on Sunday as a conglomerate always willing to help each other out. A former teacher, Theaker got involved in selling and collecting antique toys through organizing estate sales in the 1980s.
“I like it because I remember a lot of things I saw as a child,” Theaker said. “A lot of the puzzles and games, or the metal dollhouse with all the furniture, I remember all of that as a child.”
“There are a lot of local dealers, and people don’t recognize there is some knowledge in this community and some really nice collections,” Babcock said. “We have a very die-hard group of dealers and customers.”
Roaming through Fairhaven Hall on Sunday was a steady stream of toy enthusiasts, including Randy Shepherd of Rome, Ohio. Joined by his wife, daughter and son-in-law and his three grandsons, Shepherd described the toy show as something of a treasure hunt.
“I’ll do a hot lap to see if anything stands out, then go back to those areas and spend a little more time there,” Shepherd said. “I like the old toys, the old Tonka metal cars and figures from the past. My dresser is full of that stuff.”
Like many visitors to the toy show, Shepherd said he enjoyed the variety of dealers and visiting their shops after learning more about them. The biggest thrill of the show, though, is the rush of nostalgia that comes with it.
“You’re looking for a connection,” Shepherd said. “That’s why you buy the toy.”
