WENHAM — Whirligigs and whimmydiddles sound like the sorts of toys Alice would have found underneath the caterpillar's mushroom or that Willy Wonka would have created if he'd been a toy maker.
But these whimsical-sounding toys don't exist in the pages of children's stories, they are simply folk toys, playthings made from ordinary objects — and the focus of a new exhibit at the Wenham Museum.
Before children sported bandaged thumbs from too much Nintendo, Game Boy or spent the entire weekend with glazed eyes glued to a colorful cartoon, they played with dolls made of corn husks and spun wooden tops. There was no Toys R Us around the corner, so they made the toys themselves with the things they had.
It may be difficult for a child raised on Power Wheels to see the appeal of the whimmydiddle. A whimmydiddle is a set of two sticks. One stick is notched and has a small propeller on the end, and the other stick is dragged along the notches to make the propeller spin.
"It's important for children to see what toys used to look like and what they look like now," said Mary Barthelmes, a museum spokeswoman.
Folk toys often had a purpose. Toys were used to teach children skills they would need later in life. Young American Indian girls would make their own dolls, learning the skills of sewing and beadwork. The Climbing Bear, a wooden bear that climbs up two ropes by alternately pulling on the ropes, mimics the motion of milking a cow.
The exhibit, which is up until Jan. 18, features examples of the folk toys and oversized reproductions for children to play with.
"We started the exhibition thinking we'd have lots of old examples," said Betty Nett, curator of dolls and toys. "But the toys were so simple and so played with, few survived."
One of the original folk toys the museum was able to find is a dappled rocking horse from the 1880s, courtesy of Lynne and Paul Weaver of Wenham.
The reproductions, such as the Buzz Saw — a disk on a string that makes noise when you spin it, and the Pecking Chickens, were built by volunteers Dick Eddy of Wenham and David Jerrett of Ipswich.
The exhibition is one where both children and adults can learn. Children are introduced to toys they may have never seen, and adults can learn about the science and history behind the toys.
And frequently adults remember the toys from their own childhood.
Barthelmes says she can hardly keep track of how many times a day she hears, "I remember that!" or "I used to have one of those!"
If you go
What: "Whirligigs and Whimmydiddles: Celebrating American Folk Toys"
When: Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., until Jan. 18
Where: 132 Main St., Wenham
Admission: $7 adults; $5 children ages one to 16; members free
