Made In Missouri

Hermann’s Delightful Doll Shop

September 1, 2020

This article is presented in partnership with Blondie’s Dolls Toy Shop In 2015, Blondie Haeberle, her daughter Janet, and Janet’s husband Gary purchased a 156-year-old building at 201 Schiller in the historic district of Hermann. At 90, she had made a decision. After years of collecting dolls, Blondie wanted to share her collections with others. Together, they opened Blondie’s Dolls Toy Shop. The trio hand-selected more than five hundred dolls to display from more than one thousand in Blondie’s collection. The display includes vintage Barbies, antique and newer dolls from Germany, a Princess Diana doll with a stunning wardrobe, Peggy Nisbet dolls from England, Madame Alexander dolls, and many other character dolls, including two St. Louis Cardinal Cabbage Patch dolls. During the gallery setup, Blondie and her daughter rediscovered dolls that had been stored and unseen for years. Blondie continued to come into the shop and view her dolls, along with other visitors, many of which were surprised to realize they were viewing the collection alongside its collector and owner. Blondie died in 2019, and her granddaughter Johanna joined the business, which continues Blondie’s passion for dolls. In addition to the doll gallery, which is for display only, Blondie’s Dolls Toy Shop has evolved to include four lines of German toys, and dolls, handmade doll clothes, and accessories. The family’s German heritage and that of the Hermann area have had a large influence in the toy lines the shop carries, which features Playmobil action figure toys from Zirndorf, Germany; Käthe Kruse dolls from Donauwörth, Germany; Ravensburger puzzles from Ravensburg, Germany; and Hermann Collectible Bears made in Coburg Germany. The German toys for sale allow the doll gallery to continue without charging an admission fee.

Blondie’s Dolls has the largest selection of Playmobil toys in Missouri. The shop has more than four hundred different Playmobil toys, many of which are out of the box on display. The Käthe Kruse company has been making dolls since 1911 and has both baby dolls and child dolls, including the newer Kruselings, which are 9-inch, fully jointed dolls with a variety of outfits and accessories. Established in 1883, the Ravensburger puzzle company makes high quality puzzles for all ages, and named for the Hermann family, the Hermann Collectible Bears have been a part of children’s lives since 1920.

The shop’s selection of toys are available for purchase in the shop or online at blondiesdolls.square.site. Many of the toys are displayed out of the box so visitors can see the detailed quality and surprising features of the finely engineered German products. The doll gallery and Playmobil play area are temporarily closed due to Covid-19.