Discovering Joy in the Past: “My Collections” by Mendota Historical Society

By Brandon LaChance, Reporter

MENDOTA – Enjoyment.

Bryon Walters beams when he articulates the term.

The chairperson of the Mendota Museum & Historical Society also smiles while discussing the delight he experiences daily.

Now, there will be even greater excitement as the society has inaugurated its center at 909 Washington St. in Mendota for “My Collections.”

“We initiated this innovative concept of “My Collections” where we welcome community members to showcase a collection that they believe would be intriguing for others to observe,” Walters stated. “The sole requirement is that it must be a collection that commenced at least 25 years ago. It represents something that is already part of history and the collections continue to evolve.”

The inaugural display to occupy the case contributed by a society member and illuminated by LED strips installed by Walters, is Ty Beanie Babies.

Valerie Walters, Bryon’s mother, had bins of them stored away and a few displayed on tables throughout her home.

Her son believed Beanie Babies would be an ideal initial exhibit and composed a write-up to affix to the exterior of the case, ensuring visitors had some context about the adorable, plush toy looking back at them.

“Ty was the first brand that ever provided consumers an online avenue to purchase their products,” Walters explained, who possesses one of the 820 distinct Beanie Babies creatures, a shark dubbed “Crunch” because he once aspired to be a marine biologist. “In essence, Beanie Babies were the first items that could genuinely be bought online. The online sales were so robust that at one point, they represented 10 percent of eBay sales. The enterprise was founded by an individual in Chicago. Initially, people were skeptical because he was trying to market a stuffed toy.

“When you observe them, they all sit upright. That’s a primary reason he opted to under-stuff them. Initially, people perceived them as low quality, but he debunked that notion and demonstrated Beanie Babies were a premium product. Numerous individuals believed it would merely be a passing trend.

“The reality is from 1998 to 2019, Ty’s sales surpassed $1 billion annually, except for three years. They remain ubiquitous. You can still acquire them. Ty has contributed over $300 million to diverse charities.”

With the arrival of winter, the Mendota Museum is currently closed.

Walters and the society contemplated that enhancing the headquarters would convey to the public that the Mendota Museum and Historical Society are not dormant.

The “My Collection” displays will rotate every 4-6 weeks, potentially featuring Coca-Cola collectibles, Pez dispensers, or sports memorabilia.

“I came across an article in Museum Trends Magazine highlighting a historical society on the east coast that hosted a 1980s convention exhibiting all of the electronic games from that decade such as Pac-Man,” Walters remarked. “Thousands of attendees visited the convention since they grew up in the 80s or thought it was fascinating.

“When they surveyed museum attendees, 95 percent had never set foot in the museum prior. What drew them in was history. Those games may not have originated there, but people played them there and formed emotional connections to them. I’m certain there are individuals in Mendota who own more Beanie Babies, or who have fond memories of them.

“Our aim is to foster enjoyment. It’s all about having a good time.”