Redheads got their start in Arcola

ARCOLA – Two of America's most beloved dolls, Raggedy Ann and Andy, got their starts in Arcola.

Freelance artist Johnny Gruelle, a native of Arcola, spent much of his life drawing illustrations and features for magazines and newspapers.

At 14, Gruelle drew a caricature of a police officer named Tom McGinty that was so impressive the cop helped get him a job cartooning for a newspaper.

Over the years Gruelle worked as a cartoonist for a number of newspapers, including the Indianapolis Star, Cleveland Press and New York Herald. For many years the Arcola man was turning out as many as 10 cartoons each week.

After a long day of drawing cartoons, Gruelle's greatest joy was telling stories to his daughter, Marcella. And Marcella's favorite character was a little girl named Raggedy Ann.

Marcella had her own Raggedy Ann rag doll, made from scraps of fabric in a sewing basket. What made Raggedy unique was a heart-shaped piece of candy in her chest, right where a heart should be.

When Marcella died at age 13 after receiving a vaccination shot, Gruelle tried to cope with his loss by writing the stories he had created for his daughter.

After Gruelle wrote best-selling books about Raggedy Ann and Andy, the two dolls had become an international phenomenon, with their own comic strip, series of books, dolls and related products.

Area residents can experience the history of the two dolls at the Johnny Gruelle Raggedy Ann and Andy Museum, located at 110 E. Main St.

In 1999, Gruelle's granddaughter, Joni Gruelle Wannamaker, and her husband Tom Wannamaker bought the former Western Auto building, restored it and converted it into a museum to hold the family collection of Raggedy Ann memorabilia.

The Arcola museum is the only officially licensed Raggedy Ann and Andy Museum in the world.

As visitors tour the museum, Joni Wannamaker autographs books, often including a drawing of Raggedy Ann along with the signature.

"The museum has been a labor of love for both Joni and Tom," said Arcola Administrator Bill Wagoner.

Joni Wannamaker said attendance at the museum increased in 2002 when Raggedy Ann was inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame. She expects a similar increase this year with the induction of Raggedy Andy into the Hall of Fame.

"One of the greatest joys about working here is getting to meet so many dedicated Raggedy Ann fans," Joni Wannamaker said. "I've talked to people in their 90s who had some of the first produced dolls and little children who are totally devoted to Raggedy Ann and Andy."