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Vintage doll colection opens at museum
By Jebb Johnston - Daily Corinthian - Thursday, November 26, 2011
The Crossroads Museum has one of the area’s biggest vintage doll collections, and it’s putting some of them on display. A new exhibit slated for Dec. 1 through the end of January will feature more than 100 vintage china and bisque dolls from a collection that was donated to the Crossroads Museum some 20 years ago.
“There are some very rare pieces,” said Museum Director Brandy Steen, who has been sorting through boxes of highly detailed and well-dressed dolls donated by Robert Lee.
The newest doll in the collection is from 1961, while the majority are believed to be more than 100 years old.
Lee’s mother, an avid doll collector, purchased the collection from a woman in Murray, Ky., in 1976.
“They were stored until 1978 when they moved into their house and built cabinets and put the dolls on display,” said Steen. “A lot of the doll clothes are original.”
The original owner was a seamstress, and she handmade clothing for some of the dolls. Many of the china dolls are clothed in elaborate dresses. The collection includes a few male dolls, which were less common, and a few female dolls with blond hair, an uncommon trait at the time. The female dolls commonly had dark hair and blue eyes.
Produced mainly in Germany, china dolls were most common from 1840 to 1940 and typically had a porcelain head and shoulders and a cloth body. The hair and face is molded and painted.
Bisque dolls are made of bisque porcelain and typically have a more skin-like appearance. Most were fashion dolls having hair that is not painted on as with china dolls and peaked in popularity in the late 1800s.
Steen said it’s an exhibit that would make for a great afternoon out with grandma.
In other museum happenings, the gift shop now offers the 1996 book detailing the life of aviator Roscoe Turner. It is currently available only at the museum.
Also, the museum website (crossroadsmuseum.com) will soon feature a virtual exhibit including thousands of photos from the museum’s holdings.
Museum hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 1 to 4 p.m. on Sunday.

Coming soon: Browse photos online
The Crossroads Museum at the Historic Corinth Depot is working on a huge photo digitization project. Soon visitors to this web site will be able to access over 5,000 historic Corinth area photos within a virtual exhibit portal.

Museum board hires new executive director
From Daily Corinthian - Thursday, November 3, 2011
Corinth native Brandy Steen is the new director of the Crossroads Museum, announced the museum’s board of trustees.
Steen, an avid community volunteer, begins her new job today. Previous museum director Kathryn Dilworth resigned in August to become general manager of the Crossroads Arena.
“I want to turn the museum into a place locals visit as often as tourists. I invite everyone to come by the museum and say ‘hello’. I look forward to working on new projects and getting the community involved as much as possible,” Steen said. “I love the Corinth area and its history. There are so many rich parts that are little known, and I believe strongly in educating people about the diversity of our town through storytelling and events.”
Increasing membership, fund-raising and visitor traffic are some of her goals, she added.
“I welcome Brandy Steen as the new director of Crossroads Museum,” said Johnny Ross, a museum board member and volunteer. “She brings many years of deep involvement in the civic affairs of Corinth and Alcorn County and is a perfect fit for the future of the museum. I look forward to working with her. “
A 2004 graduate of Alcorn Central High School, Steen earned an associate of arts degree from Northeast Mississippi Community College in Booneville and a bachelor’s of science in business and finance from the University of North Alabama in Florence.
Since 2006, she and her husband, Zack Steen, have lived in downtown Corinth. She has worked as a cashier/sales associate at Wal-Mart Supercenter and as an administrative assistant at Crossroads Automotive, both in Corinth.
Steen also is a committee member and volunteer for the Green Market at the Corinth Depot. She’s volunteered with the Crossroads Chili Cook-off, Slugburger Festival, Corinth Home and Garden Tour, Alcorn Central High School band and Corinth Alcorn Animal Shelter.
“I thank the wonderful Crossroads Museum board for giving me this opportunity,” Steen said. “I believe I am a good fit for what the board members hope to achieve. I look forward to working with them and the great museum staff. I see so much potential for the Crossroads Museum.”
Open Tuesday-Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sundays 1-4 p.m., the Crossroads Museum offers permanent exhibits on the Civil War, railroads, aviation, business/industry and pre-history/archeology. Also at the museum are exhibits from the Corinth Coca-Cola Museum, a gift shop and the Margaret Greene Rogers Research Library. Admission is $5 adults; $3 seniors, military and students; and free for museum members and ages 16 and under.

 

Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 10am-4pm; Sunday 1-4pm
Admission: Adults $5; Over 50 $3; Under 16 Free

221 North Fillmore Street Corinth, Mississippi 38834 phone 662-287-3120