G Fox Christmas Mechanical Dolls

A generous donation from William and Donna DiBella to the iQuilt Partnership brought back 22 of the original G. Fox mechanical holiday dolls back to Hartford. Each year iQuilt takes these treasures originally build by Hamberger Animations and decorates downtown windows.

History
G. Fox retail store started in 1847 in one room by Gerson Fox and under the leadership of his granddaughter Beatrice Fox Auerbach (1887-1968) grew by the 1950s to be a landmark building of 11 floors with over 1 million square feet where 3,000 to 4,000 loyal and conscientious employees served its many faithful customers.

The mannequins that decorated the storefront windows were part of a Christmas spectacular. Children delighted in visiting the 11th floor toy department and the home of Santa Claus. Nostalgic stories and wistful memories can be found on the Connecticut Historical Society’s website.

The holiday decorations and mannequins used in the store’s celebrated window display were headed for landfill until Saybrook Historical Society member Donna DiBella, came to the rescue. She convinced her husband to “adopt” them and provide a warm “home” in their garage and the Gen. William Hart House attic in Old Saybrook.

iQuilt retrieved the famous mechanical dolls from DiBella’s garage, the Hart House attic, and the society’s storage shed to make their journey back to their Hartford hometown. After a tune-up by members of the robotics team from the Watkinson School, they first returned to the original windows of the G. Fox Store.

Today, the Christmas dolls appear in different storefront locations for the holidays. The mice, skaters and carolers, horse and sleigh, assorted elves, Mr. and Mrs. Claus are all part of a collection now property of the iQuilt Partnership.

They enliven Hartford’s holiday spirit and greet a new generation of admirers.