Cavendish Women You Should Know: Alice Wheeler Bertrand, Doll Maker

Alice's self portrait

Born in 1898, Alice Wheeler Bertrand grew up in Pinney Hollow, a village of Plymouth VT. She created highly realistic character dolls, perfecting a technique using felted wool and wire. She depicted family members and other people she knew in Plymouth and Proctorsville, Vermont.  The dolls bear an uncanny likeness to their subjects.

 

Alice Bertrand gained national fame for her dolls, winning a blue ribbon at the New York World’s Fair in 1964.  Her descendants donated nearly two dozen dolls to the President Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site in 2000, which are on display in the Aldrich House. They were also featured in their “Homespun Treasures” exhibit at the Museum & Education Center a few years ago.

 

Married to Claude, the Bertrands lived on Depot St., the ranch house just before the Golden Stage Inn. Alice died in 1976 while Claude died in 2000. Both are buried at the Hillcrest Cemetery in Proctorsville.

 

 

Recently, the Cavendish Historical Society received a donation of two of Alice’s dolls and, thanks to social media, we’re learning a lot more about Alice and who these dolls depicted.

 

In the accompanying letter from the donor, Patty White, she noted, “The dolls were hand made in the likeness of a couple who lived in town, not sure who. My Aunt, was good friends with Claude’s sister Sally Rellis, who has also been dead now for several years, although she live to be 104!.”

 

Ralph and Doris Bates?

The consensus is that the dolls represent Ralph and Doris Bates who also lived on Depot Street in Proctorsville. The details of  each doll is fascinating. “Doris” is holding a purse, which appears to have beeb bought, but when opened, it reveals a tiny homemade wallet. There is as much detail in the under garments as there is in the outer wear.

 

If you have any information you’d like to share about, Alice or the Bates family, please e-mail margocaulfield@icloud.com call 802-226-7807 or mail CHS, PO Box 472, Cavendish, VT 05142.

 

The dolls will be on display at the CHS Museum starting this summer, when the Museum opens with the annual plant sale, May 29.  

 

A very special thank you to all who commented on the various posts. Particular thanks to  Dr. Stacia Spaulding, Norma Randall, Penny Trick, and William W. Jenney, Regional Historic Site Administrator, President Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site.