AKRON'S OWN LOCK 3 HISTORY MUSEUM FEATURES NEW EXHIBITS AND A "BLUE SANTA"
The Akron History Exhibit and American Toy & Marble Museum at Lock 3 welcomed its 100,000th visitor this fall since
opening in 2003. Once the site of the American Toy Marble Manufacturing Company at the turn of the 20th century,
This unique museum showcases the game of marbles and exhibits from Akron's industrial past, from canal boat building
to lighter than air technologies.
This year visit Akron's own tiny Blue Santa. During the excavation of the Lock 3 site in 2002, thousands of century-old
Items were revealed. Among the marbles, animal shapes, jugs, thimbles, and electric insulators were five shapes of Santa
Claus. The most intact of the Christmas objects was covered with a blue glaze. Dated to the mid 1890's, it is one of the
earliest representations of St. Nicholas to be manufactured for mass distribution.
Reproductions are available for purchase.
http://www.ci.akron.oh.us/News_Releases/2007/1113.htm